Non-communication protection method for meshed and radial distribution networks with synchronous-based DG

Abstract

This paper presents an efficient protection method which can be used for both meshed and radial distribution networks (DNs) with synchronous-based distributed generation (SBDG) units. The method does not require any communication system in the both grid-connected and islanded modes of operation. The microprocessor-based relays used in the DNs are programmed with a new time-current-voltage characteristic utilising only local fault voltage and current magnitudes. The proposed method is verified by simulation study on the DN of IEEE 30-bus test system as a meshed network in grid-connected mode. The method is also tested on an Iranian practical radial DN in the both grid-connected and islanded modes of operation. The test cases include different fault conditions, with SBDG at various locations and different DG penetration levels, and also without any SBDG in the networks. It is shown in a comparative study that the new time-current-voltage characteristic achieves a notable reduction in total relay operating times without any communication links. In addition, the method uses the same protection settings for the both grid-connected and islanded modes of operation.