High-Tc superconducting inductive current limiter for 1 kV/25A performance

The results of investigations of an inductive current limiting device prototype based on superconducting to normal state transition in 0.2 m o/d. BSCCO rings are discussed. Thermal processes in the ring were found to have an important influence on transient response characteristics of the limiter. In a marked difference to small scale devices, the quenching process in a medium scale current limiter is accompanied by an intense heating of the HTSC ring. Because of high losses and large thermal inertia, the superconducting ring remains in the normal state during entire limitation time and at least a few AC cycles pass before the superconducting state in the rings is resumed after a fault occurrence.<>