Patent ID: 10186858

Abstract:
A device (10) for a current limiter is described, the device (10) comprising: at least one coil assembly (12) adapted to carry a current, the coil assembly (12) comprising: a first coil (14), comprising a first superconducting element, adapted to carry a first portion of said current, and a second coil (16), comprising a second superconducting element, adapted to carry a second portion of said current, wherein said first and second coils (14, 16) are arranged such that, when said first and second superconducting elements are each in a superconducting state and said coil assembly (12) carries said current, a magnetic field generated by said first portion of said current in said first coil (14) is substantially cancelled by a magnetic field generated by said second portion of said current in said second coil (16); and wherein said device is adapted such that, in use, the first superconducting element carries a higher proportion of said current than the second superconducting element. The device may be used in a superconducting fault current limiter to provide a low inductance during normal operation and a rapid and even quench under fault current conditions.