Abstract Microgrids integrate distributed energy resources to operation. Fault current levels for these two modes are
provide reliable, environment friendly and economic power to different. Faults also cause problems like overcurrents,
small/medium sized urban communities or to large rural areas. unintentional islanding and reduction in reach of impedance
Due to the existence of generators at all levels of the distribution relays. Depending upon the location of faults, problems like
system and two distinct operating modes, i.e. grid connected and bidirectional power flow and change in voltage profile occurs.
islanded modes, the fault currents in a system vary substantially.
Additionally, inverter interfaced DGs contribute fault currents
With appropriate relay coordination they gain the ability to
island generators and loads together. This has a potential to of low magnitude that may go undetected by the protection
provide a higher local reliability than that provided by the power schemes [1].
system as a whole. The protection scheme implemented addresses The objective of this paper is to understand the various
the existing protection challenges encountered due to the
presence of both distributed generators and inverter interfaced
issues concerned with the protection of microgrids and to
distributed generators in the same system. The proposed implement a suitable protection scheme using ETAP [5]. The
protection scheme equipped with directional overcurrent relays specific objectives are:
is tested using ETAP on a microgrid that consists of distributed To model a microgrid system consisting of various
energy resources like photovoltaic arrays, wind, diesel generator types of distributed generation sources in ETAP.
and micro hydro turbine for various fault locations. To use directional overcurrent relays for protection of
the modelled system.
KeywordsMicrogrid; Protection; PV source; wind energy; To provide appropriate relay settings in order to
over current relay; distributed energy source achieve effective relay coordination in the system.
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respectively. Relay1 acts in less than 61.2ms for a fault current
1) Load flow of 25.603kA, thereby tripping CB29 after a delay of 83.3ms.
The fault is cleared in 145m ms. Relay1 that is connected to
Bus1 acts within 0.03s, therebyy tripping CB29.
Sequence of operation and Time Current Currve(TCC) for fault Fig. 7. Sequence of operation for fauult at the service end generator for the
insertion at the utility side are shown in fig. 4 and fig. 5 complex system
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Fig. 6 shows a three-phase to ground fauult near one of the
generators in the microgrid. In this case Relay17
R which is
closest to the fault detects the fault currennt first. Backup is
provided by Relay25 and the circuit breakerrs trip in sequence
as CB26, CB33 and CB5 as instructed by b the respective
relays. Sequence of operation and time curreent curve for fault
at the service end generator are shown in fig. 7 and fig. 8
respectively.
Fig. 9. Fault insertion at the servicce end load for the complex system
Fig. 10. Sequence of operation forr fault at the service end load for the
complex system
Fig. 8. TCC for fault at the service end generator for the complex system
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Secondary backup is provided by Relay23, CB4 and CB39.
The next stage of backup is carried out through Relay20,
Relay22, CB20, and CB21; failing which Reelay1, CB29 act to
island the microgrid. Fault is cleared at the eaarliest in 82.5ms.
Fig. 14. TCC for fault between thhe feeders for the complex system
Fig. 13. Sequence of operation for fault between the feeders for the complex
system Fig. 15. Fault insertion at thee IIDG for the complex system
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Insertion of fault at inverter interfaced DG (PV2) shown least fault clearing time is 78.2ms. Relay8 picks up first within
in fig. 15 causes the tripping of CB11 and CB44 0.0282s followed by Relay20 within 0.0622s and so on. As we
corresponding to primary protection and CB20 for backup move along the y-axis the operating time for the relays
protection. Sequence of operation and time current curve for increases. The TCC for Relay20 and Relay22 overlap because
fault at the service end generator are shown in fig. 16 and fig. they have the same setting, similarly for Relay19 and Relay21.
17 respectively.
V. CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
Fig. 17. TCC for fault at the Inverter Interface DG for the complex system
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