Apparatus and method for interrupting direct current

摘要

A direct-current interrupter in an embodiment includes a current-carrying path (10) and a current-interrupting path (30) connected in parallel to the current-carrying path. The current-carrying path includes a first switch (11) and a second switch (12) connected in series and a resistor (13) connected in parallel to the second switch. The first switch has a predetermined first withstand voltage property and switches between conduction and non-conduction of current by using no semiconductor switch. The second switch has a second withstand voltage property lower in withstand voltage property than the first withstand voltage property and switches between conduction and non-conduction of current by using no semiconductor switch. The resistor protects the second switch from voltage to be applied to the second switch. The current-interrupting path includes a semiconductor switch (31) and a current source (41) connected in series and a non-linear resistor (32) connected in parallel to a series connection of the semiconductor switch and the current source. Fig. 1