Solid State Circuit Breakers For The Navy

1A Program of research and development is proposed which will lead to a very rugged solid state circuit breaker and contactor module system. Each solid state module will be capable of opening and closing tens of amperes at hundreds of volts at high speed. The modules are intrinsically current limiting and short circuit proof. Very high average power densities and speeds have been demonstrated in recent Diversified Technologies Inc. test. The modules require very low standby power and have a low voltage drop under CW high current conditions. The modules are low cost, very compact, shock proof, rugged and long-lived. Using novel technology, the switch modules can, for example, be used individually in tens of kilowatt applications as intelligent, electronically resettable, very high speed DC or AC circuit breakers and contactors, even with highly inductive loads. A prototype circuit breaker module will be built which could be used for DC, 60, 400 or 20 kHz, single or 3 phase, and up to 1 kV.