Superconducting Fault Current Limiter System
AssigneeVarian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
InventorsMark R. Amato, Paul J. Murphy, James D. Strassner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A SCFCL system includes a first SCFCL, a second SCFCL, and a controller configured to control at least one switch to couple the first SCFCL to a power line between an AC source and a load, and to electrically isolate the second SCFCL from the power line during a first operating mode when the first SCFCL is in service and the second SCFCL serves as a spare. During the first operating mode, the second SCFCL, may be maintained in a latent standby state or an immediate standby state. The second SCFCL may be automatically switched into service to provide for fault current protection in case the first SCFCL needs to be taken out of service for maintenance, repair, or replacement.
Claims15
A superconducting fault current limiter (SCFCL) system:
- a first SCFCL;
- a second SCFCL;
- and
- a controller configured to control at least one switch to couple the first SCFCL to a power line between an AC source and a load, and to electrically isolate the second SCFCL from the power line during a first operating mode when the first SCFCL is in service and the second SCFCL serves as a spare.
A three phase superconducting fault current limiter (SCFCL) system:
- a first SCFCL for a first phase having a first switch coupled to an input of the first SCFCL and a second switch coupled to an output of the first SCFCL;
- a second SCFCL for a second phase having a third switch coupled to an input:
- of the second SCFCL and a fourth switch coupled to an output of the second SCFCL;
- a third SCFCL for a third phase having a fifth switch coupled to an input of the third SCFCL and a sixth switch coupled to an output of the third SCFCL;
- a fourth SCFCL having an input coupled to the first switch, third switch, and fifth switch and an output coupled to the second switch, fourth switch, and sixth switch;
- and
- a controller configured to position the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, the fourth switch, the fifth switch, and the sixth switch to have a current flow through the first SCFCL, the second SCFCL, and the third SCFCL and to electrically isolate the fourth SCFCL during a first operating mode when the first SCFCL, the second SCFCL, and the third SCFCL are in service and the fourth SCFCL serves as a spare.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.