Abstract
A passive magnetic fault current limiter (FCL) was developed to avoid serious power failures in power transmission lines. This limiter is composed of two cores with opposite polarities: a permanent magnet with high remanent magnetic flux density and high coercive force, and a ferrite core with high rectangularity and low saturating flux density. The limiter works as an inductor, and is inserted between the power source and the load. This paper describes its core configuration, B-H characteristics of the FCL, and current limit performance. The flux distribution in the FCL is analyzed to investigate leakage flux around the permanent magnets using the 3D finite element method. Experimental results of a trial use of the FCL in a testing circuit show that it has good performance.
