Analysis of energy dissipation in resistive superconducting fault-current limiters for optimal power system performance

Blair, Steven Macpherson and Booth, Campbell and Singh, Nand and Burt, Graeme and Bright, C.G. (2011) Analysis of energy dissipation in resistive superconducting fault-current limiters for optimal power system performance. IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, 21 (4). 3452 - 3457. ISSN 1051-8223 (https://doi.org/10.1109/TASC.2011.2129518)

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Abstract

Fault levels in electrical distribution systems are rising due to the increasing presence of distributed generation, and this rising trend is expected to continue in the future. Superconducting fault-current limiters (SFCLs) are a promising solution to this problem. This paper describes the factors that govern the selection of optimal SFCL resistance. The total energy dissipated in an SFCL during a fault is particularly important for estimating the recovery time of the SFCL; the recovery time affects the design, planning, and operation of electrical systems using SFCLs to manage fault levels. Generic equations for energy dissipation are established in terms of fault duration, SFCL resistance, source impedance, source voltage, and fault inception angles. Furthermore, using an analysis that is independent of superconductor material, it is shown that the minimum required volume of superconductors linearly varies with SFCL resistance but, for a given level of fault-current limitation and power rating, is independent of system voltage and superconductor resistivity. Hence, there is a compromise between a shorter recovery time, which is desirable, and the cost of the volume of superconducting material needed for the resistance required to achieve the shorter recovery time.

ORCID iDs

Blair, Steven Macpherson ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3261-4803, Booth, Campbell ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3869-4477, Singh, Nand, Burt, Graeme ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0315-5919 and Bright, C.G.;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)