Bruker & Schneider Electric Announce Successful Validation Test of their Inductive Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (iSF...

Bruker Energy & Supercon Technologies, Inc. (BEST) and Schneider Electric Sachsenwerk GmbH today announced the successful completion of a major milestone in the development of a novel shielded, inductive superconducting fault current limiter (iSFCL), which is to begin field test operations in the Stadtwerke Augsburg (Germany) grid in 2013.

Cut-away graphics of one phase of the iSFCL with primary coil outside (copper, ambient temperature), secondary coil (made up of a stack of HTS modules in a liquid nitrogen dewar), and the central iron core (Photo: Business Wire)

Testing of a subscale device under expected operating conditions was performed at the Institute for High-Voltage Engineering and Electrical Energy Systems of the University of Braunschweig, a leading German research institute in the field of high voltage and power systems engineering. This device implements the same concept that is expected to be used in the full-size iSFCL system and utilizes BEST’s 40 mm-wide second generation (2G) high temperature superconductors (HTS), specifically designed for application in fault current limiters.

During the tests in Braunschweig, the device functioned as predicted in more than 100 triggered short-circuits. Due to the novel design of the superconducting modules, the system withstood fault durations of up to 500 milliseconds (ms), believed to be the longest withstand time reported worldwide with HTS coated conductors. Additionally, these results validated the performance parameters predicted by computer models, thus enabling extrapolation to other grid topologies and requirements.

“The positive results from these tests have further strengthened our confidence in the success of this project and the superior performance and market potential of the iSFCL design,” said Dr. Hans-Udo Klein, Senior Vice President for Business Development of BEST. “We now expect a performance and safety test of the full-size single-phase prototype later this year as the final gate for our iSFCL product development before field tests and application in the Augsburg grid next year.”

Fault current limiters are devices that protect electrical equipment in the transmission and distribution infrastructure from damaging power surges caused by fault currents arising from short circuits, power generation disturbances and lightning strikes.

The novel, proprietary iSFCL design uses HTS technology, enabling self-activation at extremely fast response times (less than 5 ms) and automatic recovery after a fault situation.

The medium-voltage iSFCL project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie, or BMWi), is a collaboration of the partners BEST, Schneider Electric Sachsenwerk GmbH, and Stadtwerke Augsburg Energie GmbH – a utility capable of providing a long-term testing environment for the iSFCL– and is based on the partners’ specific competencies. This includes BEST’s 2G HTS tapes as well as modules and know-how in superconducting devices, along with Schneider Electric's experience in designing electrical grid equipment such as transformers and their in-depth knowledge of the electric transmission and distribution markets.

About Bruker Energy & Supercon Technologies, Inc.

BEST is a subsidiary of Bruker Corporation (NASDAQ: BRKR), and is a leader in the development and industrial manufacturing of advanced superconducting materials and superconducting devices for alternative energy, smart grid, healthcare, industrial and 'big science' applications. For more information on BEST, please visit www.bruker-est.com

About Schneider Electric

As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in energy and infrastructure as well as industrial processes. Schneider is focused on making energy safe, reliable, and efficient. For more information please visit www.schneider-electric.com

About Stadtwerke Augsburg

Stadtwerke Augsburg – fully owned by the city of Augsburg – is the largest municipal utility in Bavaria, Germany, supplying water and energy, as well as providing transportation services, to more than 350,000 people in the greater Augsburg region.

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