System-Level Studies of a \hbox Superconducting Fault-Current Limiter in an Active Distribution Network

• Published in: IEEE transactions on applied superconductivity Vol. 20; no. 2; pp. 54 - 60
• Main Authors: Singh, N.K., Tumilty, R.M., Burt, G.M., Bright, C.G., Brozio, C.C., Roberts, D.A., Smith, A.C., Husband, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01-04-2010
• Subjects: Circuit faults; Electricity distribution; Fault currents; Inductors; Power system faults; Power system interconnection; Power system management; Power system transients; superconducting fault-current limiter (SCFCL); Superconducting transmission lines; Switchgear; system studies; Voltage
• ISSN: 1051-8223; 1558-2515
• DOI: 10.1109/TASC.2010.2042594

Superconducting fault-current limiters are being considered as a potential technology for restricting fault current to acceptable levels without extensive and costly network asset replacement. Such an issue currently arises primarily from the connection of a distributed generation. This paper first investigates the fault studies of an active medium-voltage distribution network with several superconducting fault-current-limiter deployment strategies and then considers their impact on circuit-breaker transient recovery voltage. These circuit-breaker characteristics at various voltage levels have been studied, and it is demonstrated that the superconducting fault-current limiter is capable of reducing both the magnitude and the rate of rise of the transient recovery voltage.