The invention belongs to the technical field of power transmission and distribution network fault current limiting, and relates to a novel self-driven modular current limiting device, which comprisesan electric reactor L, a circuit breaker CB and a high-voltage rheostat R, wherein the high-voltage rheostat R is connected with the electric reactor L in parallel and then connected with the circuitbreaker CB in series, a ceramic resistor is in a door shape, a sliding rail is arranged on the inner side of the ceramic resistor, the lower end of the ceramic resistor is connected with L-shaped electrodes, the electrodes on the two sides of the ceramic resistor are parallel and perpendicular to a liquid metal sliding block, the liquid metal sliding block is arranged between the electrodes, an insulating piece is arranged at the lower end of the liquid metal sliding block, And the electrodes on the two sides are connected with the two ends of the electric reactor L respectively, so that the high-voltage variable resistor R and the electric reactor L are connected in parallel. According to the invention, the self-driven variable impedance module is a resistive load, so that overvoltage andinrush current cannot be generated in the current limiting and conversion process; and the self-driven variable impedance module and the current-limiting reactor are convenient for modular design, and can be flexibly connected in series and in parallel according to application occasions.