Investigations on Quench Recovery Characteristics of High-Temperature Superconducting Coated Conductors for Superconducting Fault Current Limiters

Wei Chen,Timing Qu,Hao Jiang,Peng Song,Shengnan Zou,Jiahui Zhu

doi:10.3390/electronics10030259

Abstract

Superconducting fault current limiters (SFCLs) are attracting increasing attention due to their potential for use in modern smart grids or micro grids. Thanks to the unique non-linear properties of high-temperature-superconducting (HTS) tapes, an SFCL is invisible to the grid with faster response compared to traditional fault current limiters. The quench recovery characteristic of an HTS tape is fundamental for the design of an SFCL. In this work, the quench recovery time of an HTS tape was measured for fault currents of different magnitudes and durations. A global heat transfer model was developed to describe the quench recovery characteristic and compared with experiments to validate its effectiveness. Based on the model, the influence of tape properties on the quench recovery time was discussed, and a safe margin for the impact energy was proposed.

Highlights

The smart grid technology market is booming due to demands for the automatic management of complex power grids [1]
The smart grid meets important challenges associated with fault currents, which are occurring at rising rates, and have larger peak values and faster propagation speeds [8,9]
A superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) that mainly consists of high-temperaturesuperconducting (HTS) coils generates almost no Joule losses during normal operation; it can suppress fault currents much faster and more efficiently than conventional ones, let mechanical current breakers function, and recover to normal operation quickly when an electrical fault happens [12,13]. Such features like “invisibility” and self-healing mean SFCLs meet the needs of smart grids [14]

Summary

Introduction

The smart grid technology market is booming due to demands for the automatic management of complex power grids [1]. A superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) that mainly consists of high-temperaturesuperconducting (HTS) coils generates almost no Joule losses during normal operation; it can suppress fault currents much faster and more efficiently than conventional ones, let mechanical current breakers function, and recover to normal operation quickly when an electrical fault happens [12,13]. Such features like “invisibility” and self-healing (i.e., that the SFCL can automatically switch between fault current limit and normal operation state) mean SFCLs meet the needs of smart grids [14]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion