Resistive superconducting fault current limiter

SuperGrid Institute’s resistive superconducting fault current limiter (RSFCL) technology provides an ultra-fast passive response to prevent the propagation of high over-voltages in your AC & DC networks.

The RSFCL is a safe, robust & ultra-fast protection technology.

change of configuration for investigation tests in Dielectric Test Hall

An innovative design, operating
in a 70K liquid nitrogen bath

  • Compact non-inductive pancake coil.
  • Scalability from medium voltage (MV) to high voltage (HV) applications, from 5kV to 525kV.
  • Simple to integrate into your system.

Application cases

Resistive superconducting fault current limiter A safe, robust, cost-effective and ultra-fast protection technology

AC GRIDS

Higher power,
same protection equipment

The RSFCL relieves congestion on your AC network by limiting short circuit currents in your substation without upgrading your existing switchyard.

Resistive superconducting fault current limiter A safe, robust, cost-effective and ultra-fast protection technology

DC GRIDS

Ideal compact design
for offshore

Reduce the overall footprint of your offshore DC protection equipment by 40 to 50% by incorporating an RSFCL into your gas-insulated switchgear coupled with a mechanical DC circuit breaker.

Resistive superconducting fault current limiter A safe, robust, cost-effective and ultra-fast protection technology

MTDC GRIDS

A cost-effective
protection alternative

Protection device ready to implement into new HVDC networks up to 525 kVDC / 2000 A.

• Selective strategy: allows for selective fault management.
• Converter protection: no additional inductance needed; prevents current blocking by the converter.

Proven references

Logo Scarlet project
SuperGrid Institute's references.

SuperGrid Institute has steadily built up its expertise in supraconductivity by participating in European projects such as FastGrid and SCARLET.

SuperGrid Institute: your partner of choice

Why should you partner with us to develop your future
superconducting fault current limiter solutions?

Expertise

We are widely recognised for our exceptional design capabilities in the fields of high power & high voltage apparatus, as well as our expertise in AC and DC grid simulation.

Since its creation, SuperGrid Institute has recorded more than : 400 scientific publications, 45 working groups (CIGRE, IEEE, IEC, etc.), 10 European projects (including 2 as coordinators).

State of the art testing facilities

Our short circuit test and dielectric test laboratories are at your disposal to deliver fast results.

We provide a wide range of tests and consulting services.

This may interest you

Download the technical leaflet

Press kit: first 50kV DC breaking

T&D World talks about our innovation!

FAQ

Superconductors are remarkable materials that reveal their full potential at very low temperatures (around -200°C). They offer very high resistance when the current is excessive (in the event of a fault) yet has no impact on the transport of electricity when the current is at a normal level.

This brilliant solution is particularly relevant to DC networks, since it is a passive system offering maximum security without the need for high-speed circuit breakers.

SuperGrid Institute has therefore developed a prototype resistive superconducting fault current limiter (RSFCL) which ensures perfect conductivity in normal operation and very high resistance in the event of a fault current.

The innovative design of SuperGrid Institute’s RSFCL demonstrator is based on a series of 10 pancake coils of superconducting tape in a cryostat where the liquid nitrogen has been brought down to 68 Kelvin (-205°C).

Cryogenics can be a daunting prospect in the world of electricity. But it’s a perfectly autonomous system where the machine generates its own liquid nitrogen and works in a closed circuit. There is redundancy, even in the event of a breakdown, and these systems have been in use for several decades in other industries, such as gas liquefaction, maritime transport of liquefied gases, food processing and pharmaceuticals.

  • Collaboration agreement
  • Funded collaborative projects

Find out more

Gwenael MARQUEZIN

Contact our expert

Gwenael MARQUEZIN, Innovation Business Developer