Analysis of the DC Fault Current Limiting Characteristics of a DC Superconducting Fault Current Limiter Using a Transformer

Recently, a lot of interesting research has been conducted to solve the fault current problem of the DC system. In long-distance transmission, DC transmission is more economical than AC transmission. The connection of power grids with a DC system can also better control the power flow and provide high stability. However, the control of the fault current in a DC system is more difficult to handle than in an AC system because the DC system does not make a zero point, unlike the AC system. In addition, there is a disadvantage, in that an arc occurs when a circuit breaker operates. In this paper, a new type of DC superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) is proposed. This new type of SFCL is composed of two superconducting elements, a current limiting resistor/reactor (CLR), and a transformer. With the proposed SFCL, the DC fault current limiting experiments were performed and the DC fault current limiting characteristics of this SFCL due to the component of the CLR were analyzed.

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Interconnected standalone DC microgrid fault protection based on Self-Adaptive DC fault current limiter with hybrid solid state circuit breaker

AIMS Energy ◽

10.3934/energy.2021045 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 991-1008

Author(s):

Mohammad Aman YAQOBI ◽

◽

Hidehito Matayoshi ◽

Natarajan Prabaharan ◽

Hiroshi Takahashi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solid State ◽

Circuit Breaker ◽

Fault Current ◽

Fault Current Limiter ◽

Dc System ◽

Solid State Circuit ◽

Fault Protection ◽

Dc Fault ◽

Current Limiter ◽

Solid State Circuit Breaker

<abstract><p>DC system has the potential of vast and rapid fault current generation due to multiple (line and converters) discharge capacitors and small impedance of DC lines. DC fault current spreads through the system exponentially compared to AC. Such an unexpected huge current causes a voltage drop, impacts the normal operation of system components and exposes the system to a great challenge for fault detection and interruption. For prevention of system destruction during the fault, multiple approaches such as application of Mechanical Circuit Breakers (MCBs), fuses, Solid State Circuit Breaker (SSCB), and Hybrid Solid-State Circuit Breaker (HSSCB) have been proposed and applied. In DC fault applications, fast fault detection and interruption without any interference to the other components are quite important. Therefore, semiconductor breakers have been implemented to meet the DC fault protection requirements with a high-speed operation where traditional MBs have failed. Due to the high conduction loss and low efficiency of semiconductor switches, for fast and efficient DC fault interruption, different Fault Current Limiter (FCL) types are suggested. Although a high impedance FCL can prevent the voltage fluctuations due to the current decline, it can cause operation speed issues, coordination troubles, overheat, and malfunction of protective components in a fault situation.</p> <p>This paper focused on a combination of two-way HSSCB with a self-adapt DC short current limiter, ultra-fast switch, and power electronic switch to overcome the above challenges. It can efficiently and fast fault current limiting response with low conducting loss and appropriate cooperation among protective components in a low voltage DC system. The MATLAB/Simulink is used to analyze the effectiveness and consistency of the proposed FCL-HSSCB in 400 <italic>V</italic> interconnected standalone DC microgrids.</p></abstract>

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Protection of MTDC Network Using a Resistive Type Superconducting Fault Current Limiter

European Journal of Electrical Engineering ◽

10.18280/ejee.230607 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (6) ◽

pp. 475-480

Author(s):

Yacine Ayachi Amor ◽

Gaëtan Didier ◽

Farid Hamoudi

Keyword(s):

Power Transmission ◽

New Technology ◽

Circuit Breaker ◽

System Stability ◽

Fault Current ◽

Fault Current Limiter ◽

Long Distance ◽

Superconducting Fault Current Limiter ◽

Resistive Type ◽

Current Limiter

Multi-terminal DC network (MTDC) offers great potential for long distance huge power delivery with multi-direction power transmission capability. However, the key obstacle in a realization of MTDC is the lack of existing commercial protection device can withstand the DC fault that rises rapidly and surge tenfold within several milliseconds over the whole system. The new technology called Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCL) could bring a solution to the main bottleneck of the MTDC networks. In this work, an electro-thermal model of resistive type SFCL in series with a hybrid DC circuit breaker is proposed to protect a five terminal MTDC network. The numerical analysis carried out using (EMTP-RV®) software, and the simulation results show how effectively the SFCL can reduce the fault current and increase the breaking capability. Moreover, system stability is remarkably improved.

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