Patent ID: 8174801

Claim:
A high voltage direct current (HVDC) power distribution system comprising: at least one power bus; at least one load conductor; a hybrid contactor for interconnecting the at least one power bus and the at least one load conductor and through which inductive energy passes upon disconnection of the at least one load conductor from the at least one power bus wherein, the hybrid contactor includes: a first switch having movable contacts; a second switch in parallel to the first switch, the second switch for shunting inductive energy from the first switch wherein an amount of shunted inductive energy is insufficient to extinguish an arc between the contacts during arcing in the first switch; and a positive temperature coefficient resistor connected in series with the second switch, wherein a first portion of the inductive energy passes through the hybrid contactor as an arc; and wherein a second portion of the inductive energy passes through the hybrid contactor as resistively dissipated heat.