abstract

• Parallel-connected fault current attenuator (PFCA) is a novel concept for active reduction of short-circuit currents (SCCs) through circuit breakers (CBs) in power distribution grids. The sustained increase in the SCCs could exceed the rating of the CBs, dangerously spreading the fault. Several series-connected schemes, such as fault current limiters and series reactors, have been proposed in recent decades to reduce these high currents. This article designs and experimentally verifies the feasibility of a parallel-connected power converter to reduce the SCCs, operating as a controlled current source by absorbing current from the fault point. This new configuration reduces the SCCs in all CBs of an electrical substation. The proposed PFCA is implemented using a single-phase neutral-point clamped (NPC) converter and tested using a predictive current control scheme for short-circuits in a scaled-down power system. The experimental results prove the effectiveness of the proposed scheme, reducing significantly the first SCC peak, even when the ac bus voltage is close to zero. © 2013 IEEE.

authors

• Espinoza J.R.
• González-Torres I.
• Moran L.A.

publication date

• 2022-01-01

funding provided via

• Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (CONICYT)/PCHA/Doctorado Nacional, Grant 2015- 21151619; Solar Energy Research Center (SERC), Grant ANID/FONDAP/15110019; Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID)/FONDEQUIP, Grant 140148  Grant

published in

• IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics  Journal

keywords

• Circuit breakers (CBs); fault current limiters (FCLs); power system faults; short circuit currents (SCCs) Electric circuit breakers; Power converters; Short circuit currents; Controlled current source; Design and implementations; Electrical substations; Neutral point clamped converters; Parallel connected power converters; Power distribution grids; Power distribution system; Predictive current control; Fault current limiters

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1109/JESTPE.2021.3081048

PubMed ID

start page

• 402

end page

• 412

volume

• 10

issue

• 1