Optimal Location of Resistive SFCL for protecting electrical equipment in Indian Power Grid: a case study

Abstract

Due to integration of state power grids with the national grid there is a significant rise in the short circuit fault current levels in Indian power transmission networks. The safety of protection devices in existing power system is essential. One of the possible solutions for safe guarding protection devices against high short-circuit fault currents is the integration of Superconducting Fault Current Limiters (SFCLs) in the power grid. Optimal location of minimum number of SFCLs in a power grid is a challenging job. In this paper, a simulated case study is presented on the optimal locations of SFCLs in a typical network operating at various voltage levels using resistive type SFCLs (R-SFCLs). The R-SFCL is modeled by incorporating E - J characteristics of HTS tape for the 3-phase short circuit fault simulations in MATLAB Simulink. The fault currents obtained from the simulation results, with and without R-SFCLs were then compared and analyzed.