Performance of the 35 kV/90 MVA SFCL in Live-Grid Fault Current Limiting Tests

A 35 kV/90 MVA saturated iron-core type superconducting FCL was developed and installed in a transmission network at Puji substation of China Southern Power Grid in 2007. To verify its capacity in fault current limiting, compliance with utility requirement, and fail-safe, current limiting tests were conducted in live-grid under artificially imposed short-circuit conditions on July 20, 2009. Five tests were carried out either under different grid conditions or with different objectives. The testing results indicate that the FCL has a reliable current limiting capability and its performance is in good agreement with the design expectations. The results also show that the device satisfies the requirements of grid routine protective procedures. In this paper, we report some details of these tests and the resultant data.