Apparatus for limiting high current electrical faults in distribution

Abstract

An electrical fault limiter having first, second, third, and fourth magnetic cores. The first magnetic core opposes the second magnetic core and is adjacent to the third magnetic core. The fourth magnetic core opposes the third magnetic core and is adjacent to the second magnetic core. A rotor is disposed between the first and second magnetic cores, and the third and fourth magnetic cores. The rotor is rotatable about a rotor axis. The first and second magnetic cores are disposed on a first side of the rotor axis and the third and fourth magnetic cores are disposed on a second side of the rotor axis. Each core has a first arm, a second arm and a body to which the first and second arms are connected. Each body has a superconduction bias coil disposed about it. Each arm has a conduction mode coil disposed about it. The rotor has a high magnetic reluctance sector and a return flux sector such that when the magnetomotive force from each superconduction bias coil balances with the magnetomotive force from associated load coils on an associated core, there is no force on the rotor. But, when the magnetomotive force from the superconduction bias coil is less than the magnetomotive force from associated load coils on the associated core, then a force is produced on the rotor causing it to accelerate.