Switching properties of a hybrid type superconducting fault current limiter using YBCO stripes

Presents investigations of a hybrid type superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL), which consists of transformers and resistive superconducting switches. The secondary windings of the transformer were separated into several electrically isolated circuits and linked inductively with each other by mutual flux, each of which has a superconducting current limiting unit of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/ (YBCO) stripes as a switch. Simple connection in series of the SFCL switches tends to produce ill-timed switching because of power dissipation imbalance between SFCL units. Both electrical isolation and mutual flux linkage of the switches provides a solution to power dissipation imbalance, inducing simultaneous switching by independent quenches and current redistribution of the YBCO films. This design enables increase of voltage ratings of SFCL with given YBCO stripes.