Fault current limiters report on the activities of CIGRE WG A3.16

The paper presents an overall view on the activities of the CIGRE Working Group (WG) A3.16 which focuses on the interaction between different fault current limiting technologies and protection systems in both MV and HV systems. Beside state of the art of fault current limiters (FCL) and a general classification of different types of FCLs, the paper presents the results of a survey which shows an increased need for short circuit current limitation in the voltage level of 110 to 145 kV. The limiting behaviors as well as potential applications of fault current limiters are described and some basic ideas presented showing the influence of FCL devices on protection schemes. The paper concludes with a report of a recent field test of a fault current limiter installed in a distribution network in Germany.