Modeling and Simulation of a Saturated Core Fault Current Limiter Integrated in a Typical Distribution System Based on PSCAD Environment

Abstract

Due to load increasing and generation extensions of the electrical networks, the fault current levels may be largely changed. So, the short circuit capacity may easily exceed the installed equipment interrupting capacity such as circuit breakers. Nowadays there are different methods for restoring the fault current normal values. The traditional methods in power utilities consider one of three options: (1) Replace installed equipment with higher rated equipment or, (2) Install series reactors or, (3) Replace the existing transformers with high impedance transformers. In this paper a Saturated Core Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SCSFCL) will be presented as an efficient method for solving this problem so that replacing existing circuit breaker infrastructure can be avoided or postponed. This paper simulated the SCSFCL based on the PSCAD environment. An 11 kV West Delta Egyptian Distribution System in TANTA region is modeled as a typical system with the proposed simulated model of SCSFCL. The model parameters are adapted by the authors to restore the fault current levels as their values before the integration of the Distributed Generation (DG) units. The obtained results ensure that the model is easily used in other distribution systems. The results show also that the model performances can meet utility’s needs in mitigating fault current at all types of fault and different fault positions