Patent ID: 8873205

Claim:
A current limiter comprising a first circuit portion arranged in parallel with a second circuit portion, the first circuit portion comprising a superconductor element arranged in series with a switching arrangement, the second circuit portion comprising a load element, the superconductor element being disposed within a cooling chamber, and the cooling chamber and the switch being disposed within a vacuum chamber, wherein the switching arrangement comprises: a mechanical actuator which is operable between a closed condition in which current is conducted through the first circuit portion and an open condition in which current is diverted from the first circuit portion through the second circuit portion and a controller for monitoring and operating the switch, wherein the switching arrangement further comprises a capacitor, the capacitor being arranged to charge when the switch is closed, and discharge when the switch is open, the capacitor being connected to the actuator such that actuation of the actuator is maintained during discharge of the capacitor to delay closing of the switch for a predetermined period of time after opening of the switch.