A new software-based control unit for fault detection and isolation in LV DC systems

摘要

More loads in data centers, households, electric vehicles, and board networks are supplied by DC power. Therefore, different challenges in DC systems are need to be faced. As the DC system voltage increases, efficient and cost effective DC circuit breakers with high switching capacity are required. Hence, the development of reliable intelligent DC switching components and protection concepts is becoming increasingly important. In this research project a software-based control unit with distributed switches for low-voltage DC systems has been developed. The protection concept is based on the measurement of current through the switches and voltage across them, using current and voltage sensors. A fault detection and allocation algorithm has been proposed and implemented in LabVIEW platform. As a result, the control unit can specify the most suitable switching decisions. Different fault locations and types have been tested in the laboratory. The fault detection time and fault isolation time have been tested in an experimental 24 V DC test setup with a specific network topology which has been established in the laboratory. Hence, the functionality of the control unit has been verified.