Patent ID: 9654102
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: H01H,H03K

Claim:
1. A method for operating a circuit breaker coupled between a power line circuit (PLC) and a load circuit and comprising a first branch comprising at least one solid-state snubber, a second branch coupled in parallel to the first branch and comprising a superconductor, and a cryogenic contactor coupled to the superconductor, the method comprising: when an electrical current from the PLC is below a PLC threshold current value, supplying the electrical current from the PLC to the load circuit through the second branch; when a fault in the load circuit occurs such that the electrical current from the PLC is above the PLC threshold current value, inhibiting flow of the electrical current in the second branch, supplying the electrical current from the PLC to the load circuit via the first branch, and then deactivating the at least one solid-state snubber; and when the fault in the load circuit is cleared, activating the at least one solid-state snubber to supply the electrical current from the PLC to the load circuit via the first branch.