Development of a 13.2 kV/630 A (8.3 MVA) High Temperature Superconducting Fault Current Limiter

This paper deals with fabrication and development of a high temperature superconducting (HTS) fault current limiter (FCL) based on YBCO coated conductor (CC) wire for distribution systems. The capacity of the developed HTS FCL is 8.3 MVA and its rated voltage is 13.2 kV which corresponds to a three-phase power equipment voltage class of 22.9 kV. Tests of the developed prototype HTS FCL were conducted at Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) accredited as a testing laboratory by the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS). A short-circuit test and an AC dielectric withstand voltage test for the HTS FCL were conducted under sub-cooled liquid nitrogen (LN₂ ) conditions of 3 bar and 65 K. The magnitude of an asymmetric short- circuit current without FCL reached 30 kA_peak in a short-circuit test. The superconducting coil quenched instantaneously after the fault, and the magnitude of the fault current was limited to 3.6 kA_peak within quarter cycle by the developed resistance of the superconducting coil. An AC dielectric withstand voltage test was performed, and the HTS FCL successfully withstood 143 kV for 1 minute. Also, it was found that there was no electrical or mechanical damage on the superconducting coil after the tests.