Development
FCLs are under active development. In 2007, there were at least six national and international projects using magnesium diboride wire or YBCO tape, and two using BSCCO-2212 rods. Countries active in FCL development are Germany, the UK, the USA, Korea and China. In 2007, the US Department of Energy spent $29m on three FCL development projects.
Low temperature superconductors cannot be used for commercial FCLs as the AC losses at liquid helium temperatures mean that the cryogenic cooling cost makes the whole device uneconomic.
First applications for FCLs are likely to be used to help control medium-voltage electricity distribution systems, followed by electric-drive ships: naval vessels, submarines and cruise ships. Larger FCLs may eventually be deployed in high-voltage transmission systems.
Read more about this topic: Fault Current Limiter
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