Development of a Hybrid Fault Current Limiter

A Hybrid Fault Current Limiter (HFCL) is a device that combines the properties of both Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCL) and Solid-State Fault Current Limiter (SSFCL). This combination aims to provide the fast response time typically associated with SFCLs and simultaneously provide the capacity to withstand longer limitation time and reliable application under high voltages, as found in SSFCLs. In this context, an HFCL prototype was tested to analyze its performance and compare its characteristics with those of the SFCL and the SSFCL modules separately. This work aims to demonstrate that the HFCL presents a high level of protection, besides being more compact and cost-effective compared to SFCLs, since the proposed hybrid device can be designed using less HTS material than common resistive SFCL. Experimental tests were made to analyze the current limitation capacity for the three FCLs. The results showed that the HFCL could reduce the fault current with a reliable fault detection system.