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Energies
Volume 19
Issue 1
10.3390/en19010024
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

An Optimized Method for Setting Relay Protection in Distributed PV Distribution Networks Based on an Improved Osprey Algorithm

by
Zhongduo Chen
1,
Kai Gan
1,
Tianyi Li
2,*,
Weixing Ruan
1,
Miaofeng Ye
1,
Qingzhuo Xu
1,
Jiaqi Pan
1,
Yourong Li
1 and
Cheng Liu
2
1
Guangdong Power Grid Co., Ltd. Zhaoqing Power Supply Bureau, Zhaoqing 526000, China
2
Key Laboratory of Modern Power System Simulation and Control & Renewable Energy Technology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Electric Power University, Jilin 132012, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Energies 2026, 19(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19010024 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 12 November 2025 / Revised: 16 December 2025 / Accepted: 17 December 2025 / Published: 19 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Planning, Operation, Control/Protection, and Market of New Power Energy System)
Versions Notes

Abstract

The high penetration of distributed photovoltaics (PV) into distribution networks alters the system’s short-circuit current characteristics, posing risks of maloperation and failure-to-operate to conventional inverse-time overcurrent protection. Based on an equivalent model of distributed PV during faults, this paper analyzes its impact on the protection characteristics of traditional distribution networks. With protection selectivity and the physical constraints of protection devices as conditions, an optimization model for inverse-time overcurrent protection is established, aiming to minimize the total operation time. To enhance the solution capability for this complex optimization problem, the standard Osprey Optimization Algorithm (OOA) is improved through the incorporation of three strategies: arccosine chaotic mapping for population initialization, a nonlinear convergence factor to balance global and local search, and a dynamic spiral search strategy combining mechanisms from the Whale and Marine Predators algorithms. Based on this improved algorithm, an optimized protection scheme for distribution networks with distributed PV is proposed. Simulations conducted in PSCAD/EMTDC (V4.6.2) and MATLAB (R2023b) verify that the proposed method effectively prevents protection maloperation and failure-to-operate under both fault current contribution and extraction scenarios of PV, while also reducing the overall relay operation time.
Keywords: distributed photovoltaics; distribution network protection; inverse-time overcurrent protection; relay protection setting optimization; improved osprey optimization algorithm distributed photovoltaics; distribution network protection; inverse-time overcurrent protection; relay protection setting optimization; improved osprey optimization algorithm

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Chen, Z.; Gan, K.; Li, T.; Ruan, W.; Ye, M.; Xu, Q.; Pan, J.; Li, Y.; Liu, C. An Optimized Method for Setting Relay Protection in Distributed PV Distribution Networks Based on an Improved Osprey Algorithm. Energies 2026, 19, 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/en19010024

AMA Style

Chen Z, Gan K, Li T, Ruan W, Ye M, Xu Q, Pan J, Li Y, Liu C. An Optimized Method for Setting Relay Protection in Distributed PV Distribution Networks Based on an Improved Osprey Algorithm. Energies. 2026; 19(1):24. https://doi.org/10.3390/en19010024

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chen, Zhongduo, Kai Gan, Tianyi Li, Weixing Ruan, Miaofeng Ye, Qingzhuo Xu, Jiaqi Pan, Yourong Li, and Cheng Liu. 2026. "An Optimized Method for Setting Relay Protection in Distributed PV Distribution Networks Based on an Improved Osprey Algorithm" Energies 19, no. 1: 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/en19010024

APA Style

Chen, Z., Gan, K., Li, T., Ruan, W., Ye, M., Xu, Q., Pan, J., Li, Y., & Liu, C. (2026). An Optimized Method for Setting Relay Protection in Distributed PV Distribution Networks Based on an Improved Osprey Algorithm. Energies, 19(1), 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/en19010024

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