A Memory Based Current Algorithm for Pole-to-Pole Fault Detection in Microgrids

Abstract

Abstract: The world’s growing attention to sustainable energy and development can be causal to the recently observed disrupt in the existing global power system networks. Moreover, an additional incentive towards this change are the challenges associated with the traditional power grid, including its rigid structure, aging architecture, and ecologically profligate nature. Modern power systems have observed a rapidly growing trend of decentralized energy generation in the recent past. A prominent structure incorporating decentralized energy generation and renewable energy are microgrids. While microgrids promote on-site generation and distributed energy resources (DERs), their unique characteristics of bidirectional flow of power, renewable generational intermittency, and varying levels of current causes challenges uncommon to the traditional grid. One of the vital challenges associated with microgrids is the protection of microgrids against faults and disturbances that can cause impairment to life and property. Conventional protection algorithms are ineffective in protecting the system from faults due to the unconventional topology of the microgrid. This paper attempts to contribute to work in the sector related to the protection of microgrids. This paper presents the pole-to-pole fault analysis of a hybrid photovoltaic system and presents a current based algorithm for the detection of DC pole-to-pole faults in the system under study. The protection algorithm is further verified on a hybrid Photovoltaic-Wind-Battery microgrid. Keywords: DC Faults, Hybrid Microgrids, Power Systems, Protection Algorithm, DERs