CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction
With development and growth interconnection of electrical networks, the short
circuit capacity is increased. Short circuit is a serious fault in high-voltage power
networks [2].When it occurs in power systems, it causes a heavy inrush of currents in
a short time and as a consequence heating of the equipment’s and ultimately leading
to power failure. The fault current in many places has often exceeded the withstand
capacity of existing power system equipment [1]. If the fault current can be limited,
system reliability, safety and cost effectiveness will be improved[2].Thus limiting the
fault current of the power system to a safe level can greatly reduce the risk of failure
of the power system equipment due to high fault current flowing through the system.
From the design point of view of the power system, limiting the fault current to a
safe level can reduce the design capacity of some electrical equipment in the power
system. This one will lead to the reduction in the investment cost of high capacity
circuit breakers and construction of new transmission.
Consequently, from both technical and economical point of view, fault current
limiting Technology for reducing short circuit current to a lower level is needed.
Isolated bi-directional dc/dc converters are widely used for standard
applications such as battery chargers/ dischargers, uninterruptible power supplies
(UPSs), hybrid electric vehicle systems (HEVs), and alternative energy systems.
These converters can produce eco-friendly energy, which is used by the applications
above on a daily basis. The primary application for the isolated bi-directional dc/dc
converter is the charging/discharging of batteries. A house with attached solar panels
used for some exemplary standard loads, such as home appliances, which can be
powered by the bi-directional converter. In the application, energy absorbed by
photovoltaic (PV) panels is fed into a battery by the converter during the day with
sufficient sunlight; at night, or when there is not enough sunlight, the battery
discharges to supply power to a bus. During the battery charging period, the bi-
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directional converter operates in buck mode. In some case, the power from the PV
panels may be provided to battery through the bi-directional converter. During the
battery discharging period, the bi-directional converter operates in boost mode. The
stored energy in the batteries is used to power the dc bus, and is fed into the inverter
to be used by the loads [2]. In this thesis, dual active bridge converter for battery
charging/discharging system is described with MATLAB/Simulink model.
MATLAB/Simulink is quickly performed within a short time and saving cost. The
performance analysis for the system is executed based on simulation results.

1.2 Statement of Problem

 In the operation of FCL in distribution system, the bi-directional
DC/DC converters are commonly utilized. In these operations, the resulting
DC is controlled by using bi-directional DC/DC converter. In the power
conversion stage, the power losses occur and the entire capacity of the system
is reduced. By using bi-directional DC/DC converter (such as dual active
bridge converter), the power conversion stage can be reduced and thus the
overall capacity of the system can be improved. Again, the use of SSFCL can
also provide many advantages such as reduced size, less passive component,
etc. With development and growth interconnection of electrical networks, the
short circuit capacity is increased.
 When short circuit occurs in power system, the fault current is rapidly
increased.
 The numerous faults occurring in power distribution system causes loss of
service, undervoltage or overvoltage transient and loss of synchronization.

1.3 Aims and Objectives

The main aim of this thesis is to analyze the performance of fault current
limiter for the existing distribution system (RIR-Rangon Insein Road Substation) of
Hlaing and Mayankone Township. This thesis is executed with the following
objectives,
 To perform the detail study on RIR Substation,
 To develop 33kV network of RIR Substation for reducing the circuit breaker
rating and short circuit current level,
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 To reduce the short circuit current level in the distribution system by using
solid state fault current limiter(SSFCL),
 To execute short circuit current level reduction for 33kV network using
MATLAB software, and
 To get reliability, safety and fast response under various types of faults of the
system.
1.4 Implementation Programme
The programmed to implement for achieving the thesis are as follows:
1. Literature survey of the various types of fault current limiter,
2. Select the suitable location,
3. Data collection for 33kV distribution system of RIR Substation,
4. Study on the required theory of short circuit current calculation,
5. Calculation of short circuit current level for existing protective device and
new fault current limiter(FCL),
6. Modeling and simulating the selected system with circuit breaker(CB)
only, CB with FCL and CB with SSFCL ,
7. Calculation of short circuit current level for three phase fault by hand and
computer simulations.
8. Comparing the simulation results of short circuit current levels under
various fault conditions
1.5 Scope of the Thesis
The reduction of short circuit current level and circuit breaker rating are
carried out for 33kV distribution network of RIR Substation. The selected
33kVsystem consists of five numbers of feeders. In this system, single line to ground
faults is common fault. The severe fault is three phase fault in power system. The
modeling and simulation will be executed by using MATLAB/Simulink software for
short circuit current level under various fault conditions. The analysis will be
executed based on the simulation results.

1.6 Outline of the Thesis

This thesis is composed of six chapters. The introduction of this thesis is
described in chapter one. Then, the objectives of the thesis, implementation
programme and the scope of the thesis are also mentioned clearly in this chapter to
highlight the purpose and the details procedure of this study. In Chapter two, various
types of faults and their consequence in distribution system are mentioned. Type of
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fault current limiter is expressed in chapter three. Calculation for short circuit current
level and modeling the system by using MATLAB are described in chapter four. In
chapter five, the performance analysis based on simulation results is described.
Finally, the discussions and conclusions for the whole thesis are expressed in Chapter
six.