High temperature superconducting fault current limiter development

A near term High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) application is the Fault Current Limiter (FCL). This paper describes the development and testing of a 2.4 kV, 2.2 kArms fault current, 150 Arms continuous current, I-ITS FCL that uses a Bi-2223 Ag based conductor. The Lockheed Martin team, which included Southern California Edison (SCE), American Superconductor Corporation (ASC), and Las Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), completed in October 1995 a two year Phase I program. This unit has undergone a six-week extensive testing at SCE's Center Substation in Norwalk, California. The unit's capability and test results are presented. Plans for the construction of higher rating units including a Phase II program are outlined. Descriptions of the underlying principle of a FCL and how it can benefit the power utility industry are also presented.