Event
ENEE476 Renewable Energy Seminar
Monday, November 17, 2025
3:30 p.m.-4:45 p.m.
Virtual - Open to All
Darcy Long
301 405 3114
dlong123@umd.edu
Zoom: https://umd.zoom.us/j/97067576313
Passcode: MSEM
Speaker: Shuyan Zhao, ABB Research Scientist - Power Electronics
Title: A Review of Solid-State Circuit Breakers in DC Power Protection
Abstract: As power distribution systems evolve—especially with the rise of DC microgrids and other emerging architectures—the limitations of conventional electromechanical circuit breakers become increasingly apparent. In particular, the demand for faster and more efficient interruption capabilities has driven significant interest in solid-state circuit breaker technologies. In this session, a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in solid-state circuit breakers will be presented, highlighting how innovations in power semiconductor devices and circuit design are reshaping protection strategies. The focus will be key design elements including topologies, fault detection methods, gate drivers, and commutation techniques, and discuss the challenges that arise when adapting these technologies for real-world applications. By comparing various approaches and performance metrics, this session aims to provide a clear framework for future development and deployment of solid-state breakers in next-generation power systems. ABB is one of the major player and technical lead in the industrial switching and power protection area, this session also introduces our recent innovation and research advancements in ABB US Corporate Research Center on the switching and power protection topics.
Bio: Shuyan Zhao (Senior Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree from Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, in 2017, the M.S. degree from the China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China, in 2020, and the Ph.D. degree from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA, in 2024, all in electrical engineering. He is currently a Research Scientist with ABB Corporate Research, Raleigh, NC, USA. His research interests include the application of high-voltage wide bandgap semiconductors, solid-state power protections, and wireless power transfer technology.
