Optimum Placement of Fault Current Limiter in 11 kV Distribution System

Abstract Presently a number of radial distribution systems are in operation supplying power to utilities. Due to rapid growth of loads in a distribution system and more network connections, high current flows in the event of short circuit faults in the system. In such cases, the relay co-ordination is disturbed and hence the equipment like circuit breakers needs to be replaced with enhanced ratings. So that relay can handle the new operating currents which are often expensive retrofit costs. In order to mitigate the consequences of huge fault currents in a system a Fault Current Limiter (FCL) is proposed and discussed in this paper. FCLs can be fixed in a power system to enable circuit breakers to operate within their operating range. This paper proposes the application of deterministic method of establishing the optimal placement of FCL in a distribution system. An IEEE 6 bus system has been considered for fault analysis and placement of FCL to reduce the impact of fault.