According to information from the China National Intellectual Property Administration, ABB has filed a patent titled “DC Power Grid,” with publication number CN121440504A, submitted in July 2025.

The patent abstract describes an innovation related to DC (direct current) power grid architecture and protection systems. The DC grid includes multiple electrical nodes, one or more electrical branches connecting these nodes, and multiple protection devices arranged along the branches. Each protection device includes a first terminal for coupling to a first branch section and a second terminal for coupling to a second branch section.

Each protection device further comprises a switching assembly and a magnetic device. The switching assembly includes one or more switching units, while the magnetic device is electrically connected in series with the switching assembly between the first and second terminals.

The proposed system also introduces one or more control devices, which may be integrated within the protection devices or operatively connected to them. These control devices are configured to manage the switching units of the protection devices, enabling selective transitions between closed and open states.

This intelligent control approach enhances operational flexibility in DC grid systems and improves protection response performance, contributing to higher reliability, safety, and stability in complex power network environments.