Effect of Shunt Resistor Value on the Performance of Resistive Superconducting Fault Current Limiters

Abstract

Resistive-type superconducting fault current limiters (r-SFCLs) have generated great interest for research and technical applications. This is attributed to their superior features, which include self-action, fast response, and simple operation. In low line impedance systems, r-SFCLs are seen as a viable protective mechanism for limiting high-magnitude fault currents. However, overcurrent caused by faults results in an increased temperature of the r-SFCL, possibly damaging the coils. Thus, the r-SFCL must be appropriately engineered to protect it while still allowing for effective fault current limitation. To achieve this goal, an appropriately sized shunt resistor must be used. Adding a shunt resistor benefits the r-SFCL in several ways, from lowering its maximum temperature to speeding up its recovery. Additionally, the shunt resistor protects the r-SFCL from excessive surges in temperature by giving the current an alternative path to flow down, thus saving it from further damage. A multilayer thermoelectric model was developed to examine the thermoelectrical behavior of the r-SFCL coil throughout a fault occurrence and the subsequent recovery period using three shunt resistors ranging from 4 to 16 Ω. MATLAB®/Simulink was used as the simulation platform in this study. The dependence of the current limitation capability and the voltage profile on the shunt resistor value was studied compared to the basic case without an r-SFCL. Increasing the shunt resistor value led to an enhanced ability to limit fault currents, although at the cost of higher temperatures and a longer recovery time. This study also presents guidance for optimizing the design parameters of r-SFCLs.