Superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) devices integrated with resistive type superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) for fast recovery time

Abstract

Energy storage devices experience load fluctuations due to fault currents, lightening and non-uniform load distribution. Hence, Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) devices are incorporated to balance these fluctuations as well as to store the energy with larger current density. Further, Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCL) are integrated with SMES for avoiding fault currents. In addition, SFCL are preferred in electrical utility networks due to their better technical performance during faults as compared to the conventional Circuit Breakers. Self-triggering from superconducting state to normal state during fault and very fast recovery to its original superconducting state after fault removal is the fundamental operation of Resistive type Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (R-SFCL). Moreover, commercial applications of SFCL in electrical power systems are enormously increasing due to the availability of long length High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) tapes.In the present work, an algorithm is developed to estimate the recovery time of R-SFCL with three phases to be used in SMES. Further, the electrical and thermal strategies to develop R-SFCL are also presented. In addition, the short circuit behaviour under fault currents is investigated considering 440kV/1.2kA capacity line. Finally, the percentage of fault compensation in all the three phases of SMES integrated with R-SFCL is calculated.