Self healing for a DC zonal distribution architecture using Active Impedance

One of the most important issues that needs to be resolved before DC power systems can be introduced cost effectively for naval marine power systems (MPS) is the protection of the system against faults. Techniques are being developed to control fault current levels by fast acting control using power electronic systems. These techniques need to be supported by a system that classifies and localizes the fault, so the fault can be cleared and the system reconfigured. Active Impedance Estimation (AIE) can be used to provide information on fault location such that the power system can be correctly reconfigured. This paper will provide experimental results from a 30kW five zone, two bus, DC system demonstrator which shows how AIE can be used to inform a MPS reconfiguration algorithm to achieve system “self healing” in the event of bus faults.