Abstract
This paper presents a novel and cost-effective solution for detecting the islanding condition at embedded generators using an innovative new type of phase angle detector, the "quasi-PMU". The method works by checking the synchronism of the embedded generator with respect to a robust reference location. The method is low cost, effective, and easy to configure using a modern broker based "one-to-many" solution for the telecommunications needs. The new "quasi-PMU" is validated against appropriate IEEE compliance standards and shown to be effective in detecting the islanding condition using data obtained by an experimental study and through simulations. The islanding detection method presented in this paper is particularly suited to grids with increasingly large dynamic events and frequency excursions arising from lowering system inertia. The authors’ design gives the system operator confidence for consistent operation of embedded generation protection. The method is affordable, reliable and is ready for immediate implementation.
Highlights
Unintentional islanding of embedded generation is a potentially hazardous condition which puts plant and personnel at risk
ROCOF and vector shift (VS) relays were designed at a time when the installed capacity of embedded generation was relatively small, and power system generation was dominated by large thermal plant
The trip times appear long, with a maximum of 34.28 s and 99% of trips occurring within 25 s, it is important to note that ROCOF and VS relays would have failed to trip at all in this scenario
Summary
Unintentional islanding of embedded generation is a potentially hazardous condition which puts plant and personnel at risk. Conventional methods of islanding detection that are in use today include rate-of-change-of-frequency (ROCOF) and vector shift (VS) relays Such techniques were popular and effective during the 1990s and 2000s when grids operated with large capacities of thermal generation. A novel telecoms solution based on an MQTT broker allows for cost effective, secure, and reliable distribution of reference data over any delivery technology, including public internet infrastructure with minimal configuration complexity. Both aspects of the system are fully described, and the detector system is evaluated against relevant transient event and fault scenarios.
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