Fault Current Limiter

Abstract

A Fault Current Limiter (FCL) comprising a magnetisable limb, an electrically conductive coil associated with the magnetisable limb and arranged to induce a field in the limb member and magnets spaced such that the coil is positioned intermediate the spaced magnets. Magnetisable shield elements are positioned at either end of the coil.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A Fault Current Limiter (FCL) comprising:
 a structure having a plurality of repeating levels, rows, or ranks arranged one adjacent or above the other, each level, row, or rank including:
 a magnetisable limb member; 
 an electrically conductive coil associated with the magnetisable limb member; and 
 magnets spaced such that the magnetisable limb member and electrically conductive coil are positioned intermediate the spaced magnets, 
   wherein an outer portion of the structure comprises an outer magnetisable limb member extending between spaced magnets which outer magnetisable limb member is free from an associated electrically conductive coil.   
     
     
         2 . A Fault Current Limiter (FCL) comprising:
 a structure having a plurality of repeating levels, rows, or ranks arranged one adjacent or above the other, each level, row, or rank including:
 a magnetisable limb member; 
 an electrically conductive coil associated with the magnetisable limb member; and 
 magnets spaced such that the magnetisable limb member and electrically conductive coil are positioned intermediate the spaced magnets, 
   wherein the same structure is arranged to carry three phase fault current.   
     
     
         3 . The FCL according to  claim 2 , wherein the structure is arranged to carry all three phases by using pairs of coils which act against statically saturated iron limbs in each direction.