Current limiter performance under an actual multiple fault event

Higher fault current levels due to additional interconnections to the power system have created an urgent need to limit fault current to manageable and safe values. Fault current limiters offer a unique solution to judiciously mitigate fault current, while maintaining the system´s robustness, reliability, and stability. These circumstances prompted Southern California Edison (SCE) to provide a test bed to validate an innovative saturable core fault current limiter and obtain operating and maintenance experience. This demonstration project became the first high temperature superconducting fault current limiter installation in commercial service in the United States. This paper describes the analysis performed to assess fault current reduction by this unit during the evolution of a multiple fault event. SCE performed simulations using dynamic models for the fault current limiter and the power network. The results are compared against high resolution data recorded during the multiple fault and against the expected design values.