COMMERCIAL APPLICATION OF SUPERCONDUCTING FAULT CURRENT LIMITERS IN THE WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION GRID IN THE UK

This paper gives an overview of two superconducting fault current limiters that will be installed in the grid of Western Power Distribution in Birmingham, UK. The installation of the two superconducting fault current limiters is part of the FlexDGrid project. The grid application of these innovative devices will be described in detail. The superconducting fault current limiters will be the first of their kind to be integrated into the grid of Western Power Distribution. Two 132/11 kV substations, with slightly different requirements with respect to the operating current, were chosen for the installation of the fault current limiters. In both substations the devices will be introduced in the 11 kV bus ties in order to improve the network short circuit strength and enable an increased level of distributed power generation with low CO2 emissions to connect. The operating current of the two devices is 1600 A and 1050 A, respectively. In both applications the prospective peak short circuit current will be limited from about 20 kA to below 10 kA. The superconducting fault current limiters will be commissioned in the grid in mid 2015.