Design, build and test a fault current limiter employing magnesium diboride (MgB2) superconducting coils [ 2010-01-01 - 2013-12-31 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Dr Jeffrey Moscrop (Chief Investigator) ,  Joseph Horvat (Chief Investigator) ,  Prof Shi Xue Dou (Chief Investigator) ,  Xun Xu (Postdoctoral Fellow (Industry))

Brief description Design, build and test a fault current limiter employing magnesium diboride (MgB2) superconducting coils. Recent occurrences of blackouts around the world caused immeasurable damage to electrical network hardware in the range of $10M, however, the losses from an unavailable network are much more. The CIs and Zenergy Power Pty Ltd (formerly Australian Superconductors) have been developing saturated core fault current limiters (FCL) since 1999. The first saturated core fault current limiter employing the Australian's entity's technology was installed in California. The aim of this proposal is to extend this technology to demonstrate next generation FCL using a newly developed superconductor magnesium diboride (MgB2) wire which is cheaper and easier to manufacture than high temperature superconductors and the CIs' group hold strong IP on nano-scale chemically doped MgB2 wires.

Funding Amount $580,000

Funding Scheme Linkage Projects

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