Calculation principles for a superconducting inductive FCL and a current-limiting transformer

TL;DR

This paper discusses the design principles and operational characteristics of superconducting inductive fault current limiters and current-limiting transformers, focusing on their parameters, performance, and application in power systems.

Contribution

It introduces general calculation principles for these superconducting devices and analyzes their performance, including the effects of the superconducting-normal transition and device-specific features.

Findings

Relationships between design parameters and limited current, losses, and temperature are established.

Superconducting devices show different fault current limitation depths despite similarities.

Performance analysis of HTS BSCCO hollow cylinders in power circuit applications.

Abstract

We present general principles of the parameters calculation and application of two power devices: an inductive fault current limiter and a current-limiting transformer. Both the devices are based on the superconducting - normal state transition in a superconducting switching element magnetically coupled with a primary winding. The relationships between the design parameters of the devices and the limited current, losses and temperature in the superconducting element were investigated. It is shown that, in spite of similarity, the devices have distinctive features manifested in different depths of the fault current limitation. The case of performance of the superconducting winding in the form of HTS BSCCO hollow cylinders is analyzed. Basic parameters of the devices are evaluated for their application in 45 MVA power circuit. Problems of the transition into the normal state and recovery of the superconducting state in the switching element are discussed.