A Study on the Power System Application of High-Tc Superconducting Fault Current Limiter

고온초전도 한류기의 전력계통 적용에 관한 연구

Since the discovery of the high-temperature superconductors, many researches have been performed for the practical applications of superconductivity technologies in various fields. As results, significant progress has been achieved. Especially, Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCL) offers an attractive means to limit fault current in power systems. The SFCLS, in contrast to current limiting reactors or high impedance transformers, are capable of limiting short circuit currents without adding considerable voltage drop and energy loss to power systems during normal operation. Under fault conditions, a resistance is automatically inserted into the power grid to limit the peak short-circuit current by transition from the superconducting state to the normal state, the quench. The advantages, like fail safe operation and quick recovery, make SFCL very attractive, especially for rapidly growing power systems with higher short-circuit capacities. In order to verify the effectiveness of the SFCL, in this paper, the analysis of fault current and voltage stability assessment in a sample distribution system and a transmission system are performed by the PSCAD/EMTDC based simulation method. Through the simulation, the advantage of SFCL application is shown, and the effective parameters of the SFCL are also recommended for both distribution and transmission systems. A resistive type component of SFCL is adopted in the analysis. The simulation results demonstrate not only the effectiveness of the proposed simulation scheme but also SFCL parameter assessment technique.