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International Journal of Communications and Engineering Volume 01 No.

1, Issue: 01 March2012

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF SUPERCONDUCTING FAULT CURRENT LIMITER (SFCL) IN SINGLE PHASE AND THREEPHASE SYSTEMS
U.M.Mohana PG scholar SNS College of Technology, ummohana@gmail.com Mrs.S.T.Suganthi Assistant Professor, SNS College of Technology suganthi_thangaraj@yahoo.co.in

ABSTRACT Increase in power generation capacity of electrical power systems has lead to increase in the fault current level which can exceed the maximum designed short-circuit ratings of the switchgear. Many conventional protective devices installed for protection of excessive fault current in electric power systems, especially at the power stations. The main protective devices are the circuit breakers tripped by over-current protection relay. They have the response-time delay that allows initial two or three fault current cycles to pass through before getting activated. Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCL) is innovative electric equipment which has the capability to reduce fault current level within the first cycle of fault current. The first-cycle suppression of fault current by a SFCL results in an increased transient stability of the power system carrying higher powerwith greater stability. In this work, a resistive type SFCL model was proposed using simulink tool. The performance of SFCL tested on both single phase and three phase systems and the comparison results are analyzed during the presence and absence of SFCL respectively. Keywords-Fault Current Limiter, Superconducting Fault Current Limiter, Resistive SFCL.

I. INTRODUCTION Conventional protection devices installed for protection ofexcessive fault current in electric power systems, especially atthe high voltage substation level, are the circuit breakerstripped by over-current protection relay which has a responsetimedelay that allows initial two or three fault current cyclesto pass through before getting activated [1].But, superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) isinnovative electric equipment which has the capability toreduce fault current level within the first cycle of fault current[2]. The first-cycle suppression of fault current by a SFCLresults in an increased transient stability of the power systemcarrying

higher power with greater stability [3].The comparison of conventional methods used for protection of single phase systems provides the informationregarding the working of all types of relays especially overcurrent protection relays operation and its construction. Theimportance of SFCL, its features, advantages of SFCL over other protection devices has to be studied in detail in order todifferentiate the operation of the SFCL clearly [4].A feasibility study of the current limiter by simulationanalysis is the operation of a normal fault current limiter with a series compensator and the effectiveness of the currentlimiter is evaluated from the viewpoints of transient stabilitymprovement and device capacity. The current limiter is auseful

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International Journal of Communications and Engineering Volume 01 No.1, Issue: 01 March2012

protection device for large, high power transmissionsystems. This method is very effective but continuousprotection of power system is difficult [5].The most important physical property dominating thecurrent limiting behavior of the SFCL is the electric fieldcurrentdensity characteristics of High TemperatureSuperconductors (HTS) [6] which is dependent ontemperatures. So we have developed an ElectromagneticTransient Program (EMTP) model of high temperatureresistive type SFCL based on characteristics of HTS. Realtimecircuit current is as an input signal to the SFCL model,and the output of the model is controlled by an advancedcontrolled timedependent resistance.EMTP simulation results based on a model system alsoshow that SFCLs are effective for enhancing the transient stability of electric power systems by restraining the generatorrotors from accelerating after faults and improving powerquality [7].The experimental results are analyzed by using the powertransmission simulators and the computer simulation usingEMTP, about the SFCL on improvement of power systemstability and suppressing fault currents as in [8]. Theexperiments and the simulations were carried out using theresistive type and inductive type SFCL. It is found that theresistive SFCL in the electric power system gives theimprovement of the suppressing fault current and powersystem transient stabilities. II. SUPERCONDUCTING FAULT CURRENT LIMITER Fault current, also called short-circuit current (Isc),describes current flow during a short. It passes through allcomponents in the affected circuit. Fault current is generallyvery large and, therefore, hazardous. Only the combinedimpedance of the object responsible for theshort, the wire,and the transformer limits its magnitude.One objective of electrical distribution system design is tominimize the effect of a fault, i.e. its extent and duration, on the uninterrupted part of the system. Coordinating the sizes ofcircuit breakers and fuses assures that these devices isolateonly the

affected circuits. It prevents a short at an outlet fromshutting down power to the entire building. The concept of using the superconductors to carry electricpower and to limit peak currents has been around since thediscovery of superconductors and the realization that they possess highly non-linear properties. More specifically, thecurrent limiting behavior depends on their nonlinear responseto temperature, current and magnetic field variations.Increasing any of these three parameters can cause a transitionbetween the superconducting and the normal conducting regime.The current increase can cause a section of superconductorto become so resistive that the heat generated cannot beremoved locally. This excess heat is transferred along theconductor, causing the temperature of adjacent sections to increase. The combined current and temperature can causethese regions to become normal and also generate heat. Theterm quench is commonly used to describe the propagationof the normal zone through a superconductor. Once initiated,the quench process is often rapid and uncontrolled.Though once initiated the quench process is uncontrolled,the extent of the normal region and the temperature rise in thematerials can be predicted. Thus, the quench process can beused in the design into a superconducting component. Severalhundred patents exist showing theoretical ways in which thisphenomenon might be used to control fault currents in theelectric power grid. However, efforts to develop the conceptsinto commercially viable product have culminated in only afew practical designs and even fewer working prototypesThe bases of this generalized characteristics of the SFCLoperating regimes outlined below and the characteristics arealso shown here. These are also referred as three modes ofoperation during the presence of SFCL. The three modes are, 1. Normal operation 2. Operation during fault-limiting action 3. Recovery period following a fault. A. Superconducting technology SFCLs utilize superconducting materials to limit thecurrent directly or to supply a DC bias

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International Journal of Communications and Engineering Volume 01 No.1, Issue: 01 March2012

current that affects thelevel of magnetization of a saturable iron core. While manyFCL design concepts are being evaluated for commercial use,improvements in superconducting materials over the last 3years have driven the technology to the forefront. Thisimprovement is due to the ability of HTS materials to operateat temperatures around 70K instead of near 4K, which isrequired by conventional superconductors. The advantage isthat the refrigeration overhead associated with operating at thehigher temperature is about 20 times less costly than the initialcapital cost.SFCLs use the transition of superconductors from zero tofinite resistance to limit the fault currents that result from shortcircuits in electric power systems. Such short circuits can becaused by aged or accidentally damaged insulation, bylightning striking an overhead line, or by other unforeseen faults. If not deliberately checked, the subsequent fault currentis limited only by the impedance of the system between thelocation of the fault and the power sources. This current can reach as much as 100 times the nominal current of the system(the largest current in normal operation), and leads to highmechanical and thermal stresses, both of which areproportional to the square of the currents value.Superconductors offer a way to break through systemdesign constraints by presenting impedance to the electricalsystem that varies depending on operating conditions. SFCLsnormally operate with low impedance and are invisiblecomponents in the electrical system. In the event of a fault, thelimiter inserts impedance into the circuit and limits the fault current. B. Working of SFCL The working of SFCL mainly depends upon the impedanceof the passing current. A larger transformer can be used tomeet increased demand on a bus without breaker upgrades. A large, low impedance transformer can be used to maintainvoltage regulation at the new power level. Reduced faultcurrentflows in the highvoltage circuit that feeds thetransformer, which minimizes the voltage dip on the upstreamhighvoltage bus during a fault on the medium-

voltage bus.1. When operated below critical parameters,a. Tc (temperature)b. Ic (current) c. Hc (magnetic field)2. Superconductors have virtually zero resistance.3. When operated above Tc, Ic, Hc normal stateresistance is restored.4. The inherent ability to switch from virtually zeroresistance to a finite value when Ic is exceeded can beused to limit short-circuit fault currents.C. R-SFCLR-SFCLs utilize the superconducting material as the maincurrent carrying conductor under normal grid operation. Theprinciple of their operation is to suppress the fault currentwithin the first cycle of fault current. It consists of a shuntresistor and variable resistor. The current passing through the shunt resistor is denoted as Ishunt. At present, for HTSmaterials, the convention is to define critical current as thecurrent at which a voltage drop of 1.0iV/cm is observed along the conductor. An R-SFCL directly exploits the transitionfrom superconducting to normal state that a material exhibitswhen the transport current exceeds the critical value. III. SIMULATION MODEL Simulink/SimPowerSystem was selected in order to designand implement the SFCL model for both single phase andthree phase systems. The control systems designed inSimulink for the proposed SFCL model can be directlyintegrated with SimPowerSystem models [8]. Fig.1

Fig.1 Simulink model of Single phase SFCL. The resistive type SFCL was modeled considering fourfundamental parameters of a resistive type SFCL. Theseparameters and their selected values are:1) Transition or response

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International Journal of Communications and Engineering Volume 01 No.1, Issue: 01 March2012

time = 2 msec2) Minimum impedance & = 0.01 Maximum impedance = 20 3) Triggering current and = 550 A4) Recovery time. = 10 msecThe SFCL working voltage is 22.9kV. The maximumimpedance value can be varied from 20 ohms to 27 ohms.The SFCL model developed in Simulink/Sim-PowerSystemis shown in Fig.1. The SFCL model works as follows. First,SFCL model calculates the RMS value of the passing currentand then compares it with the characteristic table. Second, if apassing current is larger than the triggering current level, SFCL s resistance increases to maximum impedance level in apre-defined response time. Finally, when the current level fallsbelow the triggering current level the system waits until the recovery time and then goes into normal state. The SFCL characteristic table shown in Fig.1 plays a mainrole which consists of standard parameter values of SFCL.The SFCL model can also be implemented using EMTP. Thecurrent limiting resistance value is calculated and this value isimplemented in the simulation model. The importantparameter to be given in SFCL is the current limitingresistance value. It is stored in the SFCL characteristic table.In order to avoid harmonics caused by transients, filter is used.The SFCL model developed is tested in both single phaseand three phase test systems and the current waveforms arerecorded with the presence and absence of SFCL.The simulation model of a single phase test system withand without SFCL is shown in Fig.2 and Fig.3 respectivelyand the current waveforms are recorded. The fault current isinduced in the source directly in order to reduce thecomplexity of the simulation model.

Fig.2 Simulation model of single phase system with SFCLThe type of the fault induced in the model is single phaseto ground fault where it is induced through the AC voltagesource. An RMS block is needed in order to calculate the RMS value of the incoming current signal and to increase theimpedance value according to the limited fault current valuespecified in the SFCL characteristic table. Fig.

Fig.3 Simulation model of single phase system without SFCLThe SFCL subsystem can be implemented in varioustypes of single phase test systems and the operation can betested. The performance of the SFCL can also be tested in a power system generation and distribution systems using threephase SFCL for controlling the fault current for each phase .The subsystem specified in Fig.2 is the SFCL modeldesigned for single phase system which is shown in Fig.1. Harmonics filtration is used in order to reduce the harmonicscaused due to the abnormal fault current. A normal first orderfilter is used for reducing the harmonics. The type of the filter can be changed depending upon the application of the system.A controlled voltage source is connected in order tocompensate the voltage sag caused due to the induced faultcurrent which is caused due to both internal and external causes.

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Fig.4 Simulated current waveforms for a single phase system without SFCL

induced in both thesimulink models. A step input signal is given to the fault blockin order to give the specific time of mentioning at what timethe fault should occur and which time it should be recovered.The subsystem should operate with the time delay specified inthe SFCLparameters.Fig.7 Simulation model of a three phase system without SFCL

Fig.5 Simulated current waveforms for a single phase systemwith SFCLThe simulated current waveforms of the single phasesystem model developed with the help of simulink tool areshown in Fig.4 and 5 respectively. With the presence of SFCLthe fault current value is limited around 400-410A. Withoutthe presence of SFCL the fault current is exceeded above450A.The SFCL developed for the single phase system can beimplemented in the three phase system by connecting theSFCL to each phase and the current waveforms for each phasecan be recorded.The simulink model of a three phase system with SFCLand without SFCL are shown in Fig.6 and 7 respectively.Asynchronous machine is considered as conventional power plant. A three phase load is connected to the power plant. Thefault occurred here is three phase to ground fault. Here the SFCL model developed for single phase is converted to three phases and attached as a subsystem in the distribution line.

Fig.8 Normalized plot of voltage and current in a superconductor at a constant temperature and magnetic fieldDuring constant temperature and magnetic field, theperformance of the voltage value across the line current isshown in Fig.8. The voltage value will increase steadily afterthe recovery from the specified delay time.The plot is drawn across the line current and the voltage across the resistance. The voltage value is increased after thecritical current value. In many applications the maximumimpedance value is fixed as 20 . In earlier performances theefficiency of R-SFCL is from 67% - 71%.

Fig.6 Simulation model of a three phase system with SFCLA three phase to ground fault is

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International Journal of Communications and Engineering Volume 01 No.1, Issue: 01 March2012

Fig.9 Simulated current waveforms for three phase system with SFCL andwithout SFCL.The comparison results of the three phase system during the presence and absence of SFCL is shown in the Fig.9. Thefirst waveform indicates the current value without SFCL.Current value is above 2000A. The second waveform indicatesthe current value with SFCL. Current value is limited below2000A. IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The performance characteristics indicating the relationshipbetween the SFCL impedance (Ohms) and reduction in faultcurrent (%) is shown in Fig.10. From the graph it is seen that, as impedance increases thepercentage of reduction in fault current also increases.So, SFCL limits the fault current in the first cycle than anyother deces. The simulation results show the validity andeffectiveness of suggested scheme and also the ability of theSFCL to reduce the inrush current.By using SFCL for limiting the fault current the systemreliability and integrity is increased. The SFCL withstandsshort circuit currents for a longer period.

Fig. 10 Performance evaluation graph indicating the relationship betweenSFCL impedance and reduction in fault current. The fault current limitation in the single phase and threephase systems of imposing an upper limit on the current thatmay be delivered to a load with the purpose of protecting thecircuit generating or transmitting the current from harmfuleffects due to a short circuit in the load.Table 1. Comparison of current values of single phase and three phasesystems with and without SFCL

During the presence of SFCL the fault current is limitedcloser to its rated triggering current value. The most feasibleSFCL concept appears to be an in line resistive device.In the single phase system the rated current value is given as 400A. Without SFCL the single phase system with fault,the current is above 440A. With SFCL the single phase faultcurrent is limited in the range of 400-420A.In the three phase system the rated current value is given a1800A. Without SFCL the single phase system with fault, thecurrent is above 2000A. With SFCL the single phase faultcurrent is limited in the range of 1900-2000A. The comparison results are shown in Table1. V. CONCLUSION The above tests conducted using the SFCL single-phaseprototype showed the excellent

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International Journal of Communications and Engineering Volume 01 No.1, Issue: 01 March2012

current limiting capability ofthe fault current. It also provides fault current limiting actionsin the first half of cycle (t<5ms), reducing effectively the shortcircuit currents to much smaller current amplitudes.Results of simulations are very satisfactory and fullydescribe the behavior of SFCL devices for all nominal andlimiting conditions. These results are very important forstudying the behavior and to evaluate the impact of SFCLdevices on transmission lines and many electrical apparatusnetworks and also to give useful hints to the design ofpractical SFCL devices.Thus SFCLs are materials which have the ability to conductelectricity without loss of energy. They utilizesuperconducting materials to limit the current directly or tosupply a DC bias current that affects the level ofmagnetization of a saturable iron core. The main advantage isit is 20 times less costly in terms of initial capital costs.From the comparison results and performancecharacteristics it is proved that the SFCL is a promising novelelectric equipment to reduce excessive fault current in electricpower systems effectively. In practical application of thisnovel device into electrical networks, it causes favorableimpacts on the electric power system. REFERENCES [1] S. Sugimoto, J. Kida, H. Arita, C. Fakui, and T. Yamagiwa,Principle and characteristics of a fault current limiter with seriescompensation, IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 842847, Apr. 1996.[2] T. Jamasb, W. J. Nuttall, and M. G. Pollitt, Future ElectricityTechnologies and Systems. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press,2006, pp. 8397, 235246.[3] B. C. Sung, D. K. Park, J. W. Park, and T. K. Ko, Study on aseries resistive SFCL to improve power system transient stability:Modeling, simulation and experimental verification, IEEE Trans.Industrial Elec-tron., vol. 56, no. 7, pp. 24122419, Jul. 2009. [4] Litos Strategic Communication, The Smart Gird: AnIntroduction,2008 [Online]. Available:http://www.oe.energy.gov/SmartGridI ntro-duction.htm, Preparedfor U.S. Department of Energy.[5] R. Strzelecki and G. Benysek,

Power Electronics in SmartElectrical Energy Networks. London, U.K.: SpringerVerlagLondon Ltd., 2008, pp. 203213. [6] J. Driesen, P. Vermeyen, and R. Belmans, Protection issues inmicro-grids with multiple distributed generation units, in PowerConversion Conf., Nagoya, April 2007, pp. 646653.[7] W. Friedl, L. Fickert, E. Schmautzer, and C. Obkircher, Safetyand reliability for smart-, micro-, and islanded grids, presented atthe CIRED Seminar: SmartGrids for Distribution, Jun. 2008, Paper107.[8] L. Dessaint, K. Al-Haddad, H. Le-Huy, G. Sybille, and P.Brunelle, A power system tool based on simulink, IEEE Trans.Industrial Elec-tron., vol. 46, no. 6, pp. 12521254, Dec. 1999.[9] K. Maki, S. Repo, and P. Jarventausta, Effect of wind powerbased distributed generation on protection of distribution network,in IEEE Developments in Power System Protection, Dec. 2004,vol. 1, pp. 327330.[10] M. M. R. Ahmed, Ghanim Putrus, Li Ran, and Roger Penlington,Development of a Prototype SolidState Fault-Current Limitingand Interrupting Device for Low-Voltage Distribution Networks,IEEE Trans on Power Delivery, Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 1997-2005,Oct. 2006.[11] Walid El-Khattam, Tarlochan S. Sidhu, Restoration of DirectionaOvercurrent Relay Coordination in Distributed Generation SystemsUtilizing Fault Current Limiter, IEEE Transactions on PowerDelivery, Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 576-585, April 2008.[12] V. Rozenshtein, A. Friedman, Y. Wolfus, F. Kopansky, E. Perel, Y. Yeshurun, Z. Bar-Haim, Z. Ron, E. Harel, and N. Pundak,Saturated Cores FCL - A New Approach IEEE Transactions onApplied Superconductivity, Vol. 17, No. 2, June 2007.

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