HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTING FAULT CURRENT LIMITER DEVELOPMENT

A near term High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) application is the F ault Current Limiter (FCL). This paper describes the development and t esting of a 2.4 kV, 2.2 kArms fault current, 150 Arms continuous curre nt, I-ITS FCL that uses a Bi-2223 Ag based conductor. The Lockheed Mar tin team, which included Southern California Edison (SCE), American Su perconductor Corporation (ASC), and Las Alamos National Laboratory (LA NL), completed in October 1995 a two year Phase I program. This unit h as undergone a six-week extensive testing at SCE's Center Substation i n Norwalk, California. The unit's capability and test results are pres ented. Plans for the construction of higher rating units including a P hase II program are outlined. Descriptions of the underlying principle of a FCL and how it can benefit the power utility industry are also p resented.