Fault Tolerant Current Limiting Superconducting Cable for Cryo-Electrified Systems

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Currently, copper-and-aluminum-based cables are the most common devices to deliver the demanded energy by the costumersbut they have high power loss, massive weight, and large size [1],[2]. High temperature superconducting (HTS) cable is a solution to these problems, especially for grids connected to offshore wind turbines. HTS cables can deliver 5-10 times higher power and have 3-5 times compacter sized compared to their conventional copper counterparts [3]. This is due to higher current carrying capacity of HTS materials compared with conventional conductors. Also, due to the nature of superconductors, the amount of energy loss in HTS cables is about zero. The HTS cables are a promising option for electric transportation applications as well as for power system apparatuses, especially those with wind farms.Although HTS cables offer a wide range of opportunities for energy transfer, they are highly vulnerable against fault currents,due to that the rapid temperature rise during faults. Consequently, this would not only jeopardize the safety and stability of power system but also, will cause economic concerns as energy transfer would be stopped when HTS cable is isolated because of high temperature (above 400 K) [4],[5]. This is where "fault tolerant current limiting (FTCL)" HTS cable can play a significant role as a feasible solution. In this PhD program, we aim to design and develop a lab-scale FTCL-HTS cable that is able to tolerate short circuit faults for hundreds of cycles without the possibility of burnout. This cable could be further used in power grid applications, electrified transportations such as high-speed trains, electric ships, and hydrogen-electric aircraft.