PROGRESS ON SUPERCONDUCTING CURRENT LIMITATION PROJECT FOR THE FRENCH ELECTRICAL GRID

Electricite de France, GEC ALSTHOM and Alcatel Alsthom Recherche, initiated in 1992 a project for the definition, experimental validation and economic evaluation of superconducting fault current limiters adapted to the french grid system. As a first step, a device or 63 kV-1.25 kA is investigated, which has the function to limit the 25 kA fault current at 5300 A(peak). A very compact and low-inductance design has been selected, based on resistive limitation. Considerations concerning the general design, conductor protection, high voltage insulation, cryogenic system and interaction with the grid, are developed in this paper.