On the Reclose Operation of Superconducting Fault Current Controller for Smart Power Grid With Increasing DG

Abstract

At present, the operation of protection coordination in a complex and uncertain power distribution system is satisfied through the use of a recloser and fuse. Due to the increased adoption of renewable energy resources, distributed energy resources as well as expanded electric transportation and dynamic demand response technologies in the power industry confront significant challenges during grid operations. As a result, protection coordination may be broken due to an increase in the current level in a power system. In general, once the protection is well coordinated by a fault current controller (FCC), the previously installed recloser on the existing power distribution system becomes useless because the FCC plays the role of the recloser. In this work, we propose an operating strategy of protection coordination for the FCC, which is capable of replacing the recloser in an environment where various types of distributed generation are introduced simultaneously due to the proliferating demand of renewable energy sources. Specifically, the suggested method based on PSCAD/EMTDC is investigated.