Fast Acting Solid State Silicon Carbide (SiC) based Fault Current Limiters for Electrical Distribution Systems

Fast and accurate fault protection and isolation has always been an important feature of electric networks; in particular, this includes high reliability and robust networks such as the electric distribution systems of US Navy warships. This feature, however, is now critical for the development of next-generation warships (such as the Zumwalt Class DDG 1000) due to the present (and future) power requirements of the warship propulsion and weapons systems. The ability to protect, isolate and re-route power increases the warship fight-through capabilities, and thus is a high system design priority for the new destroyers. The main goal of Phase II of this program will be to develop a full-scale 4.16-kV / 4-kA three-phase SSFCL solution for the next generation Zumwalt Class Destroyer (DDG 1000).