Optimization-Based Settingless Algorithm Combining Protection and Fault Identification

Abstract

The demand for faster protection algorithms is growing due to the increasingly faster dynamics in the system. The majority of existing algorithms require empirically selected set-points, which may reduce sensitivity to internal faults and cause security problems. This paper addresses these challenges by proposing a settingless time-domain unit protection algorithm for medium-voltage lines. The main idea of the algorithm is to identify which model of a protected line, i.e. healthy or with an internal fault, is more consistent with the input measurements. This is done by solving a number of small-scale convex optimization problems, which at the same time determine the characteristics of an internal fault that best fit the measurements. Thus, the proposed algorithm merges protection, fault location, and fault type identification functionalities. The algorithm's performance is extensively tested on a small grid model in MATLAB Simulink and on the IEEE 34-bus distribution grid in EMTP-RV for different types of generation and grid operating conditions. The results demonstrate that the algorithm can operate quickly and reliably, and accurately estimate fault characteristics even in the presence of noisy measurements, non-ideal communication network conditions and the mismatch in the line model assumed by the algorithm and the model utilized for grid simulations.