Abstract Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCL) modules with distinct arrangements have been investigated, seeking design and performance enhancements. In this context, this work aims to propose a design for resistive SFCL (R-SFCL) modules, using RE-Ba-Cu-O high-temperature superconducting tapes (HTS) wound on an alternative support material. An R-SFCL bench prototype was designed for 400 A and 500 V. Two pieces of 2G tapes, arranged in a bifilar antiparallel configuration were wound on Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) tubes, which were made by means of a 3D printer. During the experiments, the SFCL was immersed in an open bath cryostat with liquid nitrogen and several measurements were carried out. The average limited current is about three times lower than the prospective one. To test the SFCL recovery time, the following procedure was adopted: The fault is induced during three cycles, and after, the current is reduced to zero. The SFCL is reconnected after some time considering that the fault was extinct, and the voltage level returned to normal operation. The results showed promising levels of limitation and recovery time for further developments.

Abstract Fault current limiters are essential devices used to protect the power system and its equipment against high levels of fault current, which are growing up due to the increase of new power sources. This paper proposes a novel design of a Hybrid Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (Hybrid SFCL), which is composed basically by thyristors in series with a superconducting element. This branch is connected in parallel to an air-core reactor, which improves limitation and ensures the safe operation of the superconductor element. Another advantage of this topology is the use of the voltage drop in the superconductor as an input parameter to the controller. This voltage is used to detect the fault, which avoids the need for a current sensor and, consequently, reduces the manufacturing costs. In this work, the PSCAD/EMTDC software was employed to modeling the Hybrid SFCL and the 2G superconducting tape, which was modeled considering the thermal-electrical analysis. The results show that the fault current is efficiently limited, and the developed controller strategy has shown a relatively good performance. Furthermore, the proposed system guarantees a fast recovery time, in the order of 500 ms, which is a good advantage when compared to the conventional resistive SFCL.