MEGAWATT HIGH SPEED SOLID STATE CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR PULSE POWER APPLICATIONS

Abstract : Two 3.3 Megawatt 3 phase 4160 V solid state circuit breakers, which can interrupt full current within 300 microseconds, have been installed on the 6.6 Megawatt power supply at the Army Pulse Power Center at Fort Monmouth. These devices, utilizing Gate Turnoff Thyristors (GTOs), can interrupt two orders of magnitude faster than standard mechanical contact type circuit breakers. The system also includes a personal computer based power supply control and data acquisition system, with over seventy data channels and the capability to operate unattended. This system will make possible pivotal evaluation of megawatt class pulse power components under the most severe conditions, since it will be possible to run said experimental components at their limits and still protect them from fault damage and destruction, while measuring operating parameters even at the point of the fault.