Abstract
Micro-grids comprise low voltage distribution systems with distributed energy resources (DERs) and controllable loads which can operate connected to the medium voltage grid or islanded in a controlled coordinated way. This concept aims to move from “connect and forget” philosophy towards a full integration of DERs. Micro-grids can provide numerous economic and environmental benefits for end-customers, utilities and society. However, their implementation poses great technical challenges, such as a new philosophy in design of protection systems. In this work, a micro-grid protection scheme is presented based on positive-sequence component using phasor measurement units (PMUs) and a central protection unit (CPU). The salient feature of the proposed scheme in comparison with the previous works is that it has the ability to protect both radial and looped micro-grids against different types of faults with the capability of single-phase tripping. Furthermore, since the CPU is capable of updating its pickup values (upstream and downstream equivalent positive-sequence impedances of each line) after the first change in the micro-grid configuration (such as transferring from grid-connected to islanded mode and or disconnection of a line, bus, or DER either in grid-connected mode or in islanded mode), it can protect micro-grid against subsequent faults. Finally, in order to verify the effectiveness of the suggested scheme and the CPU, several simulations have been undertaken by using DIgSILENT PowerFactory and MATLAB software packages.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
GEORGILAKIS P S, HATZIARGYRIOU N D. Optimal distributed generation placement in power distribution networks: Models, methods, and future research [J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 2013, 28(3): 3420–3428.
DELGHAVI M B, YAZDANI A. A control strategy for islanded operation of a distributed resource (DR) unit [C]// Proc IEEE Power Energy Soc Gen Meeting. Calgary, AB, Canada: 2009: 1–8.
NIKKHAJOEI H, LASSETER R H. Distributed generation interface to the CERTS microgrid [J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 2009, 24(3): 1598–1608.
BAZIAR A, KAVOUSI FARD A. Considering uncertainty in the optimal energy management of renewable micro-grids including storage devices [J]. Renewable Energy, 2013, 59: 158–166.
NTHONTHO M P, CHOWDHURY S P, WINBERG S, CHOWDHURY S. Protection of domestic solar photovoltaic based microgrid [C]// Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Developments in Power Systems Protection. Birmingham, UK: 2012: 1–7.
LI X, DYSKO A, BURT G M. Application of communication based distribution protection schemes in islanded systems [C]// Proceedings of the14th International Universities Power Engineering Conference (UPEC). Cardiff, Wales, 2010: 1–6.
ZAMANI M A, YAZDANI A, SIDHU T S. A communicationassisted protection strategy for inverter-based medium-voltage microgrids [J]. IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, 2012, 3: 2088–2099.
MIRSAEIDI S, MAT S D, WAZIR M M, HAFIZ M H, GHAFFARI K. Progress and problems in micro-grid protection schemes [J]. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2014, 37: 834–839.
NAJY W K A, ZEINELDIN H H, WOON W L. Optimal protection coordination for microgrids with grid-connected and islanded capability [J]. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 2013, 60(4): 1668–1677.
KAMEL R M, CHAOUACHI A, NAGASAKI K. Comparison of the performances of three earthing systems for micro-grid protection during the grid connected mode [J]. Smart Grid and Renewable Energy, 2011, 2(3): 206–215.
LAAKSONEN H K. Protection principles for future microgrids [J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2010, 25(12): 2910–2918.
USTUN T S, OZANSOY C, ZAYEGH A. Modeling of a centralized microgrid protection system and distributed energy resources according to IEC 61850-70420 [J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 2012, 27(3): 1560–1567.
MIRSAEIDI S, MAT S D, WAZIR M M, HAFIZ M H, GHAFFARI K. An analytical literature review of the available techniques for the protection of micro-grids [J]. International Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems, 2014, 58: 300–306.
SALOMONSSON D, SODER L, SANINNO A. Protection of lowvoltage DC microgrids [J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 2009, 24(3): 1045–1053.
MOEIL B, GANDOMKAR M, GOORAN M, MIRSAEIDI S. Distinction of permanent and transient faults in microgrids using wavelet transform [J]. Journal of Applied Environmental and Biological Sciences, 2013, 3(10): 41–51.
GOPALAN S A, SREERAM V, LU H H C. A review of coordination strategies and protection schemes for microgrids [J]. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2014, 32: 222–228.
OUDALOV A, FIDIGATTI A. Adaptive network protection in microgrids [J]. International Journal of Distributed Energy Resources, 2009, 5: 201–225.
DEWADASA M. Protection for distributed generation interfaced networks [D]. Queensland, Australia: Queensland University of Technology, 2010.
DEWADASA M, MAJUMDER R, GHOSH A, LEDWICH G. Control and protection of a microgrid with converter interfaced micro sources [C]// Power Systems 2009 International Conference on. Kharagpur, India, 2009: 1–6.
TUMILTY R M, BRUCOLI M, GREEN T C. Approaches to network protection for inverter dominated electrical distribution systems [C]// Power Electronics, Machines and Drives, 2006. The 3rd IET International Conference on. Dublin, Ireland, 2006: 622–626.
REDFERN M A, AL-NASSERI H. Protection of microgrids dominated by distributed generation using solid state converters [C]// Proc of 9th Int Conf on Developments in Power System Protection. Dublin, Ireland, 2008: 670–674.
JAYAWARNA N, JONES C, BARNES M, JENKINS N. Operating microgrid energy storage control during network faults [C]// Proc IEEE Int Conf Syst Eng. San Antonio, TX, 2007: 1–7.
JAYAWARNA N, JENKINS N, BARNES M, PAPTHANASSIOU S, HATZIARGYRIOU N. Safety analysis of a microgrid [C]// In Proc Int Conf Future Power Syst. Amsterdam, Netherland, 2005: 1–7.
SORTOMME E, VENKATA S S, MITRA J. Microgrid protection using communication-assisted digital relays [J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 2010, 25(4): 2789–2796.
NIKKHAJOEI H, LASSETER R. Microgrid protection [C]// Proc. IEEE Power Eng Soc Gen Meeting. Tampa, FL, 2007: 1–6.
ZAMANI M A, SIDHU T S, YAZDANI A. A protection strategy and microprocessor-based relay for low-voltage microgrids [J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 2011, 26(3): 1873–1883.
CASAGRANDE E, WOON W L, ZEINELDIN H H, SVETINOVIC D. A differential sequence component protection scheme for microgrids with inverter-based distributed generators [J]. IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, 2013, 5(1): 29–37.
ETEMADI A H, IRAVANI R. Overcurrent and overload protection of directly voltage-controlled distributed resources in a microgrid [J]. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 2013, 60(12): 5629–5638.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mirsaeidi, S., Said, D.M., Mustafa, M.W. et al. Design and testing of a centralized protection scheme for micro-grids. J. Cent. South Univ. 22, 3876–3887 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-015-2932-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-015-2932-9