The present paper first proposes a new type of superconducting current limiter comprising a non-inductively wound AC superconducting coil (trigger coil) connected in parallel with a limiting coil. Furthermore, a model electric power system for the application of this type of superconducting current limiters was created, a 400V/100A class model superconducting current limiters was fabricated, and various current limiting tests were performed with respect to short-circuit currents and phases varied over a wide range. The results so obtained demonstrated that the present type of current limiter possessed performance characteristics fully adequate for application to the model system. Moreover, with a view to increased capacity, a 6.6kV/1500A class superconducting trigger coil was developed, with a scale permitting, in principle, validation tests of applicability to actual power systems. This coil was demonstrated to be capable of limiting short-circuit currents by a factor of 1/30, and was subjected to detailed evaluation of current limiting characteristics.
