In this paper, the fault current limiting operations of three-phase transformer type superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) using double quench, which consisted of E-I iron core with three legs wound by primary and secondary windings and two superconducting modules (SCMs), were analyzed according to three-phase ground fault types. To verify the effective operation of the three-phase transformer type SFCL using double quench, the test circuit for three-phase ground faults was constructed, and the fault current tests were carried out. Through analysis on the fault current test results, the different fault current limiting characteristics of three-phase transformer type SFCL using double quench from three-phase transformer type SFCL using three SCMs were discussed.

A functionally graded material (FGM) spacer, which the distribution of dielectric permittivity inside an insulator changes spatially, can considerably reduce the electric field concentration around a high-voltage electrode and along the gas-insulator interface when compared to a conventional spacer with a uniform permittivity distribution, In this research, we propose the FGM spacer with an elliptical permittivity distribution instead of that with a distribution of dielectric permittivity varying along a radial direction only in order to improve efficiently the insulation capability. The optimal design of the elliptical FGM spacer configuration is performed by using the response surface methodology (RSM) combined with the steepest descent method (SDM).