Fault current limiter using transformer and modular device of YBCO coated conductor

In this work, we report on the evaluation of a superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL). It is consisted of a modular superconducting device combined with a short-circuited transformer with a primary copper winding connected in series to the power line and the secondary side short-circuited by the superconducting device. The basic idea is adding a magnetic component to contribute to the current limitation by the impedance reflected to the line after transition of the superconducting device. The evaluation tests were performed with a prospective current up to 2 kA, with the short-circuited transformer of 2.5 kVA, 220 V/660 V connected to a test facility of 100 kVA power capacity. The resistive SFCL using a modular superconducting device was tested without degradation for a prospective fault current of 1.8 kA, achieving the limiting factor 2.78; the voltage achieved 282 V corresponding to an electric field of 11 V/m. The test performed with the combined SFCL (xsuperconducting device + transformer) using series and toroidal transformers showed current limiting factor of 3.1 and 2 times, respectively. The test results of the combined SFCL with short-circuited transformer showed undesirable influence of the transformer impedance, resulting in reduction of the fault current level. © 2002-2011 IEEE.

Recovery Tests of an Hybrid Current Limiter Composed of a SFCL in Parallel to an Air-Core Power Reactor

The resistive-type superconducting fault current limiters (RSFCL) prototypes using YBCO-coated conductors have shown current limitation for medium voltage class applications for acting time up to 80 ms. By connecting an air-core reactor in parallel with the RSFCL, thus making an hybrid current limiter, one can extend the acting time for up to 1 s. In this work, we report the performance of a hybrid current limiter subjected to an AC peak fault current of 2 kA during 1 s for which within the first 80 ms the SFCL limits the current concurrently with the air-core reactor, and for the remaining 920 ms, only the air-core reactor limits the current. In order to evaluate the actual conditions for subsequent reconnection of RSFCL to the power grid, the hybrid fault current limiter was tested varying the time interval for recovery from 900 ms and 1.2 s, followed again by the concurrent operation of the hybrid limiter during 1 s (SFCL during 80 ms). From this evaluation test, the recovery time can be measured and compared using the voltage peak generated in superconducting module from the first and second fault test. The recovery time was also determined through the pulsed current method (PCM) on short-length sample test. The results showed that the fault current was limited from 1.9 kA down to 514 A after 1 cycle of 60 Hz frequency, with recovery time lower than 1.2 s for two subsequent fault current tests.

Development and test of resistive superconducting fault current limiter; acting time and its recovery conditions

Resistive-type of superconducting fault current limiters (RSFCL) have been developed for medium voltage class aiming to operate at 1 MVA power capacity and short time recovery (< 2 s). A RSFCL in form of superconducting modular device was designed and constructed using 50 m-length of YBCO coated conductor tapes for operation under 1 kV / 1 kA and acting time of 0.1 s. In order to increase the acting time the RSFCL was combined with an air-core reactor in parallel to increase the fault limiting time up to 1 s. The tests determined the electrical and thermal characteristics of the combined resistive/ inductive protection unit. The combined fault current limiter reached a limiting current of 583 A, corresponding to a limiting factor of 3.3 times within an acting time of up to 1 s.

Test results of a superconducting FCL using bifilar coil of BSCCO-2212

A single-phase superconducting Fault Current Limiter using a bifilar coil of BSCCO-2212 tube was tested in 220 V-60 Hz line during fault current between 1 kA to 4 kA, operating in 77 K. In this work are presented the critical current dependence as a function of an external magnetic field applied and the results can be used to predict the current limiter performance. The experimental setup is described and the test results are presented for the unit conducting a steady nominal AC current of 200 A, and also during the fault time (1 to 6 cycles). The performance of the bifilar coil to provide the limiting impedance associated with the dynamic resistance developed during the beginning of the fault was analyzed and compared with other types of superconducting current limiters.

Test results of fault current limiter using YBCO tapes with shunt protection

A Fault Current Limiter (FCL) based on high temperature superconducting elements with four tapes in parallel were designed and tested in 220 V line for a fault current peak between 1 kA to 4 kA. The elements employed second generation (2G) HTS tapes of YBCO coated conductor with stainless steel reinforcement. The tapes were electrically connected in parallel with effective length of 0.4 m per element (16 elements connected in series) constituting a single-phase unit. The FCL performance was evaluated through over-current tests and its recovery characteristics under load current were analyzed using optimized value of the shunt protection. The projected limiting ratio achieved a factor higher than 4 during fault of 5 cycles without degradation. Construction details and further test results will be shown in the paper. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.