New technological trends in high-voltage power circuit breakers

New trends in the high-voltage (HV) power circuit breakers (CBs) technology are discussed. New generations of controlled intelligent switching devices with high performance and improved functionality is possible by implementing new power electronic actuating devices, which use magnetic actuators and taking advantage of the controllability of the coil current. The ratings of SF ₆ CBs have reached up to 1,100 kV, 80 kV breaking current, and three-phase interrupting rating up to 50 GVA by applying the puffer type and self-blast technologies. Superconducting fault current limiters (SFCLs) could be a key technology for future power systems engineering as it offers a better solution to control fault-current levels on transmission network when ever-increasing demands are placed on power consumption. Two types of SFCLs are resistive and inductive types, both of which have high-current limitation capability and ultra high-speed operation.