Public Abstract

DE-SC0021715: BTRAN(TM) Solid State Circuit Breaker (SSCB)

Award Status: Inactive

Institution: Diversified Technologies, Inc., Bedford, MA
UEI: ZNG4WKWT2YM4
DUNS: 602959579

Most Recent Award Date: 07/23/2021
Number of Support Periods: 1
PM: Howard, David

Current Budget Period: 06/28/2021 - 03/27/2022
Current Project Period: 06/28/2021 - 03/27/2022
PI: Cope, David

Supplement Budget Period: N/A

Public Abstract

BTRAN™ Solid State Circuit Breaker (SSCB)—Diversified Technologies Inc., 35 Wiggins Avenue, , Bedford, MA 01730-2345 David Cope, Principal Investigator, cope@divtecs.com Michael Kempkes, Business Official, kempkes@divtecs.com Amount: $199,615.00 Diversified Technologies, Inc. (DTI), teaming with Ideal Power, Inc. (Ideal), proposes to develop a low-loss 13.8 kVAC Solid State Circuit Breaker (SSCB) for use in utility protection applications. SSCBs prevent damage to downstream loads, upstream generators, and the grid itself by utilizing microsecond current interruption times. B-TRAN™ (Bi-directional Transistors) SSCBs will have approximately one- tenth the power dissipation of conventional breakers, which eliminates the need for external cooling systems and allows passive cooling similar to a pad-mounted utility transformer. The proposed approach combines Ideal’s new B-TRAN™ (Bi-directional Transistors) devices with DTI’s proven high voltage switch architecture. The bi-directional nature of the B-TRAN devices is intrinsically suited to AC switching, while the combination of DTI’s switching circuits and gate drives with their inherent efficiency and high performance enables reliable and deployable SSCBs. In Phase I, DTI will (a) design a 50 MW, 13.8 kV-class SSCB, (b) build and demonstrate B-TRAN switch modules to interrupt AC power, and (c) confirm the efficiency and speed of the B-TRAN devices in AC operation. In Phase II, we will build and test the full 50 MW SSCB. This medium voltage circuit breaker can be applied to a number of power control applications in the utility, distributed generation, and transmission/distribution markets, including static transfer switches.

BTRAN™ Solid State Circuit Breaker (SSCB)—Diversified Technologies Inc., 35 Wiggins Avenue, , Bedford, MA 01730-2345

David Cope, Principal Investigator, cope@divtecs.com

Michael Kempkes, Business Official, kempkes@divtecs.com

Amount: $199,615.00

Diversified Technologies, Inc. (DTI), teaming with Ideal Power, Inc. (Ideal), proposes to develop a low-loss 13.8 kVAC Solid State Circuit Breaker (SSCB) for use in utility protection applications. SSCBs prevent damage to downstream loads, upstream generators, and the grid itself by utilizing microsecond current interruption times. B-TRAN™ (Bi-directional Transistors) SSCBs will have approximately one- tenth the power dissipation of conventional breakers, which eliminates the need for external cooling systems and allows passive cooling similar to a pad-mounted utility transformer. The proposed approach combines Ideal’s new B-TRAN™ (Bi-directional Transistors) devices with DTI’s proven high voltage switch architecture. The bi-directional nature of the B-TRAN devices is intrinsically suited to AC switching, while the combination of DTI’s switching circuits and gate drives with their inherent efficiency and high performance enables reliable and deployable SSCBs. In Phase I, DTI will (a) design a 50 MW, 13.8 kV-class SSCB, (b) build and demonstrate B-TRAN switch modules to interrupt AC power, and (c) confirm the efficiency and speed of the B-TRAN devices in AC operation. In Phase II, we will build and test the full 50 MW SSCB. This medium voltage circuit breaker can be applied to a number of power control applications in the utility, distributed generation, and transmission/distribution markets, including static transfer switches.