• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Applied Superconductivity and Cryogenics Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.291-293
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• 2003

Applicability and economical feasibility of a Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCL) have been investigated using the PSS/E simulation for a bus bar coupling at the real 154 ㎸ KEPCO power grid near Seoul. For the investigated substation, the maximum fault current exceeds the interruption rating of 4 circuit breakers (CB) out of 9 installed in the substation. The simulation showed that a SFCL installed in the bus tie position effectively limits the fault currents to save 4 CBs, which are to be replaced by ones of gloater interruption rating, otherwise. We suggest that the optimum resistance of the SFCL be 10 Ohm for the given grid.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2017

This article reviews the recent activities of field testing and application of superconducting fault current limiters (SFCL) based on high-temperature superconductors (HTS). The review particularly focuses on the trends in the field tests in terms of the technical aspects and commercial activities of the SFCLs. Stimulated by the discovery of HTS, numerous research and development activities have been conducted worldwide for SFCLs operating from distribution voltages to transmission voltages. Different types of SFCLs have been developed and field-tested. Consequently, more than 20 field tests and applications have been performed on real grids worldwide while supplying electric power to the customers. These field tests have not only provided the track records of the operation experiences including the problems and maintenance during operation, but also proved their current limiting capabilities against real faults, rendering this new technology highly viable. Through these activities, the following trends in the status of field testing and application are observed. Resistive-type SFCLs with HTS-coated conductors were dominantly used in the most recent field tests. This implies that the resistive type is technically more mature than the other types. Bus-bar coupling and transformer feeders were the major application locations. It is of importance that most of the field applications were conducted as R&D projects. A relevant change from the R&D stage to the application stage is shown as recently deployed SFCLs are expected to be under long-term operation and commercial service. Here, we review the installation of these SFCLs by substation. This review also discusses the recent activities for their commercial applications.