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; 
 electrically conductive coil windings associated with the magnetisable limb member; and 
 magnets spaced such that the magnetisable limb member and electrically conductive coil windings are positioned intermediate the spaced magnets, 
   wherein the electrical connections to the electrically conductive coil windings for a plurality of levels, rows, or ranks are provided on the same/common side of the structure.   
     
     
         2 . The FCL according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical connections to the electrically conductive coil windings for all of the levels, rows, or ranks are provided on the same or common side of the structure. 
     
     
         3 . The FCL according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive coil windings are provided with electrical connections extending to a common side of the structure. 
     
     
         4 . A Fault Current Limiter (FCL) arrangement comprising:
 a plurality of groups of FCL structures;   an electrical connection arrangement for electrically connecting the FCL structure groups,   wherein the electrical connection arrangement is arranged to connect the groups in different configurations of series and parallel arrangements.   
     
     
         5 . A Fault Current Limiter (FCL) arrangement comprising:
 a plurality of FCL structures/units;   an electrical connection arrangement for electrically connecting the FCL structures,   wherein the electrical connection arrangement is arranged to be re-configured to change the series and parallel connection relationship between the FCL structures.   
     
     
         6 . The FCL arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein the FCL structures comprise:
 at least one magnetisable limb member;   at least one electrically conductive coil associated with the magnetisable limb member and arranged to induce a field in the limb member; and   magnets spaced such that the electrically conductive coil is positioned intermediate the spaced magnets.   
     
     
         7 . The FCL arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein the FCL structures comprise:
 at least one magnetisable limb member;   at least one electrically conductive coil associated with the magnetisable limb member and arranged to induce a field in the limb member; and   magnets spaced such that the electrically conductive coil is positioned intermediate the spaced magnets.