Research of fault current limiter for 500kV power grid

Abstract

Configuring large power supply in high load density networks and interconnections between power grids will cause enormous short-circuit current. If the short-circuit current rating of equipment in power system is exceeded, the equipment must be replaced, which is a very cost- and/or time-intensive procedure. A fault current limiter offers a choice in such case. First, this paper attempts to give an overview of fault current limiting measures for medium and high voltage applications. Then several representative fault current limiters including developing and developed measures are examined with an emphasis upon the thyristor protected series capacitor (TPSC) based short-circuit current limiter (SCCL). The SCCL would be the only technical proposal which can be used in high voltage system for its proven technology, low cost, high reliability, powerful performance and easy realization in high voltage system. The technology is used in the fault current limiter demonstration project in East China power grid.