Generic Model of Three-Phase (RE)BCO Resistive Superconducting Fault Current Limiters for Transient Analysis of Power Systems

• Published in: IEEE transactions on applied superconductivity Vol. 29; no. 6; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Perez-Chavez, Jose Juan, Trillaud, Frederic, Castro, Luis M., Queval, Loic, Polasek, Alexander, de Andrade Junior, Rubens
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01-09-2019; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE); Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Alternating current; Case studies; Circuit faults; Coils; Condensed Matter; Current limiters; Electric power systems; Electromagnetism; Engineering Sciences; Liquid nitrogen; Mathematical model; Physics; Recovery time; Resistance; Resistive superconducting fault current limiter (r-ScFL); Shunt resistance; Stability analysis; Superconducting epitaxial layers; Superconducting films; Superconducting integrated circuits; Superconducting tapes; Superconductivity; thermoelectric model; three-phase ac circuit; Transient analysis; Transient stability; Transmission lines; Unbalance
• ISSN: 1051-8223; 1558-2515
• DOI: 10.1109/TASC.2019.2891229

This paper presents the modelling and implementation of a generic three-phase resistive superconducting fault current limiter (r-ScFCL) for transient analysis of ac power systems. The r-ScFCL consists of series-connected noninductive coils made of insulated commercially available (RE)BCO tapes operated in a liquid nitrogen bath, in parallel with a resistive shunt at room temperature. The model allows the prediction of the thermal and electrical behaviors of the device prior to, during, and after a fault. It was used to evaluate the impact of a three-phase r-ScFCL on the transient stability of a synchronous generator supplying an infinite bus through a step-up transformer and a transmission line. More specifically, the impact of the r-ScFCL design on fault current magnitude, device voltage, temperature, and recovery time was studied. For the chosen case study, the r-ScFCL did increase the stability of the power system. It was also found that parameters such as the length of the superconducting tapes, the number of tapes in parallel, and the shunt resistance can balance or unbalance the response of the r-ScFCL over the three phases during a fault.