Superconducting Fault Current Limiter Allocation in Reconfigurable Smart Grids

Abstract: Superconducting fault current limiters (SFCLs) are new high-precision and fast-response devices which help to reduce the fault current within the breaking capacity of the protective relays. Nevertheless, the reconfigurable structure of the distribution network can affect their performance negatively by changing the supplying path of the electrical loads and thus keeping SFCL in a useless point which cannot limit the high fault currents. This paper proposes an aggregated approach to solve the optimal placement of SFCLs considering the reconfiguration of feeders through the pre-located tie and sectionalizing switches. While SFCL placement problem aims to minimize the number of SFCLs and limit the high short circuit currents in the first seconds of the fault, the reconfiguration strategy is used to minimize the total grid costs incorporating the cost of power losses and customer interruptions. According to the high non-linearity and complexity of the proposed problem, social spider algorithm (SSA) with a two-phase modification method is developed to solve the proposed problem. The feasibility and performance of the proposed method are examined on an IEEE test system.