Fault Current Limiter

Design and Application

Kasegn Tekletsadik, Ph.D

Director of Technology, Applied Materials, Inc

Joint TNC CIGRE & IEEE PES Seminar on

Understanding Superconducting Fault Current Limiters: Design and Application
September 29, 2015

Impedance on Demand Applied Materials Confidential

Fault Current Limiter - Summary
 Technical knowledge about FCL systems, design parameters and impact
analysis on utility equipment is primarily contained within the FCL
manufacturers’ technical expertise
 There is a need to transfer the FCL technical knowledge to utility engineers
– To design FCL systems with the technical expertise that enables them to specify
FCLs for their applications

 Applied Materials provides Superconducting FCL (SCFCL) and Solid State

FCL (SSFCL) at transmission and distribution voltage levels
– Both FCL technologies have been subjected to extensive high power short circuit
and high voltage testing and in-grid demonstration

 AMAT provides a means to get FCLs into utility engineers design and
planning toolbox
– Train utility engineers how to select and design FCL applications

– Provide simplified FCL simulation models for short circuit analysis and system
impact studies
This presentation provides a guideline how utility engineers
select FCL systems for their specific application
2 Applied Materials Confidential
 Drivers of the Fault Current Problem
lectrir transmission
Generation Transmissionand Distribution
distribution trends
Customers

Increased
Interconnection

Fault Current
Level
Grid

Increased demand
New Generation  Transportation - Electric cars, trains
 Renewable energy – wind, solar, hydro  Urbanization
 Micro-Nuclear power  New industries
 Increased grid interconnection  Population growth

Both new generation and increased demand for energy

increase fault current levels
3 Applied Materials Confidential
Benefits of Fault Current Limiters
 Enhances interconnection of the grid
– Increased substation capacity
– Easier addition of new generation

 Increased asset utilization

– Deferral of capital equipment upgrade
– Equipment life extension

 Improve system performance

– Safety - Arc Flash Reduction and Brush Fire Suppression
– Transient stability – by introducing low X/R reactor
– Voltage stability – isolating faulty section with FCL
– Operational flexibility

 Less complex system design with lower fault current rating equipment
 A more reliable and resilient grid
4 Applied Materials Confidential
 System Impact of Fault Current Limiters (FCL)
 No FCL
– Fault currents are critical system design Power Voltage
constraints Delivery Stability

– Power quality and voltage stability Constraint

impacted with high fault currents
Without FCL
Now
 With FCL Fault
Currents
– FCL removes fault current constraint -
decouples Fault Current from the delivery
of high quality power
– Decoupling provides new flexibility Power Voltage
Delivery Stability
– Expansion of current substations
– Greater interconnection/reliability With FCL
Future
– Simpler Distributed Generation and
renewables integration
Fault
Currents
FCLs alter the fundamental way the grid can
evolve – Enhances Smart Grid technology Independent
and implementation Variable
5 Applied Materials Confidential
Desired Characteristics of an Ideal FCL
An ideal Fault Current Limiter FCL
would
FCL
– In normal operation, it is FCL Impedance variation
virtually "transparent“ (no Normal operation: ZFCL = ~ 0
power loss or voltage drop) to During Fault: ZFCL = + j XFCL + RFCL Current Limiting Impedance
the network After Fault Clears: ZFCL = ~ 0 Recovery time
Typical current waveforms due to fault
– During fault - Increases the
impedance on the line and Normal Operation Fault Recovery
reduces fault current to a Without FCL (Prospective Fault Current)

desired value

Fault Inception

Fault Clearing
– After fault is cleared - returns
to low impedance status fast Current

 An ideal FCL would require a

fast switch capable of handling
high power
– Superconductor – inherent
td (Fault duration time) tr (recovery time)
property
– Solid State Switch Normal Load Current Prospective Fault Current Limited Fault Current

6 Applied Materials Confidential

 Superconductivity - Ideal for FCL application
 Zero resistance during normal
operation,
– Current, I < Ic
Resistivity

I < Ic
– Magnetic field, B < Bc
Resistance = 0 JI ≥ Ic
Resistance > 0 – Temperature, T < Tc
I operation
Ic
Current, I [A]
 High impedance during fault
condition
Requires cooling to – I ≥ Ic or
-200 0C (77 K)
– B ≥ Bc or
Resistiv

T < Tc
– T ≥ Tc
T ≥ Tc
ity

Resistance = 0
T operation Resistance > 0
 Uses inherent material properties

77K (-200 C) Temperature

 Fast transition, within 1 – 4 ms
Tc (92K)
 Ideal for fault current limiter
Superconducting Materials are Ideal for Fault Current Limiters
Fast resistance change enables First Peak Reduction
7 Applied Materials Confidential
Principles of FCL operation
Shunt Reactor
ZSH = RSH + j XSH

Transformer Short Circuit Fault

CB2 ISH CB3

IT IFCL
CB1 Load
Substation FCL Unit
ZS = RS + j XS ZFCL = RFCL + j XFCL

Fault
Generator current

 Normal operation
– Load current flows through the FCL unit - ZFCL << ZSH and IFCL > 90%IT
– FCL introduces nearly zero impedance, zero voltage drop and zero active and reactive power loss
 Fault Condition
– FCL unit senses fault current, and inserts high impedance, with in ~ 2 ms
– Current transfers to shunt reactor and limits fault current - ZFCL >> ZSH and ISH > 90%IT
 Recovery
– FCL unit recovers to its low impedance state quickly – Instant (SSFCL) and within 3.5 seconds for
SCFCL

8 Applied Materials Confidential

AMAT Fault Current Limiter Platforms
 Transmission System FCL
Shunt Reactor, ZSH = RSH + j XSH
– Superconducting Fault Current Limiter
(SCFCL) ISH
– 66 kV to 500 kV transmission voltage levels SC unit
ISC
– Flexible load current specs. Superconductor Unit

– Up to 50 % or higher fault current ZSC = RSC + j XSC

reduction
SCFCL

 Distribution System FCL Shunt Reactor, ZSH = RSH + j XSH

– Solid State Fault Current Limiter (SSFCL)
– Superconducting Fault Current Limiter – If ISH
SS unit
required ISS
– Up to 66 kV distribution voltage levels Solid State Unit
ZSS = RSS + j XSS
– Flexible load current specs.
– Up to 50 % or higher fault current reduction SSFCL

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 Modular FCL Platform for HV and High Power
 Live Tank design simplifies High 500 kV
Voltage Design
 Higher voltage application requires
HV Insulators – use FCLs in series
 Higher power application – use
230 kV
FCLs in parallel

115 kV

≤ 66 kV
h3

h2
h1

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 Design Parameters for SCFCL
Shunt Reactor Load
ZSH = RSH + j XSH FCL Equivalent Circuit
 ZFCL = ZSH // ZSC
ZS = RS + j XS ISH
 ZFCL ≈ 0, Normal Operation
IFCL
 ZFCL ≈ XSH , During Fault
IT
Vs
Superconductor Unit
Fault
ZSC = RSC + j XSC = RSC

SFCL Ratings FCL Currents

 Vs = System Line Voltage (Vp = 𝑉𝑝 𝑉𝑝
Vs/ 3 is Line-to-Ground Voltage)  Prospective Fault Current, 𝐼𝑃𝑅𝑂𝑆 = ≅
𝑍𝑠 𝑋𝑠
 IL = Normal Load Current 𝑉𝑝 𝑉𝑝
 Limited Fault Current, 𝐼𝐿𝐼𝑀 = ≅
𝑍𝑠+𝑍𝐹𝐶𝐿 𝑋𝑠+𝑋𝑆𝐻
 ZINS = Insertion Impedance during
𝐼𝑃𝑅𝑂𝑆−𝐼𝐿𝐼𝑀 𝑍𝐹𝐶𝐿 𝑋𝑆𝐻
normal operation  Current Reduction, 𝐶𝑅 = = ≅
𝐼𝑃𝑅𝑂𝑆 𝑍𝑠+𝑍𝐹𝐶𝐿 𝑋𝑠+𝑋𝑆𝐻
 IPROS = Prospective Fault Current 𝑉
or CR = 𝐹𝐶𝐿
 ILIM = Limited Fault Current or 𝑉𝑝

 CR = Fault Current Reduction  Voltage Across FCL, VFCL = ILIM ∗ ZFCL ≅ 𝐼𝐿𝐼𝑀 ∗ 𝑋𝑆𝐻
 VFCL = Voltage across FCL during
fault  Where Vp = System Line-to-Ground Voltage

11 Applied Materials Confidential

 Current Limiting Performance
SCFCL - Current Limiting Performance
1.0 2.8

0.8 2.4

0.5 2
Current
0.3 1.6
Current [pu]

0.0 1.2

Voltage [pu]
-0.3 0.8

-0.5 0.4
Voltage
-0.8 0

-1.0 -0.4

-1.3 -0.8
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140
Time [ms]
Prospective Fault Current [kA] Limited Current [kA]
Superconductor Current [kA] Shunt Current [kA]
Voltage Across FCL [kV]

 Fault current limitation including the 1st peak is achieved

 When SC unit inserts high resistance in the circuit, most fault current transfers from SC
unit to the Shunt Reactor
12 Applied Materials Confidential
 SCFCL Equivalent Circuit
Parallel Equivalent Circuit
SCFCL - Current Limiting Impedance
4.0 Shunt Reactor
ZSH = RSH + j XSH ≈ j XSH
3.5
SC Resistance
3.0
Transient Simulation
2.5 Electrical Superconductor Unit
CImpedance [pu]

𝑑𝑖
𝐿 + 𝑅. 𝑖 = 𝑉𝑝. sin 𝜔. 𝑡 ZSC = RSC + j XSC ≈ RSC
2.0 𝑑𝑡
Thermal

1.5 Shunt 𝑚. 𝑐. ∆𝑇 = 𝑅𝑠𝑐(𝑖, ∆𝑇). 𝑖2. 𝑑𝑡 − 𝑞. 𝐴𝑠. 𝑑𝑡

Reactance
Series Equivalent Circuit
1.0
FCL Equivalent Impedance
0.5 Z_FCL = R_FCL + j X_FCL

0.0 Fault Current (FCL)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Time [ms]
𝑍𝐹𝐶𝐿 = 𝑅𝐹𝐶𝐿 + 𝑗 𝑋𝐹𝐶𝐿
Shunt Reactance [Ω] SC Resistance [Ω] R_FCL [Ω] X_FCL [Ω] Z_FCL [Ω]
𝑅𝑠𝑐 ∗ 𝑋𝑆𝐻2
𝑅𝐹𝐶𝐿 ≅
𝑅𝑠𝑐2 + 𝑋𝑆𝐻2
𝑋𝑆𝐻 ∗ 𝑅𝑠𝑐2
For most design considerations ZFCL ≈ j XSH, assume 𝑋𝐹𝐶𝐿 ≅
𝑅𝑠𝑐2 + 𝑋𝑆𝐻2
Rsc > 3.0* XSH
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 Typical FCL Applications
In-Line FCL Application Bus-Tie FCL Application
Section 1 Section 2 Section 1 Section 2

Zs1
I1 I2 Zs2 Zs2
I1 Zs1 I2
FCL
Bus1 V1 V2 Bus2 Bus1 V1 V2 Bus2

Fault Fault
ILIm FCL ILIm
Bus Tie Breaker Bus Tie FCL

Fault Current Limitation Voltage Sag Improvement

𝐼𝑃 −𝐼𝐿𝑖𝑚
 FCL Fault Current Reduction, 𝑐𝑟 = ,  V1 = cr.Vs, for example a system with an
𝐼𝑃
 where IP = prospective fault current and ILim = limited FCL of cr = 0.8, the voltage at the un-
fault current faulted Bus1 can be kept to 80% of the
system voltage (Vs)
 Limited Fault Current , ILim = (1 - cr).I1 + I2

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Cost-effective Location for FCL Applications
Bus-Tie FCL Application
Section 1 Section 2

Fault at section 1 (F1),

𝐼𝐹2 𝑍𝑆2
𝐼𝐹𝐶𝐿 = ∗
𝑍𝑆2 𝑍𝐹𝐶𝐿
+
Zs2
I1 Zs1
F1 I2 Fault at section 2 (F2),
IF1 𝐼𝐹1∗𝑍𝑆1
Bus1 V1 V2 Bus2 𝐼𝐹𝐶𝐿 =
IF1 IF2 𝑍𝑆1+𝑍𝐹𝐶𝐿
F2
FCL IF2
Bus Tie FCL
ZFCL
Cost-effective Location for FCL Application
 In a complex system a Bus-Tie application offers most cost-effective FCL application
 Best location for FCL is where fault contributions from both sides of the FCL are close to
each other, IF1 ≈ IF2
 In case some of the generations are disconnected, the FCL can be by-passed to allow higher
current through the bus-tie
 Voltage sag improvement is an additional benefit with this arrangement
15 Applied Materials Confidential
System Requirements, FCL Rating and Cost Drivers
System Parameters - Provided by Utility  Major cost drivers
System Voltage - Line-to-Line, Vs 220 KV rms
– Load current (IL)
Maximum Load Current, IL 1500 A rms
– Fault current reduction (CR)
Prospective Fault Current, Ip 25 kA rms
– Voltage drop across the
Limited Fault Current, Ilim 12.5 kA rms
FCL during fault (VFCL)
Calculated System Parameters
𝑉𝑠
System Short Circuit Impedance, 𝑍𝑠 = 5.08 Ω
𝐼𝑝. 3  Cost factor (CF) related to
𝐼𝑝−𝐼𝐿𝑖𝑚
Current Reduction, 𝐶𝑅 =
𝐼𝑝
50 % FCL rating
𝐶𝑅
Shunt Reactor Impedance, 𝑍𝑠ℎ = 𝑍𝑠 5.08 Ω CF = k1* IL * CR
1−𝐶𝑅

Voltage Drop Across FCL, 𝑉𝐹𝐶𝐿 = 𝑍𝑠ℎ. 𝐼𝐿𝑖𝑚 63.5 kV rms

Recovery time after Fault is cleared 2.0 - 3.5 sec = k2* IL * VFCL
Fault Current Limiter Rating
• 220 kV, 1550 A, Limits 25 kA to 12.5 kA (50% CR), uses 5.08 Ω = k2* IL * Ilim * ZSH
Shunt Reactor

• Size and weight of the FCL is also linearly proportional to the cost factor
• Use these factors - to optimize the FCL application and location for a cost-
effective solution
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 Testing - KEMA test setup for SCFCL test
Shunt Reactor
22 kV 44 kV 72 kV Generator
connection
A
Fault current
B

C V2
CB1
3-Phase Generator CLR 3-Phase Transformer
V1 Ish
SCFCL Isc

It
 KEMA-USA Short Circuit Test Capability
– Voltage – single phase up to 72 kV
– Short circuit Current – 10 kA at 72 kV up to 63 kA
at 10 kV
– Has capability to test FCLs up to 138 kV  Test Data
– Voltages V1 and V2 – Voltage across FCL
 Short Circuit tests – Currents – Total limited fault currents (IT),
SC Unit Current (Isc) and Shunt Reactor
– Calibrate system for Prospective Fault Current
current (Ish)
– Test current limiting performance per design
– Current limiting performance
requirements
 Other test data
– Number of short circuits could vary depending on
the customer request – Based on customers’ request

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 Fault Current Limitation Test results and
Validation of Simulation Results
Simulation – Design Requirement KEMA Test – Performance Verification
Simulation – 12.5
Simulation - KEMA kV and
test SCFCL, 56
72 m x kA Zsh = 264
6 tapes, KEMA Test Trial #46 - 12.5 kV and 56 kA rms (150 kA peak)
m.Ohm, Vs = 12.5 kV and 56 kA (rms) Prospective Fault Prospective Fault Current, limited to 24 kA rms (65 kA
prospective fault Current
current peak), 56 % Current Reduction
175 175

150 150

125 125

Current [kA], Voltage [kV]

100 100
Current [kA], Voltage [kV]

75 75

50

25
= 50

25

0 0

-25 -25

-50 -50

-75 -75
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240
Time [ms] Time [ms]
Prospective Fault Current [kA] Limited Current [kA] Prospective Fault Current [kA] Limited Current[kA]
Superconductor Current [kA] Shunt Current [kA] Superconductor Current [kA] Shunt Current [kA]
Voltage [kV] Voltage [kV]

Current limiting performance test results agree with simulation results

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KEMA Test Results – Fast response Time
KEMA Test Trial #46 - 12.5 kV and 56 kA rms (150 kA peak) Prospective Fault
Current, limited to 24 kA rms (65 kA peak), 56 % Current Reduction
70 17.5
90% of Fault current flows through
60 Shunt and only 10% flows through
15.0
Current [kA]

SC unit - Shunt protects SC unit

50 12.5
40 10.0
30 7.5

Voltage [kV]
20 5.0
10 2.5
0 0.0
-10 -2.5
-20 Fast response time < 1 ms -5.0
1st peak limitation
-30 -7.5
-40 -10.0
67 72 77 82 87 92 97
0 5 10 15Time [ms] 20 25 30

Total Limited Fault Current[kA] SC Current [kA] Shunt Current [kA] Voltage [kV]

1st peak response within < 1 ms response time.

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 High Voltage Testing

+ 900 kV

Scale: 23.95 kV

 Doble HV test Lab or KEMA

– Use IEEE testing guide for FCL
– Use a hybrid HV testing using IEC or IEEE
standards for Current Limiting Reactors, - 900 kV
Transformers and Breakers
 Tests
HV Tests for a 230 kV system
 Impulse test at 900 kV BIL
 Basic Impulse level (BIL)
– 15 Impulses at +900 kV – Pass
– 15 Impulses with +Ve Polarity
– 15 Impulses at -900 kV – Pass
– 15 Impulses with –Ve Polarity  AC withstand Voltage
 AC withstand Voltage – 1 minute test at 266 kV – Pass
– 1 minute withstand test for operating conditions – (limited by test facility – 385-460 kV
(Dry, with LN2 Flow and Wet) requirement)

20 Applied Materials Confidential

 SCFCL – Installed in Santa Clara, CA
 Normal Operation
– Voltage = 15 kV class
– Load current = 1000A

 Fault Current Limitation

– 23 kA to 11.5 kA ( at 50%
reduction)

 Recovery Under Load (RUL)

– 1 to 3.5 seconds depending
on the fault current level

 Installation
Reactors, Cryostat – Cryogenics –
– At Applied Materials industrial Instrumentation Superconductor Unit Cooling system
substation supplied by Silicon and other devices
Valley Power (SVP) – Santa under test
Clara

15 kV class SCFCL installed in July 2013

– Over 1 year operation with no issues
21 Applied Materials Confidential
SCFCL – Installed in Central Hudson substation
Poughkeepsie, NY
Reactor

Superconductor
Cooling System Transformer
Unit Neutral – Ground (N-G) Fault Current Limiter

 FCL Rating  Performance

– Voltage = 15 kV class – Limited 16 faults since commissioning

in June 2014
– Load current = 400A
– FCL activated and reduced the faults
– Prospective Fault Current = 12 kA rms as predicted.
– Limited fault current 8 kA rms – Works as expected

15 kV class SCFCL installed in June 2014

22 Applied Materials Confidential
115 kV SCFCL – to be installed in March 2016
230 kV

FCL1 FCL2
115 kV 115 kV

Bus Tie Breaker

Open

FCL Rating
System Voltage, Vs 115 kV
Maximum Load Current, IL 550 A
Prospective Fault Current, Ip 5 kA
Limited Fault Current, Ilim 2.5 kA
Current Reduction, 50 %
Shunt Reactor Impedance 15 Ω
Voltage Drop Across FCL 37.5 kV
BIL 550 kV
AC withstand Voltage 230 kV
RIV at 73 kV <
µV
1200
2 identical SCFCL Units
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 Current Limiting Performance - Simulation
230 kV SCFCL - Current Limiting Performance
15.0 250

10.0 200
FCL1 FCL2 Current
115 kV 115 kV
5.0 150

Current [kA]

Voltage [kV]
Bus Tie Breaker 0.0 100
Open

-5.0 50
FCL Rating
System Voltage, Vs 115 kV Voltage
-10.0 0
Maximum Load Current, IL 550 A
Prospective Fault Current, Ip 5 kA
-15.0 -50
Limited Fault Current, Ilim 2.5 kA 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Current Reduction, 50 % Time [ms]
Prospective Fault Current [kA] Limited Current [kA]
Shunt Reactor Impedance 15 Ω
Superconductor Current [kA] Shunt Current [kA]
Voltage Drop Across FCL 37.5 kV Voltage [kV]
BIL 550 kV
AC withstand Voltage 230 kV SCFCL limits both 1st peak and RMS fault currents
RIV at 73 kV <
µV
1200
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HSSFCL – Principles of Operation
Shunt Reactor
Zsh = Rsh + j Xsh

Transformer Short Circuit

CB2 Ish CB3 Fault

CB1 It Iss

Substation Solid State Unit Load

ZSS = RSS + j XSS
ZS = RS + j XS
Fault
Generator current

SSFCL Current Limiting Performance - 10 kA rms fault limited to

 Normal operation
5 kA rms fault (50% Current Reduction)
– Load current flows through Solid State unit 25

– SSFCL introduces nearly zero impedance, zero 20

voltage drop and negligible active and reactive 15
power loss
10
 Fault Condition
5
Current [kA]

– Solid State trigger circuit senses fault current,

opens SS circuit, inserts high impedance 0

– Fast response time - < 2 ms -5

– Current transfers to shunt and limits fault current -10

– Fast Acting Fuse protects the system incase of SS -15

Unit failure to open 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Time [ms]
 Recovery Prospective Fault Current [kA] Limited Current [kA]
– SSFCL can be designed to recover instantly or Superconductor Current [kA] Shunt Current [kA]
within few cycles after the fault is cleared

25 Applied Materials Confidential

 Current Limiting Performance – Test results
Current limiting performance
KEMA Trial #32 - SSFCL at 6.35 kV (11 kV system),
• Limited fault current - up 10 kA rms
26 kA prospective fault current limited to 7.94 kA
(25 kA peak)
(69.5% reduction)
80 • Voltage drop across SSFCL – up to
70 4.5 kV rms (6.4 kV peak) per unit
60 • Current reduction
– 70% at 11 kV system,
50
– 56% at 13.8 kV
Current [kA]

40 – 34% at 23 kV with 1 unit or 68% with

30 2 units in series
20 Recovery Under Load (RUL) Time
• Adjustable – from instant recovery to any
10
time delay.
0
-10
-20
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Time [ms]
Prospective Fault Current [kA] Limited Fault Current [kA]

Proven SSFCL Technology for distribution systems up

23 kV SSFCL - install Oct. 2014
to 66 kV or higher

26 Applied Materials Confidential

 Solid State FCL – Installed at AusNet Substation
Substation Transformer Feeder Transformer

FPE

N
Y/Y Δ/Y

Ground
SSFCL Fault
ISS
FPE
G

SSFCL  Main Application – Brush Fire Protection

 22 kV Neutral to Ground Connection
 Trigger fault current – starts at 0.5 A

 Response time – in microseconds and completely stops Neutral current

 Leaves Capacitive currents – sends signal to Faulted Phase Earthing (FPE)
switch to ground faulted phase
 FPE – earths faulted phase within < 70 ms

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FCL Simulation Models
Transient Simulation XSH
 AMAT design Software and PSCAD Model 𝑑𝑖
𝐿 + 𝑅. 𝑖 = 𝑉𝑝. sin 𝜔. 𝑡
– Includes quench and recovery properties 𝑑𝑡
– Includes electrical and thermal transient effects 𝑚. 𝑐. ∆𝑇 = 𝑅𝑠𝑐(𝑖, ∆𝑇). 𝑖2. 𝑑𝑡
RFCL
 DIgSilent Model − 𝑞. 𝐴𝑠. 𝑑𝑡
– Linearized step transition of superconductor equivalent resistance XSH
• RFCL = 0, for I < Trigger Current
𝑋𝑆𝐻
• RFCL = 𝑘𝑟. . 𝑡,
∆𝑡
– Resistance during transition from superconducting to normal state.
Where kr ≈ 3 – 5 and Δt ≈ 1 – 2 ms, are SCFCL design dependent
parameters RFCL
• RFCL = kr.XSH, for t > Δt and the Superconductor is fully quenched

 Reactor in parallel with a resistor Model XCLR

– PSSE and/or other software
– Calculate the current limiting reactor value (XCLR) required for the application
– Use a parallel equivalent resistance, RFCL = kr. XCLR, where kr ≈ 3 – 5
 Reactor Model RFCL
– Simple model with a Current Limiting Reactor (XCLR) only
 Solid State FCL Simulation Model
– A simple current limiting reactor model works very well for fast switching SSFCLs XCLR

The impact of simplified models is a minimal loss of accuracy for the

1st 4 ms only – No impact on the overall fault current calculation
28 Applied Materials Confidential
SCFCL Model – Transient Electrical and Thermal
SCFCL Current Limiting Performance Simulation - Uses
Superconductor physics and thermal model
70
60
50
40 Prospective Fault
Current [kA]
30
Current [kA]

20 Limited Current
10 [kA]
0 Superconductor
-10 Current [kA]
-20
-30
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Time [ms]

 Fault current triggers FCL XSH

 FCL inserts high impedance within 2 ms
 Fault current transfers to Shunt Reactor
 220 kV FCL systems RFCL

 25 kA limited to 12.5 kA (50% current reduction)

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SCFCL Model – Reactor in Parallel with a Resistor
Current Limiting Performance Simulation - Using a simplified resistor in
parallel with a shunt reactor (R = 5*X)
70
60
50
40 Prospective Fault
Current [kA]
30
Current [kA]

20 Limited Fault
10 Current [kA]
0 Resitor Current
-10 [kA]
-20
-30
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Time [ms]
 Fault current triggers FCL XCLR
 FCL inserts high impedance instantly RFCL = 5*XCLR
 Fault current transfers to Shunt Reactor
 220 kV FCL systems RFCL = 5*XCLR
 25 kA limited to 12.5 kA (50% current reduction)
30 Applied Materials Confidential
SCFCL Model – Current Limiting Reactor
SCFCL or SSFCL Current Limiting Performance Simulation - Using a series
current limiting reactor model
70

50
Prospective Fault
30 Current [kA]
Current [kA]

10
Limited Fault
Current [kA]
-10

-30
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Time [ms]

 Fault current triggers FCL

XCLR
 FCL’s shunt reactor becomes a current limiting reactor (XCLR)
 Fault current is limited by Shunt Reactor
 220 kV FCL systems
 25 kA limited to 12.5 kA (50% current reduction)
31 Applied Materials Confidential
SSFCL Model – Transient Electrical and Thermal
SSFCL Current Limiting Performance simulation - Using a simplified
Trigger Current (10 kA peak) Model
70

50
Prospective Fault
Current [kA]
30
Current [kA]

Limited Fault
10 Current [kA]
Solid State Unit
-10 Current [kA]

-30
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Time [ms]

 Fault current triggers FCL

XSH
 FCL becomes open circuit within 2 ms
 Fault current transfers to Shunt Reactor
 33 kV FCL systems RFCL
 25 kA limited to 12.5 kA (50% current reduction)
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FCL Models – Comparison XSH
FCL Performance - Comparison between Simulation Models
70

60

50 RFCL
40

30 XSH
Current [kA]

20

10

-10
RFCL
negligible error within the 1st 4 ms
-20

-30
15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 XCLR
Time [ms]
Prospective Fault Current [kA]
Limited Fault Current - Supercondutor Model [kA]
Limited Fault Current - Resistor in Parallel with a Reactor Model (R = 5*X) [kA]
Limited Fault Current - Solid State FCL Model [kA]
RFCL
Limited Fault Current - Series Current Limiting Reactor Model [kA]

For the purpose of short-circuit analysis, utility engineers XCLR

can use even the simplest model with negligible or no loss
of accuracy – Use a series current limiting reactor model

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FCL – Recovery Performance
SCFCL Recovery Performance Simulation
477
427
377
Temperature [K]

327
277
227
177
127
77
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
Time [ms]

 SCFCL
 Recovery time is within 3.5 second
 SSFCL
 Recovery is adjustable – from instant to customer choice

34 Applied Materials Confidential

Conclusion
 FCL technologies up to 500 kV are available as commercial devices
– SCFCL is a preferred product for transmission systems 66 kV to 500 kV or higher
– SSFCL provides a less complex and smaller size product at a reasonable price at
distribution and sub-transmission systems up to 66 kV

 The need for FCL technology transfer from manufacturer to utility engineers is
addressed
– Utility engineers have FCL in their design tool box – can design a cost effective fault
current mitigation solution using FCLs
– Familiar with cost and size drivers – such as load current and current reduction
– Understand how to use a simplified FCL model to run with any short circuit analysis
software package with no loss of accuracy

 In most cases use a simple current limiting reactor model

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