Measurement of lateral current redistribution of fault current limiter using YBCO thin film

The current redistribution during the limiting phase of a FCL element using YBCO thin film was studied. The FCL element which we have been studying consists of YBCO thin film and nickel film shunt resistor and they are connected in parallel by indium bridges. When a normal zone appears in YBCO thin film due to the over-current, the current transfers from YBCO thin film to nickel film shunt resistor through indium bridges. We measured the change in the distribution of magnetic flux produced by the current carried by the FCL element using an array of pick-up coils. From the pick-up coil signals, the change in the lateral current distribution in the FCL element was calculated assuming an electrical circuit model of the FCL element.