An optimal location for superconducting fault current limiter considering distribution reliability

As electric power demand has constantly been increasing, more bulk power systems have been installed in a network. For environmental and technical reasons, the amount of distributed resources is increasing considerably in a distribution network. Therefore, distribution networks have become more complex mesh networks, which improve the reliability of distribution system and the flexibility of network operation. These changes cause fault current to increase. As a result, the fault current will exceed the rated capacity of a circuit breaker in a network. In order to solve this problem, replacing breaker, changing operation mode of system and rectifying transformer parameters can be taken into account. Considering technical and economical aspects, however, one of the most promising power apparatuses is a superconducting fault current limiter(SFCL).