Control of solid-state fault current limiter for DG-integrated distribution systems

Abstract

Fault current limier (FCL) is a device that limits the system current under fault conditions without disconnecting the system and affecting the power system protection components such as circuit breakers. Many types of FCLs have been proposed to limit the magnitude of the fault current. Solid-state fault current limiters (SSFCLs) can limit the peak value of the fault current by applying several methods, such as controlling the system impedance or controlling the voltage that appears across the fault. In this paper, a new control scheme for the SSFCL circuit is presented. The control method is based on controlling the duty cycle of solid state switches to control the rms value of the system fault current. Numerical simulations using Matlab/Simulink confirm the technical features of the presented control method of SSFCL.