A comparison of two piezoelectric actuator concepts for fast mechanical switching in DC hybrid circuit breakers

Amplified piezoelectric actuators have gained considerable attention due to their inherent advantages, including rapid response, reliability, and efficiency, making them promising candidates for Direct Current (DC) switching applications. They can operate in two distinct operational modes: Block–Free (B–F) and Free–Free (F–F) configurations. These two modes offer diverse mechanical constraints and are chosen based on the application’s specific requirements. This study aims to present a comparative assessment between the two modes to evaluate each configuration’s applicability in DC fast switching. Accordingly, the principle behind each actuation scheme was illustrated, and both designs were modeled and analyzed by the finite element method. Subsequently, two prototypes were assembled, each resembling a different operational mode. The established prototypes were then subjected to actuation and interruption tests to investigate their travel and switching performances. Comparative results revealed that while block–free could deliver a higher apparent stroke, the accumulated gap for each configuration is almost the same. Both actuators demonstrated high capability when utilized as actuation units for fast vacuum mechanical switches integrated into a hybrid circuit breaker for DC interruption. However, the free–free operation excelled in terms of fast response, as it managed to clear the mimicked fault current faster than the block–free configuration.