Comparative Study of Transformer-Type Superconducting Fault Current Limiters Considering Magnetic Saturation of Iron Core

A transformer-type superconducting fault current limiter (SCFCL) is one of the fault current limiters which have been proposed to reduce the fault currents in power transmission lines. For this type of fault current limiter, a circuit configuration with a shunt inductor is possible to divert the fault current. In this paper, the transient performances of the transformer-type SCFCLs with and without the shunt inductor when a short-circuit fault occurs, are analyzed by simulation and compared considering the magnetic saturation of the transformer iron core, thereby clarifying the influence of magnetic saturation on the current limiting characteristics of these SCFCLs. Experimental results are included to justify the simulation analyses