Review on Z-Source Solid State Circuit Breakers for DC Distribution Networks

DC technologies will be essential building blocks for future DC distribution networks. As in any DC system, these networks will face crucial threats imposed by short-circuit DC faults. Protection is thus of great interest, and it will likely rely on DC circuit breakers (DCCBs). Among available configurations, Z-source solid-state circuit breakers (Z-SSCBs) are promising candidates for protecting low and medium-voltage distribution networks, as well as DC equipment due to their structural and control simplicity and low cost. In this paper, start-of-the-art of Z-SSCBs topologies is reviewed. To set the context, the use of DC technologies for grid integration of renewables, DC power transmission, and the main types of DCCBs to protect DC transmission and distribution corridors are discussed. The Z-SSCB topologies are then classified into unidirectional and bidirectional. Advantages and disadvantages of different configurations are compared and analyzed based on existing research. Finally, a perspective on the future development of Z-SSCBs is discussed and potential challenges are elucidated.