Study of a novel fault current limiter on the basis of high speed switch and triggered vacuum switch

Limiting the short-circuit current is of great significance to keep the safe and steady running of the power system. A novel fault current limiter (FCL) is presented. A high speed switch is used to rapidly break the short-circuit current. A triggered vacuum switch (TVS) is used to discharge a precharged pulse capacitor so as to quench the arc in the high speed switch quickly and to realize the active transfer of the short-circuit current. A resistor is used as the current limiting component. The parameters of a FCL of 10 kV voltage level are designed. Simulations of the FCL in an oscillating circuit are performed by means of the ATP software. Experiments of a FCL sample device are also carried out in the oscillating circuit. The experimental results are in agreement with the simulation results. The current transfer characteristics and the current limiting effect are testified.