Effect of Distributed Photovoltaic Generation on Short-Circuit Currents and Fault Detection in Distribution Networks: A Practical Case Study

Daniel Alcala-Gonzalez,Santiago Pindado,Eva Maria García Del Toro,María Isabel Más-López

doi:10.3390/app11010405

Daniel Alcala-Gonzalez, Santiago Pindado + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app11010405

Copy DOI

Journal: Applied Sciences	Publication Date: Jan 4, 2021
Citations: 11	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

Abstract

The increase in the installation of renewable energy sources in electrical systems has changed the power distribution networks, and a new scenario regarding protection devices has arisen. Distributed generation (DG) might produce artificial delays regarding the performance of protection devices when acting as a result of short-circuits. In this study, the preliminary research results carried out to analyze the effect of renewable energy sources (photovoltaic, wind generation, etc.) on the protection devices of a power grid are described. In order to study this problem in a well-defined scenario, a quite simple distribution network (similar to the ones present in rural areas) was selected. The distribution network was divided into three protection zones so that each of them had DG. In the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) system 13 bus test feeder, the short-circuits with different levels of penetration were performed from 1 MVA to 3 MVA (that represent 25%, 50%, and 75% of the total load in the network). In the simulations carried out, it was observed that the installation of DG in this distribution network produced significant changes in the short-circuit currents, and the inadequate performance of the protection devices and the delay in their operating times (with differences of up to 180% in relation to the case without DG). The latter, that is, the impacts of photovoltaic DG on the reactions of protection devices in a radial distribution network, is the most relevant outcome of this work. These are the first results obtained from a research collaboration framework established by staff from ETSI Civil and the IDR/UPM Institute, to analyze the effect of renewable energy sources (as DG) on the protection devices of a radial distribution network.

Highlights

Introduction nal affiliationsThe distributed generation (DG) based on renewable energy sources in some distribution networks has caused a major change in the traditional model of power supply.According to the new paradigm of DG, generation of electricity power should come closer to the user, in contradiction to the traditional generation in centralized plants [1,2]
A coordination study was presented and applied to the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 13-node test feeder to evaluate the effect of the PV DG penetration on the protection devices coordination
Different cases were studied by changing DG penetration levels and locations for each possible fault location

Summary

Introduction

The distributed generation (DG) based on renewable energy sources in some distribution networks has caused a major change in the traditional model of power supply. According to the new paradigm of DG, generation of electricity power should come closer to the user, in contradiction to the traditional generation in centralized plants [1,2]. The presence of DG in power networks can be beneficial [4,5], it produces a structural transformation, failing to behave as a classical radial distribution network. Reversed power flows can occur both in steady state and in the presence of faults [6,7,8,9,10]. The impacts that DG may have on these distribution networks will depend, among other aspects, on the type of generation, technology used, installed power, and location in the

Objectives

Results

Conclusion