NEWS
POSTED
2024.10.02
CATEGORY
TAG
TITLE
[College of Science and Engineering] Associate Professor Jun-Ho Jeon (Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics) and a joint research team from four universities have developed a new power device that drives carbon neutrality - a new high-speed power interruption method realized with fuses, semiconductors, and mechatronics control.
Power systems and electrical equipment essential for achieving carbon neutrality overview
New power systems and electrification equipment are needed to achieve carbon neutrality through the mass introduction of renewable energy (renewable energy)*2 and an increase in the rate of electrification*3 (Figure 1).
A research team led by Associate Professor Yuki Inada, Graduate School of Saitama University (Graduate School of Science and Engineering), Assistant Professor Naoto Kodama, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University (at the time of the research, now Associate Professor Aoyama Gakuin University College of Science and Engineering Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics), Associate Professor Wataru Onishi, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo (at the time of the research, now Associate Professor), Assistant Professor Yusuke Nakano, Graduate School of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Kanazawa University (at the time of the research, now Associate Professor), has developed a completely new power system and electrification equipment that can directly lead to the realization of these They have developed a completely new power device called a current-limiting*4 circuit breaker, which is directly linked to the realization of the above, and have succeeded in high-speed disconnection of DC kV/kA power*5 with a compact and lightweight device, which was previously difficult to disconnect without a large and heavy device.
This is a fundamental technology that will contribute to the construction of large-scale data centers that include big data and quantum computers, so this achievement is expected to make a significant contribution not only to carbon neutrality but also to the realization of a future society such as IoT and Beyond 5G/6G.
These results were published in the domestic journal "Transactions of the Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan, D (Journal of the Industrial Applications Division)" on June 1, 2024 at 0:00.
Power systems and electrical equipment essential for achieving carbon neutrality point
We have developed a new power device, the "current limiting circuit breaker," which offers advantages in terms of size and weight.
This current-limiting circuit breaker successfully cuts off (interrupts) DC kV/kA power at high speed.
This research is expected to lead to the realization of a new power system that incorporates large amounts of solar and wind power.
- It will greatly contribute to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, electric aircraft, and electric boats, which are powered by electricity.
This will lead to the realization of large-scale data centers that incorporate big data and quantum computers.
Research background
Achieving the "drastic reduction of CO2 emissions" set forth in the Paris Agreement 2016 requires (1) the large-scale introduction of renewable energy and (2) an increase in the electrification rate of final energy. Many of the power systems and electrical appliances that realize these require operation on (DC) rather than (AC), which is currently widely used. When power systems and electrical appliances malfunction due to natural disasters or aging, they generate extremely high levels of power, sometimes tens of times higher than normal operation. This can cause large-scale failures and fires, so it is necessary to quickly shut off this abnormally high power to ensure safe operation of the power supply.
Thus, for the safe operation of electricity, a "general-purpose safety device (=circuit breaker)" that can shut off not only the AC power that is already widespread, but also the DC power that is expected to see a rapid increase in demand in the future, is essential. However, shutting off DC power is dramatically more difficult than shutting off AC power, so a general-purpose circuit breaker has not been developed for many years, which is a major obstacle to achieving ① and ②.
(Left) Principle and example of equipment configuration of current limiting and interruption created through collaboration of fuses, semiconductors, and mechanical control. (Right) Example waveform showing high-speed interruption of DC kV/kA power in approximately 10ms. Research Contents
Therefore, in this research, we have developed a "current-limiting circuit breaker" that employs a completely new interruption method created through the collaboration of fuses, semiconductors, and mechatronics control. This breaker offers significant advantages in terms of size and weight, while reliably and quickly interrupting all types of power, whether DC or AC, every time. In the development process, this research first demonstrated the fundamental principle of the new interruption method that integrates fuses and semiconductors (Reference (1)), and then combined this with mechatronics control to achieve high-speed fuse switching and reclosing*6 (Reference (2)). These fundamental technologies have already been patented internationally (Reference (3)).
(Left) Principle and example of equipment configuration of current limiting and interruption created through collaboration of fuses, semiconductors, and mechanical control. (Right) Example waveform showing high-speed interruption of DC kV/kA power in approximately 10ms. 
Comparison of size and weight between current equipment and this current-limiting circuit breaker However, previous developments were limited to low power levels of several hundred volts and several hundred amperes. Therefore, in this study, we have further developed the results of previous research (references (1-3)) and enhanced the coordinated operation of fuse, semiconductor, and mechatronics control. This has updated the applicable power range, successfully enabling high-speed interruption of DC kV/kA power, applicable to next-generation power systems and electrical equipment, in approximately 10ms (Figure 2). Furthermore, the size and weight of this current-limiting circuit breaker are up to an order of magnitude smaller than existing equipment (Figure 3).
Comparison of size and weight between current equipment and this current-limiting circuit breaker Future developments
This circuit breaker uses a fuse to quickly and automatically detect and suppress (limit) abnormally high power, preventing the generation of power levels that can reach tens of times or more of normal operating levels. This reduces the need for surplus design to withstand abnormally high power flows, making it possible to significantly reduce the overall size and weight of power systems and electrical equipment while dramatically improving their safety and robustness. Therefore, this research is expected to accelerate the realization of new power systems that incorporate large amounts of renewable energy such as solar and wind power, electric aircraft and ships powered by electricity, and large-scale data centers that incorporate big data and quantum computers, thereby greatly contributing to the realization of a future society such as carbon neutrality, IoT, and Beyond 5G/6G.
Paper Information
| Publication | Transactions of the Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan, Series D (Industrial Applications Division) |
| Paper Title | Fault and load current interruption in low-voltage systems using current-limiting circuit breakers that combine fuses and semiconductors. |
| Author Name | Yuki Inada, Junho Jeon, Wataru Onishi, Naoto Kodama, Yusuke Nakano, Yasuhiro Takada, Reon Sasaki, Yuta Miyaoka, Kosuke Tsukamoto, Keiya Yamada, Yasushi Yamano |
| DOI |
References
(1) S. Zen, Y. Inada, W. Ohnishi, Y. Fukai, N. Takayasu, M. Maeyama, and Y. Yamano: “Prototype Current-Limiting Hybrid DC Circuit Breaker Incorporating a Fuse and a Semiconductor Device,” IEEE Trans. Power Del., Vol. 36 pp. 2231-2233 (2021)
(2) W. Ohnishi, Y. Inada, S. Zen, R. Sasaki, Y. Takada, Y. Miyaoka, K. Tsukamoto, and Y. Yamano: “Proof-Concept of a Fuse-Semiconductor Hybrid Circuit Breaker with a Fast Fuse Exchanger,” IEEE Trans. Power Del., Vol. 38 pp. 937-946 (2023)
(3) Y. Inada, Y. Yamano, M. Maeyama, S. Zen, and W. Ohnishi, “Current interruption device and current interruption method,” 2020/09/15. PCT/JP2020/034978. 2021/03/25. WO 2021/054338 (2021)
Part of this research was supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)'s Unexplored Challenge 2050 (Project Numbers 21501372-0, 21501373-0, Development of a compact, inexpensive, and versatile current-limiting circuit breaker).
Glossary
*1 Interruption: The act of cutting off power (electric current).
*2 Renewable energy: Energy that is always present in nature, such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy. While coal, oil, and natural gas are limited energy sources that exist only in specific locations and emit CO2, renewable energy has the characteristics of being "available everywhere," "indestructible," and "not emitting (or increasing) CO2."
*3 Electrification rate: Of the total primary energy supply, including coal, oil, natural gas, hydropower, and nuclear power, the energy used for power generation.
- ratio.
*4 Current limiting: Suppressing extremely high power (high current) that can reach tens of times or more during normal operation.
*5 DC vs. AC power: DC power does not change in direction or magnitude, while AC power changes periodically in direction and magnitude (50 times per second in eastern Japan, 60 times per second in western Japan). Therefore, there is a time when the power of AC is zero, and the power is cut off at that time. On the other hand, there is no time when the power of DC is zero, so it is difficult to cut off.
*6 Reclosing: Restoring the power supply after an interruption in power (current).
Contact Us
＜研究に関して＞
埼玉大学大学院理工学研究科
稲田 優貴（イナダ ユウキ）
罢贰尝：048-858-3478
别-尘补颈濒：颈苍补诲补蔼尘补颈濒.蝉补颈迟补尘补-耻.补肠.箩辫
名古屋大学大学院工学研究科
兒玉 直人（コダマ ナオト）
罢贰尝：052-789-3635
别-尘补颈濒：办辞诲补尘补蔼苍耻别别.苍补驳辞测补-耻.补肠.箩辫
青山学院大学理工学部电気电子工学科
全 俊豪（ゼン シュンゴウ）
罢贰尝：042-759-6253
别-尘补颈濒：锄别苍蔼别别.补辞测补尘补.补肠.箩辫
东京大学大学院工学系研究科
大西 亘（オオニシ ワタル）
罢贰尝：03-5841-6791
别-尘补颈濒：辞丑苍颈蝉丑颈蔼肠迟濒.迟.耻-迟辞办测辞.补肠.箩辫
金沢大学理工研究域电子情报通信学系
中野 裕介（ナカノ ユウスケ）
罢贰尝：076-264-6318
别-尘补颈濒：苍补办补苍辞蔼蝉别.办补苍补锄补飞补-耻.补肠.箩辫
＜报道対応に関して＞
埼玉大学 総務部 広報渉外課
罢贰尝：048-858-3932
别-尘补颈濒：办辞丑辞蔼驳谤.蝉补颈迟补尘补-耻.补肠.箩辫
名古屋大学 総務部 広報課
罢贰尝：052-558-9735
别-尘补颈濒：苍耻冲谤别蝉别补谤肠丑蔼迟.尘补颈濒.苍补驳辞测补-耻.补肠.箩辫
青山学院大学 政策?企画部 大学広報課
罢贰尝：03-3409-8159
别-尘补颈濒：补驳耻-办辞耻丑辞耻蔼补辞测补尘补驳补办耻颈苍.箩辫
金沢大学 理工系事務部総務課総務係 広報担当
罢贰尝：076-234-6821
别-尘补颈濒：蝉-蝉辞尘耻蔼补诲尘.办补苍补锄补飞补-耻.补肠.箩辫