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Fault Current Limiters
SFCL test module being removed from LN2 bath after test at KEMA.
In today's high voltage transmission network, the introduction of new generating facilities, Independent Power Producers, and network upgrades can result in fault-current overduty on existing protective equipment. Conventional solutions to fault current overduty problems such as the construction of new substations, splitting existing substation busses or multiple circuit breaker upgrades can be disruptive and very expensive. Other solutions such as current limiting reactors have unwanted side effects and can compromise system stability.
SuperPower's High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) Fault Current Limiter (SFCL) could offer a new solution to fault current over-duty problems. The SFCL is the first such device designed for transmission voltages, with the initial target for operation at 138kV. Operational feasibility is expected to be made possible by SuperPower's second-generation (2G) HTS material, which has very rapid response and recovery times compared to alternative materials.
SuperPower, Inc. is designing the SFCL based on the use of 2G HTS elements.
Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCL)
Program Schedule:
2004: single-phase scaled pre-prototype designed, fabricated, tested
2008: Recovery under load demonstrated
2009: Matrix Elements
Funding:
Collaborators:
American Electric Power
Consolidated Edison
Entergy
New York Power Authority (NYPA)
Southern California Edison
Tennessee Valley Authority
Argonne National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Florida State University - CAPS
Georgia Tech (NEETRAC)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
SuperPower's SFCL technology is intended to offer the following features:
SuperPower's High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) Fault Current Limiter (SFCL) could offer a new solution to fault current over-duty problems. The SFCL is the first such device designed for transmission voltages, with the initial target for operation at 138kV. Operational feasibility is expected to be made possible by SuperPower's second-generation (2G) HTS material, which has very rapid response and recovery times compared to alternative materials.
SuperPower, Inc. is designing the SFCL based on the use of 2G HTS elements.
Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCL)
Program Schedule:
2004: single-phase scaled pre-prototype designed, fabricated, tested
2008: Recovery under load demonstrated
2009: Matrix Elements
Funding:
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
- NYSERDA
Collaborators:
American Electric Power
Consolidated Edison
Entergy
New York Power Authority (NYPA)
Southern California Edison
Tennessee Valley Authority
Argonne National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Florida State University - CAPS
Georgia Tech (NEETRAC)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
SuperPower's SFCL technology is intended to offer the following features:
- Modular & Scaleable - Enables scaling to high voltage and current with customization to the user's requirements
- Transparent during normal operation - Essentially no losses or voltage drop across the device during normal operation
- Passive - Detection & insertion of current limiting impedance without active monitoring or controls., inserting impedance only during fault conditions
- Reliability - Built in redundancy in a matrix configuration
- Economically competitive to existing conventional solutions
- Incorporates SuperPower 2G HTS Wire
- Environmentally friendly - No flammable or environmentally hazardous oil
