Optimal Coordination of Directional Over Current
Relays in Power System Using Genetic Algorithm
F. Kavehnia (1) H. Seifi(2) H. Keivani (1)
(1) Islamic Azad University, Branch of Kazeroon
(2) Tarbiat-Modarress University
ABSTRACT
In this paper a new approach will be used for optimal
coordination of directional over current (DOC) relays
based on genetic algorithm. In this approach, optimal
operation characteristics and also optimal current
setting and time setting of each OC relays will be
determined simultaneously. Also, a new objective
function will be used which is different from ordinary
methods such as simplex, two phase simplex, dual
simplex. Improvement of selectivity and speed of the
protection system, obtaining the absolute optimal point
of the optimization problem are the specifications of
the proposed approach. Numerical results obtained
with the proposed method for a real power system are
presented.
1. INTRODUCTION
Directional over current (DOC) relays are commonly
used in power system for protecting of lines.
Optimization methods are usually used for setting and
coordination of these relays. Increasing of the
protection system selectivity and the speed of relays in
clearing faults, are the main specification of
optimization methods. In these methods, at first, the
coordination constraints for each main and backup
DOC relay will be determined. [1] has discussed the
process of determining such constraints. Then, these
constraints are solved by an optimization method in
order to achieve minimum time setting of each relay.
Some of the optimization methods that have been used
for the above problem are: simplex method [2, 3, 4],
two phase simplex method [5] and dual simplex [6]. In
[7] a matrix method is used to get the relay setting. In
[8], the above problem has been solved using genetic
algorithm. In this reference, current setting multiplier
(PSM) and time setting multiplier (TSM) of each OC
relays have been considered as chromosomes of
genetic algorithm in order to achieve optimum values
of PSM and TSM simultaneously.
All of the above approaches consider a predefined
characteristic for each over current relays and then
current settings and time settings are obtained. Since it
is possible to apply different characteristics on over
current relays, so in this paper we will try to achieve
the optimum operation characteristic and also the
optimum time setting and current setting of over
current relays while solving the optimization problem.
M.R. Askari (1)
It will be shown that this idea will improve the speed and
coordination of protection system. In this paper, at first,
the process to obtain the constraints of over current
relays coordination is illustrated and then we will
investigate the proposed approach for solving these
constraints. Finally the proposed approach will be tested
on a real network and the results will be compared with
other approaches.
2. DOC RELAYS COORDINATION
CONSTRAINTS
As what has expressed in [8] in order to coordinate two
over current relay, one as main relay (m) and the other as
back up relay (b), (it is shown in figure 1), the difference
between the operation time of back up relay and the
operation time of main relay for faults F1 and F2 should
be more than CTI . F1 and F2 are short circuit at near
bus and far bus of main relay respectively. CTI is the
time interval for coordination of main and backup relay.
t
> CTI
tb
> CTI tm
b m
F1 F2
Fig 1- Coordination constraint of DOC relays
So the constraints for coordination of DOC relays b and
m will be in the form of inequalities 1 and 2:
t b ( F1 ) t m ( F1 ) > CTI (1)
t b ( F2 ) t m ( F2 ) > CTI (2)
t b ( F1 ) and t m ( F1 ) are respectively the operation time
of backup and main relay for a short circuit in F1 ,
t b ( F2 ) and t m ( F2 ) are respectively the operation time
of backup and main relay for a short circuit in F2 .
For instance if relays b and m set on normally inverse
characteristics [11], then inequities 1 and 2 can be
expressed as 3 and 4.
 0.14 0.14 Figure 2 shows these characteristics for TSM=1.
TSM b TSM m > CTI
I b , F 1 0.02 I m, F 1 0.02
( ) 1 ( ) 1
I b , pickup I m , pickup
(3)
0.14 0.14
TSM b TSM m > CTI
I b, F 2 I m, F 2 LTI
( )0.02 1 ( )0.02 1 EI
I b , pickup I m , pickup
(4)
VI
Where I b,F1 and I m,F1 are currents of backup and
main relay for fault F1 . I b,F 2 and I m,F 2 are currents t
NI
of backup and main relay for fault F2 . I b, pickup and
RXIDG
I m, pickup are current setting of backup and main relay.
RI
TSMb and TSMm are time setting multiplier of backup
and main relay.
For optimal coordination of power system relays, at
first, it is essential to form the coordination constraints I / I pickup
of all main and backup relays. Then the parameters of
relays should be set such that for the least operation Fig 2- Different characteristics
time of DOC relays, all the constraints be satisfied. of SPCS DOC relay

Figure 2 shows that for some short circuit currents, a

3. PROPOSED APPROACH FOR OPTIMAL special characteristic can provide a less operation time.
COORDINATION OF DOC RELAYS In this paper we try to achieve the most suitable
operation characteristic, current setting and time setting
As what expressed in the previous section, we should
of over current relays simultaneously by using genetic
determine three parameters in order to set and
algorithm.
coordinate directional over current relays:
b) Current setting multiplier (PSM) is the other
a) Operation characteristic of relays should be
parameter that should be set on DOC relays. This
determined. To achieve inequalities 3 and 4, we
parameter that is determined according to I pickup , should
assumed that the operation characteristic of main and
backup relay is normally inverse. Since we can apply be set such that the relay do not operate for the
several characteristic on an over current relay, so in maximum load current but operate for the minimum
this paper we try to achieve the optimal operation short circuit current.
characteristic of relays which improve the selectivity
and speed of protection system. c) Time setting multiplier (TSM) is the other parameter
For example for SPCS 2D26 relay, which is produced for OC relays coordination. This parameter should be set
by A.B.B. Company we can apply six characteristics as such that for the minimum TSM value, sufficient time
expressed in table 1. interval between main and backup relay is provided.
In this paper, all of the three parameters have been
Table 1- Characteristics of SPCS DOC relay determined using genetic algorithm. Genetic algorithm
0.14 uses random number (gene) for each of variables. A
Normally t= * TSM
: (
I
) 0.02 1 chromosome is a set of random numbers produced for all
Inverse I pickup of variables. Therefore each chromosome is a solution of
13.5 problem. In genetic algorithm, a set of chromosomes is
Very t= * TSM
: (
I
)1 1
provided and then they will be graded using an objective
Inverse I pickup function. Then a number of them will be selected, which
80 are called the first generation. After producing the first
Extremely t= * TSM generation, we can use operators such as transposition
: I
Inverse ( )2 1
I pickup and mutation to produce the next generation and finally
finding an optimal solution.
120
Long Time t= * TSM In this paper, each chromosome contains characteristic,
: I
Inverse ( )1 1 PSM and TSM of over current relays as figure 3.
I pickup
1 | Charac1| ... | Characn | PSM 1 | ... | PSM n | TSM 1 | ... | TSM n |
t= * TSM
RI-type : I pickup 1
0.339 0.236( )
I Fig 3- Genetic algorithm chromosome
I
RXIDG-type : t = 5.8 1.35 * Ln( )1
TSM * I pickup
Where: Table 2 illustrates optimal PSM, TSM and characteristics
Charac i : Characteristic of i' th DOC relay of each directional over current relays of the case
PSMi : network.
Current setting multiplier of the i' th
DOC relay
Table 2- Optimal PSM, TSM and characteristics
TSMi : Time setting multiplier of the i' th of case network relays
DOC relay Relay
PSM TSM Charac.
Num.
The objective function use for grading of 1 25 0.84 N.I
chromosomes is defined as 5: 2 25 0.34 V.I
ObjectiveFunction = 3 25 0.96 V.I
N
(5) 4 75 0.08 N.I
Min{ K1 * MC + K 2 * CTINM + K 3 * Sum(tOC )}
n =1 5 75 0.83 V.I
6 75 0.06 N.I
Where: 7 75 0.60 RXIDG
MC is the number of times that the backup relay 8 25 0.74 V.I
operate earlier than main relay, CTINM is the number 9 25 0.27 V.I
of times that time interval of main relay and backup 10 25 0.73 V.I
relay is less than CTI and Sum(t oc ) is the sum of 11 25 0.69 V.I
operation time of over current relays. K1 , K 2 and 12 75 0.05 N.I
13 125 0.18 V.I
K 3 are arbitrary coefficients. 14 75 0.05 N.I
Simultaneous optimization of operation speed and 15 125 0.05 N.I
selectivity of protection system is the benefit of this 16 25 0.64 V.I
objective function. So we can be sure that relays will 17 25 0.91 V.I
operate fast and coordinated to clear faults. 18 25 0.80 V.I
19 25 0.86 V.I
20 25 0.97 V.I
4. RESULTS OF PROPOSED APPROACH ON A 21 25 0.64 V.I
CASE STUDY 22 25 0.59 R.I
23 25 0.93 V.I
The proposed approach has been tested on a network 24 25 0.08 N.I
shown in figure 4. This network contains 26 busbars, 5 25 25 0.80 V.I
generators, 43 lines, 7 transformers and 52 directional 26 50 0.66 V.I
over current relays. 27 50 0.41 R.I
28 25 0.90 V.I
29 25 0.33 V.I
30 100 0.67 V.I
31 125 0.55 V.I
32 75 0.15 N.I
33 75 0.40 V.I
34 75 0.33 V.I
35 75 0.92 V.I
36 75 0.45 R.I
37 75 0.09 N.I
38 75 0.33 V.I
39 75 0.13 V.I
40 50 0.39 V.I
41 50 0.28 V.I
42 50 0.05 N.I
43 50 0.10 N.I
44 125 0.30 V.I
45 75 0.07 N.I
Figure 4- Case study 46 75 0.05 N.I
The software program can get all of the six 47 75 0.18 V.I
characteristics, expressed in table 1. But, we ignore 48 75 0.60 V.I
using extremely inverse (E.I.) characteristic since E.I. 49 75 0.44 RXIDG
is often used in the industrial networks to coordinate 50 50 0.09 V.I
relays with fuses. CTI value has considered 0.3 51 75 0.09 N.I
seconds. 52 50 0.5 V.I
Table 3 compares total operation time and the
percentage of coordination constraints which are
satisfied in three cases:
Case 1: Dual simplex method with the assumption of
normally inverse characteristic for all relays.
Case 2: Genetic Algorithm method with the
assumption of normally inverse characteristic for all of
DOC relays.
Case 3: Genetic algorithm method, which determines
optimal operation characteristic of DOC relays
(proposed method).
Table 3. Comparison of results for the case
network
Case 1 Case 2 Case 3
Total
operation
56.92 47.80 31.43
time of relays
(Sec)
satisfied
constraints 86.2 90.8 96.3
(%)
Table 3 illustrates the advantages of proposed
approach. Using Genetic algorithm and determination
of optimal Characteristic, PSM and TSM of relays
simultaneously, results in:
a) More constraints are satisfied which means
increasing of relays coordination and selectivity of
protection system.
b) Considerable decrease in the operation time of
relays, which means faster operation of protection
system.
5. CONCLUSION
In this paper, a new method is proposed in order to
optimize coordination of directional over current relays
base on genetic algorithm. This method can determine
optimal operation characteristic, current setting
multiplier (PSM) and time setting multiplier (TSM) of
DOC relays simultaneously. Increase of coordination
and the operation speed of relays, finding the absolute
optimal point, not being trapped in a local optimal
point, the ability to be apply on large networks, the
ability to consider both linear and non-linear
characteristics of relays are some of advantages of the
proposed method.
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AUTHOR'S ADDRESS
The first author can be contacted at:
Department of Electrical Engineering
Islamic Azad University, Branch of Kazeroon
Kazeroon
Iran
Email: FarzadKavehnia@yahoo.com