Optimization of Supercapacitor Assisted Surge Absorber (SCASA) Technique: A New Approach to Improve Surge Endurance Using Air-Gapped Ferrite Cores (2021)

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Journal ArticlePublisher
MDPI AGISSN
1996-1073Language
enCollections
Abstract
SCASA is a patented technique commercialized as a surge protector device (SPD) that adheres to UL-1449 test standards. Apart from the novel use of supercapacitors, SCASA design incorporates a coupled-inductor wound to a specially selected magnetic material of powdered-iron. In this study, we investigate the limitations of the present design under transient operation and elucidate ways to eliminate them with the use of air-gapped ferrite cores. In modelling the operation under 50 Hz AC and transient conditions, a permeance-based approach is used; in addition, non-ideal characteristics of the transformer core are emphasized and discussed with empirical validations. The experimental work was facilitated using a lightning surge simulator coupled with the 230 V AC utility mains; combinational surge-waveforms (6 kV/3 kA) defined by IEEE C62.41 standards were continuously injected into SPD prototypes during destructive testing. Such procedures substantiate the overall surge-endurance capabilities of the different core types under testing. With regard to optimizations, we validated a 95% depletion of a negative-surge effect that would otherwise pass to the load-end, and another 13–16% reduction of the clamping voltage verified the effectiveness of the methods undertaken. In conclusion, SCASA prototypes that utilized air-gapped cores revealed a greater surge endurance with improved load-end characteristics.</jats:p>
Citation
Silva Thotabaddadurage SU, Kularatna N, Steyn-Ross DA (2021). Optimization of Supercapacitor Assisted Surge Absorber (SCASA) Technique: A New Approach to Improve Surge Endurance Using Air-Gapped Ferrite Cores. Energies. 14(14). 4337-4337.This citation is automatically generated and may be unreliable. Use as a guide only.
Keywords
supercapacitors; surge protection; magnetic permeance; air-gapped transformer; effective permeability; SCASAANZSRC Fields of Research
40 - Engineering::4008 - Electrical engineering::400805 - Electrical energy transmission, networks and systems40 - Engineering::4008 - Electrical engineering::400807 - Engineering electromagnetics
40 - Engineering::4008 - Electrical engineering::400802 - Electrical circuits and systems
40 - Engineering::4009 - Electronics, sensors and digital hardware::400911 - Power electronics
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Supercapacitor assisted surge absorber (SCASA) technique: selection of magnetic components based on permeance
Kokuhennadige S; Fernando J; Kularatna N; Steyn-Ross DA; Silva Thotabaddadurage, Dr. Sadeeshvara (IEEE, 2021)Supercapacitors help building long time constant resistor-capacitor circuits. This property helps them withstand high voltage transient surges and dissipate transient energy in the resistive element of the circuit without ... -
Investigating the impact of ferrite magnetic cores on the performance of supercapacitor assisted surge absorber (SCASA) technique
Kularatna N; Steyn-Ross DA; Silva Thotabaddadurage, Dr. Sadeeshvara (IEEE, 2019)Supercapacitor assisted surge absorber (SCASA) is a patented technique developed by the University of Waikato. One noticeable attribute of this design is the inclusion of a coupledinductor which improves its capability ... -
Permeance based model for the coupled-inductor utilized in the supercapacitor assisted surge absorber (SCASA) and its experimental validation
Kularatna N; Steyn-Ross DA; Silva Thotabaddadurage, Dr. Sadeeshvara (IEEE, 2020)Transient-surge absorption capability of small/low cost supercapacitors (SCs) is already published. SCASA is a patented technique that led to the development of a high performance commercial surge protector which adheres ...