superconducting fault current limiter-a reviewthe sfcl is a device which has the potential to limit...

Superconducting Fault Current Limiter-A Review

Shilpi Yadav1, Kamlesh Bharati2, Vijay Tewari3

Rajkiya Engineering College Kannauj UP India

Abstract

The electricity demand is increasing at a very high

rate. Introduction of Distributed Energy Sources

(DES) is the highest change happening to the

distribution network. This paper describes different

types of current limiting methods which reduce the

magnitude of the fault current. The interconnected

distributed energy sources to the conventional grid

improves the power generation capacity of the power

system but also increases the magnitude of fault

current which cannot tolerate by the short-circuit

ratings of the circuit breaker, relays, isolator etc.

Many conventional methods for the protection

against excessive fault current installed in power

systems, mainly at the power stations are the

sequential circuit breaker tripping, current limiting

reactor, high impedance transformer and bus

splitting. The problem with these methods are overall

time increase for fault clearance, unwanted power

loss, expensive. This paper reviews on the innovative

electric equipment i.e. Superconducting Fault Current

Limiter (SFCL), which reduces fault current

magnitude in first cycle of fault current.

Keyword: Distributed Energy Sources, Fault

current, Superconducting Fault Current Limiter

(SFCL), Protection Equipment.

Introduction

The requirement of the electricity in the world is

increasing at a high rate including India and demand

of power is greater than the supply of power due to

bigger houses, population growth, air conditioners,

bigger TVs and more computers. Up to now, many

techniques such as, higher impedance transformer,

split bus bars and fuses have been used in many

industries to suppress magnitude of the fault currents.

However these devices can degrade the reliability of

the power system and increases power loss. SFCL is

one of the most emerging solutions to resolve the

problem of increasing fault current[1],[2]. By the

different routes from generating plant to the

conventional grid, DC and AC microgrid, the excess

fault current in one microgrid could produce adverse

effect in the neighboring Microgrid and due to the

domino effect it leads to a blackout in the whole

system. Thus to suppress the fault current magnitude

in smart grid having DC and AC microgrid, SFCL

could be utilize which has not only a faster response

time to reduce the magnitude of fault current by its

quenching properties of a superconductor compared

to conventional protection techniques but also

increases the transient stability of power systems [3].

In resistive type SFCL, no adverse effects when the

grid will working normally, but in the case of fault,

the alteration from the state of superconducting into

normal conducting state provide optimal resistance to

power networks immediate, which reduces the

current more effective and fast [4], [5]. Research and

development of SFCL are being conduct by several

electrical manufacturers, and utility for electric

transmission lines. Future installing of SFCL in the

transmission network will require the evaluation of

their impact on the coordination between generator

capability curves and generator distance phase

backup protection [6].

Conventional Techniques for Protection Against

Fault Current

Increase in distributed power generation sources

causes rise in degree of fault current. This raised in

fault current has untimely effect on equipment of

power system. Therefore it is essential to minimize

this increased fault current. Power system manager

can use different methods to provide protection

against increased fault current[7]. Table 1 list out

some of these techniques and their advantages and

disadvantages. From the Table 1given below it is

concluded that conventional fault current limiter

methods are not technical and economically efficient.

Table 1 Technique to Limit Fault Current[8-10]

S.

No

Techniques Advantages and

Disadvantage

1.

Increase System

Impedance

Air-cooled transformers or reactors with large

reactance can be utilized to

raise impedance.

Disadvantages: undesirable power loss,

extra capital outlay and power quality problems.

International Journal of Applied Engineering Research ISSN 0973-4562 Volume 14, Number 2, 2019 (Special Issue) © Research India Publications. http://www.ripublication.com

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2.

Sequential Circuit

Breaker tripping

It requires first opening of

the upstream circuit breaker and after that downstream.

Circuit breaker will be

open. Disadvantages: This method increases final time

required for fault removal.

3.

Increase system

Voltage

High magnitude of voltage applied to the system to

reduce current level.

Disadvantages: not feasible method because

high voltage equipment

devices has higher cost.

4.

Upgrade Multiple

Circuit Breaker

When a fault occurs,

normally more than one breaker will be contrived.

Thus Upgradation of

breakers are required. Disadvantage: Expensive

method and also not

feasible

Superconducting Fault Current Limiter

The SFCL is a device which has the potential to limit

fault current magnitude within the first cycle of fault

current whereas circuit breaker requires two to three

cycles of fault current. The application of SFCL in

the power system would not only reduce the stress on

the system devices, but also improves the security

and reliability of the power system[11]. There are

different types of SFCL, which are of different design

and of different superconducting material. Fig.1

shows the current with and without SFCL in different

operating conditions[12].

The SFCL first made in 1983, employing low

temperature material. The material was NbTi having

eminent current carrying capacity but Low

Temperature Superconductor (LTS) has one

drawback cooling cost were very high. To overcome

this drawback High Temperature Superconductors

(HTS) are developed. HTS fault current limiter is

more satisfactory than LTS fault current limiter

because,

(i) More effective thermal stability

(ii) Less Refrigeration cost

(iii) High ordinary specific resistance

Fig.1 Current during Normal and Faulty

Condition with and without SFCL

To improve the capacity of current HTS have been

developed to meet the requirements of power system.

Superconductor in parallel with substrate used to

limits the resistance of SFCL in normal state.

Therefore SFCL are fabricating using Bi-2223, Bi-

2212 film, YBCO, Zr02(Y), SrTi03 and MgO are

normally used substrate materials. There specific

resistance is approximately 100times more than the

normal superconducting material. Fig.2 shows the

SFCL with impedance ZSH in parallel to reduce the

problem of hot spot during transition from

superconducting state to normal state[13].

Fig.2 SFCL with Cooling System

SFCL Applications in Power System

In a power system an SFCL can be placed at different

location such as:

(i) Feeder Point

(ii) Bus-Tie Location

(iii) Busbar Coupling

(i). SFCL at feeder point

The Resistive type SFCL can be either used in

the outgoing feeders or incoming feeders as

transformer feeder, rely on the safety task as

shown in Fig.3. This application provides

protection for all components downstream at the

point of installation. The device rating changes

according to the chosen location [14].


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Fig.3 SFCL in feeder point

(ii). SFCL in Bus-Tie Location

Locating SFCL in a bus-tie location provide

significant advantages in shunting bus sections

by considering loss of one or more transformers

in the substation this is shown in Fig.4. It also

provides paralleling of bus sections in formerly

split substations, more flexible arrangements,

allowing interconnectivity and improved power

quality. Depending on the fault reduction

required and bus-bar topology one or more

SFCLs can be installed with minimum changes

to existing protective devices[15].

Fig. 4 SFCL in Bus-Tie Location

(iii). Bus bar Coupling

The Resistive type SFCL is mainly preferable for

busbar coupling this is shown in Fig.5. In fault

condition, this limiter secures that the short-

circuit offering from the non faulty bus is

highly reduced. The non faulted side can

support almost stable operation and voltage[16].

Fig. 5 SFCL in Busbar coupling

Types of SFCL

The SFCL is innovative electric equipment used to

reduce the magnitude of fault current within the first

half cycle of the fault Current. Depending on the

Application the SFCL are classified as:-

(i) Resistive Superconducting Fault Current Limiter

(RSFCL)

(ii) Inductive Superconducting Fault Current Limiter

(ISFCL)

(iii) Hybrid Superconducting Fault Current Limiter

(HSFCL)

(i). Resistive Superconducting Fault Current

Limiter (RSFCL)

The simplest type of SFCL is the RSFCL as

shown in Fig.6 in which cryogenic shield is used

for cooling purpose. It is simple because the

superconductors are series connected with the

phase conductors electrically. Resistive SFCL

works on the concept that a current is passing in

the conductor, when this passing current is more

than the rated critical current, IC of

superconductor, quenching initiates and this

results in a switching to a resistive state. In

normal condition no electrical losses due to SFCL

because it offers negligible zero resistance [17-

19].

Fig.6 RSFCL Circuit Diagram

(ii). Inductive Superconducting Fault Current

Limiter (ISFCL)

An inductive saturated iron-core SFCL is shown

in Fig.7, It comprise of two iron cores, which are

operated by a DC bias supply. Two iron cores are

used that can limit the fault current in both

directions. The inductive type SFCL has some

unique merits like, large design flexibility because

of the turn ratio, insulation between a power

transmission line, current-limiting devices and

low heat losses[20].


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Fig.7 Inductive SFCL Circuit Diagram

(iii). Hybrid Superconducting Fault Current

Limiter (HSFCL)

Ω

Fig.8 Hybrid SFCL Circuit Diagram

Recent Research & Development in the Field of

SFCL

Now a day’s power generation demand is

increasing this turn in an increase in the fault current

magnitude that beyond the circuit breakers rated

capacity. This results in various projects in the

development SFCL as shown in Table II.

TABLE II Distinct SFCL developing Projects in

the World [26-30].

Companies Type Country/

Year

Phase Rating

Siemens

Resistive

Germany

/2000

3-ph

4.2kV,

100A

Alcatel

Resistive

France

/2001

1-ph

100V,

1.4kA

Nexans

SC

Resistive

Germany

/2004

3-ph

6.9kV,

600A

Siemens

Power

Electroni

cs

Germany

/2004

3-ph

6.9kV,

25MVA

Innopower

DC

biased

iron core

China

/2007

3-ph

20kV,

1.6kA

Nexans

Resistive

Germany

/2008

1-

ph

63.5kV,

1.8kA

Zenergy

Saturable

-core

SFCL

USA

/2009

3-ph

15kV,

1.2kA

ECCO-

FLOW

SFCl

with HTS

Italy

/2010

3-

ph

24kV,

1kA

CPRI,

Crompton

Greaves

Limited

Resistive

India

/2015

3-ph

11kV,

1250A

Conclusion

SFCL provide the scope to increase transmission and

distribution equipment utilization and reduce the

requirements of reinforcement. In current years, FCL

technology which depends on superconductivity has

engaged greater attention. This is because the

development of High Temperature Superconductor

(HTS) wires, this reduced the cooling costs

significantly.


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superconducting fault current limiter-a reviewthe sfcl is a device which has the potential to limit...

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