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 kA(RMS) fault current, 150 A(RMS) continuous current, HTS FCL that uses a Bi-2223 Ag-based conductor. The Lockheed Martin team, which included Southern California Edison (SCE), American superconductor Corporation (ASC) and Los 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.