A Bridge-Type Fault Current Limiter for Energy Management of AC/DC Microgrids

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel structure for fault current limiter (FCL), which not only controls the magnitude of fault current, but also is enable to power management in normal and fault condition of utility. The main capabilities of the proposed structure, which is able to connect both ac and dc systems, are controlling the dc reactor current for fault current magnitude control, and management and control of power flow from ac system to dc system. A boost converter is utilized in the proposed structure, that its output is connected to a dc bus, in order to control the dc reactor current. The proposed FCL, which ensures a high protection level of the system, has no impact on utility voltage and load currents. A boost converter is utilized to provide an almost sinusoidal input current. The simulation and experimental results are presented to clarify the theory and feasibility of the proposed FCL, which manifest simple structure of the circuit and show feasibility of the proposed FCL.