Temporary islanding operations of MV/LV active distribution networks under fault conditions

Abstract

In the last twenty years the Distributed Generation (DG) increased till a high level that introduced several issues to the classical management system of distribution networks. In many countries different technical rules have been introduced in order to integrate the DG units in the medium voltage (MV) and low voltage (LV) distribution network. New standards state requirements for all generators, included inverter based ones, imposing a Fault Ride Through (FRT) philosophy and new active and reactive power regulation actions with the aim of maintaining the transmission system stability at the level it was with traditional rotating generators, or even increasing it. These technical rules may not be fully compliant with the automatic reclosing cycle usually performed from the CB at the beginning of MV feeders and/or with the automatic selection procedure of faulty section selection and supply restore to healthy ones. In this paper the effects of DG units connected at MV and LV voltage level in relation to different fault conditions are analysed. The possibility of temporary uncontrolled islanded operations are investigated in order to evaluate the role of new Standards or Regulatory or Law requirements in the automatic reclosing procedure and MV network automation.