Optimal coordination of directional overcurrent relay based on combination of Firefly Algorithm and Linear Programming

Abstract

Optimal coordination and settings of directional overcurrent relays (DOCRs) are crucial task to ensure reliable and effective protection in power system networks. The settings of DOCRs are plug setting current (PSC) and time multiplier setting (TMS). The DOCRs coordination is well-known as a highly constrained nonlinear optimization problem. Its complexity in terms of non-linearity increases along with the network size increment. This paper proposes a hybrid optimization algorithm which consists of Firefly Algorithm and Linear Programming (FA-LP) to relax the search space by linearizing the equation of the DOCRs coordination to attain an optimal solution. Furthermore, this paper also considers a mixed type of IEC relay characteristics to attain effective relay operation. The proposed method is tested on the IEEE 8-, 15- and 30-bus test systems. The results show the reduction of total relay operating time between 15.6% and 85.5% as compared to other techniques in the literature and also being verified using the ETAP software.