Study on Application of Superconducting Fault Current Limiter Considering Risk of Circuit Breaker Short-Circuit Capacity in a Loop Network System

This paper suggests an application method for a superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) using an evaluation index to estimate the risk regarding the short-circuit capacity of the circuit breaker (CB). Recently, power distribution systems have become more complex to ensure that supply continuously keeps pace with the growth of demand. However, the mesh or loop network power systems suffer from a problem in which the fault current exceeds the short-circuit capacity of the CBs when a fault occurs. Most case studies on the application of the SFCL have focused on its development and performance in limiting fault current. In this study, an analysis of the application method of an SFCL considering the risk of the CB's short-circuit capacitor was carried out in situations when a fault occurs in a loop network power system, where each line connected with the fault point carries a different current that is above or below the short-circuit capacitor of the CB. A loop network power system using PSCAD/EMTDC was modeled to investigate the risk ratio of the CB and the effect of the SFCL on the reduction of fault current through various case studies. Through the risk evaluations of the simulation results, the estimation of the risk ratio is adequate to apply the SFCL and demonstrate the fault current limiting effect.