Development, Testing and Installation of a Superconducting Fault Current Limiter for Medium Voltage Distribution Networks

Since 2009 Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico (RSE S.p.A.) has been involved in the design of resistive-type Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCL) for MV applications to be installed in the A2A Reti Elettriche S.p.A distribution grid in the Milano area. The project started with simulations, design and testing activities for a singlephase device; in this paper we report on the successive step, which is concerned with developing, testing and installation at the hosting utility of the final three-phase SFCL prototype. The result of this research activity is a resistive-type 9 kV/3.4 MVA SFCL device, based on first generation (1G) BSCCO tapes, developed by RSE in the framework of a R&D national project. Owing to the positive test results of partial discharge, dielectric and shortcircuit results the three-phase SFCL device is being to be installed in the A2A distribution grid in the Milano area and it is going to be soon energized starting a one-year long field-testing activity.