Revolutionizing Power Systems: The Emergence of Digital Circuit Breakers

For over 140 years, circuit breakers have been mechanical switches responsible for keeping us safe from electrical fires and electrocution. However, with the ever-increasing demand for energy efficiency, new digital circuit breakers are emerging that combine computing power with wireless connectivity to help monitor and control the energy use of buildings remotely. This technology could finally replace the old electromechanical circuit breakers that have been around for over a century.

The Charlotte, North Carolina-based start-up Atom Power is at the forefront of this new technology, launching the first UL safety-certified digital circuit breaker panel. The circuit breakers are based on silicon carbide transistors, and they are combined with smart software and connectivity to provide a one-stop-shop for managing energy use in buildings. While UL approval isn’t legally required, it’s the industry safety standard for commercial use.

The traditional electromechanical circuit breakers have been supplemented by various energy management systems, such as meters, load controllers, surge-protection devices, power-transfer switches, and demand management systems. The new digital circuit breakers could replace all of these systems with a single device that monitors energy use, controls heating and lighting, charges electric cars at off-peak times, and switches between solar panels and the grid.

Atom Power’s digital circuit breaker works 3,000 times faster than traditional circuit breakers. It is essentially a large silicon carbide transistor circuit that measures load current and switches the transistor off when the current level is dangerous. Compared to silicon, silicon carbide transistors work at higher temperatures and switching speeds, which makes them ideal for use in high-voltage breakers found in commercial and industrial buildings.

The multibillion-dollar circuit breaker market is dominated by manufacturers such as Siemens, ABB, Eaton, Toshiba, and Schneider Electric. Most of them have attempted to make digital circuit breakers, but the technology was not advanced enough to make effective solid-state breakers even 10 years ago. However, with the advancement in materials science and computing power, Atom Power’s digital circuit breakers have become a reality.

Siemens, ABB, and Eaton have all invested in Atom Power, but Eaton is also working on its own technology. In 2017, the company teamed up with the Electric Power Research Institute and a dozen utilities to install its breakers in about 80 buildings. Stockholm, Sweden-based Blixt is also working on digital circuit breakers for the residential market.

The high cost of solid-state breakers is still a hurdle, as Atom Power’s digital circuit breaker costs two to five times as much as a mechanical breaker. However, the cost of silicon carbide technology is coming down, and Atom Power believes that industrial customers should be willing to pay the extra price for a smart, safe product that should also potentially replace multiple other components in a building’s electrical system.

In conclusion, Atom Power’s digital circuit breaker is a game-changer in power systems that could potentially replace the traditional electromechanical circuit breakers that have been around for over 140 years. With the ability to monitor and control energy use remotely, the digital circuit breakers could significantly reduce energy waste and costs. While the technology is still in its early stages and the cost is relatively high, it’s a step in the right direction towards a more efficient and sustainable future.