Superconductor fault current limiters (SFCLs) provide an effective way to limit fault current in power systems. SFCLs use the properties of superconductors, which have virtually zero resistance below a critical temperature, current, and magnetic field. During a fault, the superconductor transitions to a normal resistive state, limiting the fault current. The two main types are resistive and inductive SFCLs. SFCLs offer benefits over traditional fault current limiting methods like faster response, shorter recovery times, and the ability to protect equipment without upgrades. They can be applied in the main transformer, feeder, or bus-tie positions in a power system.

1. SUPERCONDUCTOR
FAULT CURRENT LIMITER
(SFCL)

2. Contents
1. What is fault current?
2. Need for fault current limiter
3. Characteristics of an ideal fault current limiter
4. Traditional ways to limit fault current
5. New approaches using superconductors
6. How do SFCL works
7. Types of SFCL
8. Applications
9. Benefits of SFCL
10.Conclusion

3. What is fault current?
 Fault current is any abnormal electric current
that flows through a circuit during the electrical
fault conditions
 Fault current limiter is a device which limits the
prospective fault current when a fault occurs.
 Superconducting fault current limiters are used
as effective way of fault current limiting.

4. Need for fault current limiter
 Increasing demand of
power and addition of more
generators, transformers
and large networks causes
higher stress on power
system.
 Higher stresses results in
higher probability of faults.

5. Characteristics of ideal
fault current limiter
 Have zero impedance throughout
normal operation
 Provides sufficiently large impedance
under fault conditions
 Provides rapid detection and initiation
of limiting action
 Provides immediate recovery of
normal operation after clearing fault

6. Traditional ways to limit fault
current
Following methods are used to limit fault current-:
 Circuit breakers with ultra-high fault
current rating
 High impedance transformers
 Current limiting fuses
 Air core reactors
 Reconfiguration of system by splitting
power buses

7. New approach using
superconductors
Superconductor
It is an element, inter-metallic alloy
or compound that will conduct electricity
without offering resistance below a certain
temperature.
Types of superconductors
 Low temperature superconductors(LTS)
 High temperature superconductors(HTS)

8. Cont..
 LTS are the substances that lose all resistivity
close to 4K, a temperature attainable only by
liquid helium.
 Examples of LTS - Lead and Mercury
 HTS are the substances that lose all
resistance below temperature mainly
attainable by liquid nitrogen (70K).
 Examples of HTS – YBCO, BSCCO etc.

10. How do SFCL work
 when operated below critical parameters:
○ Temperature (Tc)
○ current (Ic)
○ Magnetic field (Hc)
○ Superconductors have virtually zero
resistance
 When operated above Tc, Ic, Hc, normal
state resistance is restored.

11. Cont..
 The inherent ability to
switch from virtually
zero resistance to a
finite value when Ic is
exceeded can be used
to limit short-
circuited, fault
current.
T (Temperature)
J (current density)
B (magnetic field)
Superconducting
properties
Normal
conducting
propertiesNormal
conducting
properties
Normal
conducting
properties

12. fault current
limited fault current
Fault Current Clamping
Mechanism

13. Types of Superconductor
FCL
 Resistive SFCL
 Inductive Shielded core SFCL

14. Resistive FCL with protective shunt
superconductor

15. Operation of Resistive SFCL
 To keep it superconducting, it is usually immersed in a
coolant that is chilled by a refrigerator.
 In case of a fault the inrush of current and magnetic field
take the super conductor into the transition region,
thereby the increasing resistance limits the fault current.

16. Inductive shielded core SFCL
 Device resembles a transformer with the
secondary side shunted by an HTS element
 An electrical connection is made between
the line and the HTS element through
mutual coupling of AC coils via a magnetic
field

17. Operation of inductive shielded
Core SFCL
During a fault, increased current on the secondary
causes the HTS element to quench, resulting in a
voltage increase across L1 that opposes the fault
current.

18. Applications of SFCL
1) Fault-current limiter in the main position
Benefits of an FCL in this application include the following:
 a larger transformer can be used to meet increased demand on a
bus without breaker upgrades
 I2Rt damage to the transformer is limited

19. 2) Fault-current limiter in the feeder position
Benefits of an FCL in this application include the following
 The fault-current limiter FCL protects an individual circuit on
the bus. Underrated equipment can be selectively protected as
needed in this manner

20. 3) Fault-current limiter in the bus-tie position
Benefits of an FCL in this application include the following
 Separate buses can be tied together without a large increase
in the fault duty on either bus
 During a fault, a large voltage drop across the limiter
maintains voltage level on the healthy bus

21. Benefits of SFCL
In comparison to
conventional
technology, SFCL
provide –
 Over 100 times faster
response time
 10 to 20 times
shorter recovery time
 Time-adjustable
response functions
 1000 times the
number of full-
power protection
cycles

22. Conclusion

23. THANK YOU