A New Islanding Detection Method using Phase-Locked Loop for Inverter-Interfaced Distributed Generators

Abstract

This paper proposes a new islanding detection method for inverter-interfaced distributed generators (DG). To detect islanding conditions, this paper calculates the phase angle variation of the system voltage by using the phase-locked loop (PLL) in the inverter controllers. Because almost all inverter systems are equipped with the PLL, the implementation of this method is fairly simple and economical for inverter-interfaced DGs. The detection time can also be shortened by reducing communication delay between the relays and the DGs. The proposed method is based on the fact that islanding conditions result in the frequency and voltage variation of the islanded area. The variation depends on the amount of power mismatch. To improve the accuracy of the detection algorithm, this paper injects small low-frequency reactive power mismatch to the output power of DG.