A multi-objective heuristic method for optimal design of HTS fault current limiters

The optimization algorithm for High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) Fault Current Limiters (FCL) normally includes some non-commensurable criteria or objectives such as cost, limiting factor, thermal stresses, and mechanical stresses that should be minimized or maximized concurrently in a protracted optimization process. It can be performed only by tools which rstly describe the HTSFCL precisely and predict its limitation behavior and then select the optimum design using optimization algorithm. Multi-Objective Decision Making (MODM) is one of the most widely used decision techniques in the business and engineering worlds. In the MODM problems, there are several objectives of the system concurrently optimized, and a solution set, i.e. the Pareto front, is usually obtained instead of a real optimal solution. This paper explains in details the combination models of HTSFCL as a component in PSCAD/EMTDC and presents the optimization algorithm based on a new approach of normalized multi-objective simulated annealing.