Fault Current Limiter Placement Research Articles

Optimized protection coordination of microgrids considering power quality-based voltage indices incorporating optimal sizing and placement of fault current limiters

Several solutions, such as fault current limiters (FCLs), have been utilized to mitigate the challenges of smart grids and ADNs’ protection schemes. However, less attention has been paid to simultaneously optimizing the protection coordination and power quality (PQ) concerns, incorporating the FCLs. There is a research gap in the literature in developing a method for optimal placement and impedance value of FCLs to optimize the speed of the protection systems, voltage sag energy index, and voltage sag duration. This research aims to fill such a research gap by proposing a new multi-objective optimization problem based on the optimum placement and impedance value of FCL. The proposed method is examined by implementing the distribution network of the IEEE 30-bus test system. MATLAB and DIgSILENT are linked online to simulate the protection of the smart grid and PQ voltage-based analyses and find the best solutions by the genetic algorithm (GA). The comparative analyses infer that a 13.13% improvement in criteria, e.g., operating time of relays, voltage sag energy, and voltage sag duration, is achieved by optimal placement of FCLs, beside other decision variables.

Placement optimization of Multi-Type fault current limiters based on genetic algorithm

The fault current limiter (FCL) is an effective measure for improving system stability and suppressing short-circuit fault current. Because of space and economic costs, the optimum placement of FCLs is vital in industrial applications. In this study, two objectives with the same dimensional measurement unit, namely, the total capital investment cost of FCLs and circuit breaker loss related to short-circuit currents, are considered. The circuit breaker loss model is developed based on the attenuation rule of the circuit breaker service life. The circuit breaker loss is used to quantify the current-limiting effect to avoid the problem of weight selection in a multi-objective problem. The IEEE 10-generator 39-bus system in New England is used to evaluate the performance of the proposed genetic algorithm (GA) method. Comparative and sensitivity analyses are performed. The results of the optimized plan are validated through simulations, indicating the significant potential of the GA for such optimization.

Protection Coordination of Bidirectional Overcurrent Relays Using Developed Particle Swarm Optimization Approach Considering Distribution Generation Penetration and Fault Current Limiter Placement

This article is treated with the protection coordination of bidirectional overcurrent relays (OCRs) in distribution power systems to obtain the best performance at a minimum total time dial setting (TDS). High penetration of distribution generation (DG) into distribution systems may significantly affect the protective system; since they increase the short-circuit level by injecting an extra share of fault current, it results in changes in the power/current flow direction. Accordingly, the fault current limiter (FCL) devices should be utilized to mitigate the short-circuit current. FCLs and DGs both will disturb the protection settings of protective equipment. The characteristics and the set point of inverse time relays depend on the fault clearing time (FCT) and the pick-up current. Therefore, an optimization approach is required to minimize the FCTs and TDSs of main relays and backup ones to protect all equipment. Moreover, this strategy selects the optimal placement of the FCL cooperatively according to the cost minimization. The optimization approach is implemented based on the particle swarm optimization (PSO) method within an extra parameter to improve the convergence speed and find the global solution, especially at initial iterations. The proposed optimization approach named developed PSO (DPSO) is tested on the IEEE 14-bus system and compared with some existing methods. Finally, the analysis and evaluations present the effectiveness of the best current transformer (CT) settings with the minimum response time.

Optimum Placement of Fault Current Limiter in 11 kV Distribution System

Presently a number of radial distribution systems are in operation supplying power to utilities. Due to rapid growth of loads in a distribution system and more network connections, high current flows in the event of short circuit faults in the system. In such cases, the relay co-ordination is disturbed and hence the equipment like circuit breakers needs to be replaced with enhanced ratings. So that relay can handle the new operating currents which are often expensive retrofit costs. In order to mitigate the consequences of huge fault currents in a system a Fault Current Limiter (FCL) is proposed and discussed in this paper. FCLs can be fixed in a power system to enable circuit breakers to operate within their operating range. This paper proposes the application of deterministic method of establishing the optimal placement of FCL in a distribution system. An IEEE 6 bus system has been considered for fault analysis and placement of FCL to reduce the impact of fault.

Placement of Fault Current Limiters in a Power System Through a Two-Stage Optimization Approach

With the sustainable growth in the number of new power plants and scale of transmission systems, the probability of the current exceeding the short-circuit rating of circuit breakers increases. A fault current limiter (FCL), which can be used to reduce current surges, has attracted considerable attention from utilities. However, the appropriate placement of FCLs in a power system for obtaining the most effective cost-to-benefit solution is crucial. This paper proposes a two-stage placement approach, where Stage I combines the hierarchical fuzzy logic decision (HFLD) method and Hashing-integrated generic algorithm (HIGA). The HFLD method is used for sorting feasible solutions, and the HIGA determines an optimal FCL placement in the reduced search space. Particle swarm optimization is then employed in Stage II for optimizing the FCL parameters. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach in solving the optimal FCL placement problem, the method is verified using the IEEE 30-bus system and system of a manufacturing factory in Taiwan. The numerical results show that the proposed method achieves a favorable solution in a short time with fewer placements of FCLs.

Protecting Micro-Grids by A SVM Based Pattern Recognised Islanding Detection Approach and Optimal Placement of PID-FC Controller Using Hybrid ABC-APSO Algorithm

The penetration of distributed generations (DG) ensures the increase of demand for consistent, reasonable and spotless electricity facing with some design and operational challenges such as islanding and fault current. Several active and passive methods have been suggested in the past to detect islanding with the placement of fault current limiter (FCL) to reduce fault current. As they suffer from the large non-detection zone (NDZ) and a high cost due to the impedance of FCL. To overcome such issues we propose a novel proportional-integral-derivative fault current controller (PID-FCC) which is placed optimally by using a hybrid artificial bee colony with accelerated particle swarm optimisation algorithm (ABC-APSO) to limit the fault current and a support vector machine (SVM)-based pattern recognising approach for islanding detection in micro-grids. The PID selects the optimal size of the FCC by means of its tuned parameters. The experimental results show that our proposed method optimally places the PID-FCC with reduced size and detects islanding with high accuracy.

Short circuit current level reduction in power system by optimal placement of fault current limiter

Summary In this paper, a new methodology is proposed for optimal locations of fault current limiters in the power system to reduce the short circuit (SC) current level at all buses within allowable maximum limit. The proposed methodology is formulated with modification by 2 new techniques. First technique is to modify the search space by using “effectiveness value” to sort out less effective/dominated candidate locations from the search space by using sensitivity analysis, which is resulted in getting more accurate locations by avoiding local optima and faster results as well. Second technique, ie, an equivalent network representation, is used to reduce the system size and, hence, provides the better result, which is very useful for larger sizes of the power network systems, where chances of the solution stuck at local optima are higher. Further, an optimization tool, ie, genetic algorithm, is used to obtain the best location and size of the fault current limiters. The effectiveness of the proposed approaches are investigated on 3 different network sizes, ie, IEEE 30-bus, New England 39-bus, and a practical large Vietnamese 1360-bus systems to ensure robustness and suitability of the method. The obtained results are compared and found to be better than method suggested in the literature works.

Fault Current Limiter Placement Using Multi-Objective Firework Algorithm

This paper presents a method for determining the optimum number, impedance, and locations of fault current limiter (FCL) to reduce the negative impact of distributed generations presence in the power systems such as increasing the short circuit current levels and improve the system reliability. In the considered method, we have modeled the FCL placement as an optimization problem while the objectives are; bus fault current difference, reliability, the number and impedance of FCLs. Moreover, to solve the proposed problem, a new multi-objective optimization algorithm based on firework algorithm namely multi-objective firework algorithm has been implemented. In the new algorithm, several iterations have been considered, and the non-dominated solutions are extracted and stored in an external repository in the iterations. Finally, a fuzzy clustering technique is used to control the size of the repository during the algorithm evolution. The proposed approach is tested on two different systems, namely, Roy Billinton Test System (RBTS) 2 and RBTS 4 test system. The obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the new method.

Optimal Placement and Sizing of Fault Current Limiters in Distributed Generation Systems Using a Hybrid Genetic Algorithm

Distributed Generation (DG) connection in a power system tends to increase the short circuit level in the entire system which, in turn, could eliminate the protection coordination between the existing relays. Fault Current Limiters (FCLs) are often used to reduce the short-circuit level of the network to a desirable level, provided that they are dully placed and appropriately sized. In this paper, a method is proposed for optimal placement of FCLs and optimal determination of their impedance values by which the relay operation time, the number and size of the FCL are minimized while maintaining the relay coordination before and after DG connection. The proposed method adopts the removal of low-impact FCLs and uses a hybrid Genetic Algorithm (GA) optimization scheme to determine the optimal placement of FCLs and the values of their impedances. The suitability of the proposed method is demonstrated by examining the results of relay coordination in a typical DG network before and after DG connection.

Placement of Fault Current Limiters in Power System through a Two-stage Optimization Approach

With the sustainable growth in the number of new power plants and scale of transmission systems, the probability of the current exceeding the short-circuit rating of circuit breakers increases. A fault current limiter (FCL), which can be used to reduce current surges, has attracted considerable attention from utilities. However, the appropriate placement of FCLs in a power system for obtaining the most effective cost-to-benefit solution is crucial. This paper proposes a two-stage placement approach, where Stage I combines the hierarchical fuzzy logic decision (HFLD) method and Hashing-integrated generic algorithm (HIGA). The HFLD method is used for sorting feasible solutions, and the HIGA determines an optimal FCL placement in the reduced search space. Particle swarm optimization is then employed in Stage II for optimizing the FCL parameters. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach in solving the optimal FCL placement problem, the method is verified using the IEEE 30-bus system and system of a manufacturing factory in Taiwan. The numerical results show that the proposed method achieves a favorable solution in a short time with fewer placements of FCLs.

A novel method for optimum fault current limiter placement using particle swarm optimization algorithm

Summary Connection of distributed generation to the grid and the expansion of transmission system in order to meet the growing for electricity are causing the extent and complexity of the network structure. The occurrence of fault in such networks leads to flow large short circuit currents through the system, which may exceed the rating of existing circuit breakers and can damage system equipment. The utilization of fault current limiters (FCLs) in power systems can be an effective method to limit fault currents. FCLs can offer many benefits, but these benefits depend on the number, installation location, and impedance of FCL. In this paper, determining the number, location, and impedance of FCLs in network is modeled as a new optimization problem when objective functions are reliability, power loss, and economical use of FCLs. Also, a combination of discrete and continuous particle swarm optimization algorithm is employed to solve problem. Modified RBTS 2 bus test system is considered to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method. Obtained results show the importance of finding optimum number, location, and impedance of FCLs in minimization of the proposed objective functions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.