Comparative study on the static and dynamic characteristics of four types of PMFCLs for large capacity applications

Permanent-Magnet-Biased Saturation Based Fault Current Limiter (PMFCL) may find early applications in high-voltage and large capacity power systems due to prominent advantages such as compactness, small size, reliable and safe operation, and zero reset time. The prevailing topologies and the operating principles of the PMFCLs are elucidated in the paper. Theoretical analysis on both the static and dynamic characteristics of different modes of PMFCLs is carried out comparatively, in which new concepts of effective magnetic flux density and magnetic field intensity are proposed to describe the overall impacts of the magnetic field on the current limiting capacity of the PMFCLs. Based on theoretical analysis and mathematical deduction, equivalent magnetic circuits and equations are established, which presents invaluable fundamentals for further study on the operating mechanism of different modes of PMFCLs as well as optimization of the fault current limiting topology design.

► We comparatively study four novel types of the PMFCL topology. ► The one-winding topology is preferable for large capacity applications. ► We define the new concepts of effective magnetic flux density and the magnetic field intensity. ► Flux leakage phenomenon results in side impacts on current limiting capacity of the PMFCLs. ► The proposed equivalent magnetic circuits present basis for PMFCL design and optimization.