US 12,437,942 B2
Bipolar hybrid circuit breaker for low-voltage DC circuits
Shahab Mehraeen, Baton Rouge, LA (US); Sudipta Sen, Baton Rouge, LA (US); Mohammadamin Moghbeli, Baton Rouge, LA (US); and David Rush, Baton Rouge, LA (US)
Assigned to Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Baton Rouge, LA (US)
Filed by Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Baton Rouge, LA (US)
Filed on Feb. 9, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/438,040.
Application 18/438,040 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/482,609, filed on Oct. 6, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/426,443, filed on Nov. 18, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/414,179, filed on Oct. 7, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0186086 A1, Jun. 6, 2024
Int. Cl. H01H 33/59 (2006.01); H01H 9/54 (2006.01); H02H 3/08 (2006.01); H02H 3/087 (2006.01); H01H 33/14 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 33/596 (2013.01) [H01H 9/542 (2013.01); H02H 3/087 (2013.01); H01H 2033/146 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A DC circuit breaker system comprising:
a first mechanical switch, wherein the first mechanical switch is configured to initiate a separation of contacts of the first mechanical switch in response to a fault current;
a first parallel capacitor that connects a first terminal and a second terminal of the first mechanical switch;
a second mechanical switch in series with the first mechanical switch, wherein the second mechanical switch is configured to initiate a separation of contacts of the second mechanical switch in response to the fault current;
a second parallel capacitor that connects a first terminal and a second terminal of the second mechanical switch;
a first diode that connects the first terminal of the first mechanical switch and the second terminal of the second mechanical switch; and
a second diode that connects the first terminal of the second mechanical switch and the second terminal of the first mechanical switch,
wherein opening of the first and second mechanical switches and turning off of the first and second diodes act to reverse a direction of a current flow and clear a current fault,
wherein the DC circuit breaker system is equipped with a surge arrestor at its input and a freewheeling diode at its output.