GaN High Current Solid State Circuit Breaker for Military Ground Vehicles

Fast and reliable means to limit fault currents and isolate faulted sections are required to meet emerging power needs for military ground vehicles. We propose to develop a Gallium Nitride (GaN) based Solid State Circuit Breaker (SSCB) product that is much faster and more robust than existing protective devices. Our GaN SSCB will be capable of switching large amplitude bi directional currents, allowing large loads to be isolated more quickly than existing products and enabling the move to greater electrical power system capacity. During Phase I we will demonstrate feasibility with comprehensive design, analysis, and computer based simulations. We will demonstrate advanced fault management, high efficiency, fast and reliable control of large amplitude bi directional currents, and a commercialization plan for a scalable and cost-effective protection device. During Phase II we will complete development and demonstrate a prototype in a representative environment at Technology Readiness Level 5.