Bruker & Schneider Electric Announce Successful Validation Test of their Inductive Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (iSF...
April 03 2012 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
Bruker Energy & Supercon Technologies, Inc. (BEST) and
Schneider Electric Sachsenwerk GmbH today announced the successful
completion of a major milestone in the development of a novel
shielded, inductive superconducting fault current limiter (iSFCL),
which is to begin field test operations in the Stadtwerke Augsburg
(Germany) grid in 2013.
Cut-away graphics of one phase of the
iSFCL with primary coil outside (copper, ambient temperature),
secondary coil (made up of a stack of HTS modules in a liquid
nitrogen dewar), and the central iron core (Photo: Business
Wire)
Testing of a subscale device under expected operating conditions
was performed at the Institute for High-Voltage Engineering and
Electrical Energy Systems of the University of Braunschweig, a
leading German research institute in the field of high voltage and
power systems engineering. This device implements the same concept
that is expected to be used in the full-size iSFCL system and
utilizes BEST’s 40 mm-wide second generation (2G) high temperature
superconductors (HTS), specifically designed for application in
fault current limiters.
During the tests in Braunschweig, the device functioned as
predicted in more than 100 triggered short-circuits. Due to the
novel design of the superconducting modules, the system withstood
fault durations of up to 500 milliseconds (ms), believed to be
the longest withstand time reported worldwide with HTS coated
conductors. Additionally, these results validated the performance
parameters predicted by computer models, thus enabling
extrapolation to other grid topologies and requirements.
“The positive results from these tests have further strengthened
our confidence in the success of this project and the superior
performance and market potential of the iSFCL design,” said Dr.
Hans-Udo Klein, Senior Vice President for Business Development of
BEST. “We now expect a performance and safety test of the full-size
single-phase prototype later this year as the final gate for our
iSFCL product development before field tests and application in the
Augsburg grid next year.”
Fault current limiters are devices that protect electrical
equipment in the transmission and distribution infrastructure from
damaging power surges caused by fault currents arising from short
circuits, power generation disturbances and lightning strikes.
The novel, proprietary iSFCL design uses HTS technology,
enabling self-activation at extremely fast response times (less
than 5 ms) and automatic recovery after a fault situation.
The medium-voltage iSFCL project, funded by the German Federal
Ministry of Economics and Technology (Bundesministerium für
Wirtschaft und Technologie, or BMWi), is a collaboration of the
partners BEST, Schneider Electric Sachsenwerk GmbH, and Stadtwerke
Augsburg Energie GmbH – a utility capable of providing a long-term
testing environment for the iSFCL– and is based on the partners’
specific competencies. This includes BEST’s 2G HTS tapes as well as
modules and know-how in superconducting devices, along with
Schneider Electric's experience in designing electrical grid
equipment such as transformers and their in-depth knowledge of the
electric transmission and distribution markets.
About Bruker Energy & Supercon Technologies, Inc.
BEST is a subsidiary of Bruker Corporation (NASDAQ: BRKR), and
is a leader in the development and industrial manufacturing of
advanced superconducting materials and superconducting devices for
alternative energy, smart grid, healthcare, industrial and 'big
science' applications. For more information on BEST, please
visit www.bruker-est.com
About Schneider Electric
As a global specialist in energy management with operations in
more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated
solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership
positions in energy and infrastructure as well as industrial
processes. Schneider is focused on making energy safe, reliable,
and efficient. For more information please visit
www.schneider-electric.com
About Stadtwerke Augsburg
Stadtwerke Augsburg – fully owned by the city of Augsburg – is
the largest municipal utility in Bavaria, Germany, supplying water
and energy, as well as providing transportation services, to more
than 350,000 people in the greater Augsburg region.
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