Arc Absorption Options Based on Passive Components in DC Circuit Breakers

DC circuit breakers have become an essential protection element for DC buses in renewable energy and DC microgrid systems. Given that there are no zero crossings in a DC power supply compared to an AC waveform, arc extinguishing is a difficult process in DC circuit breakers. Solid state switches are proposed in solving this problem, but their cost is generally unaffordable in general applications, except for marine, military and aviation etc. Hence, commercial and mass-produced DC breakers are modified versions of AC breakers. This paper details different passive component options for absorbing the energy in the electric arc/plasma, including the use of supercapacitors.