Search Results (27)

Residual magnetism in the core of a power transformer can lead to an increased inrush current during closing, which may trigger relay protection malfunctions and cause equipment aging. Accurate detection of residual magnetism is crucial for grid safety. Traditional offline detection requires interrupting operation, while online methods are susceptible to interference and have limited accuracy. This paper proposes a method for detecting residual magnetism in power transformers based on the hysteresis area of magnetization. First, the magnetic flux distribution of the transformer is analyzed through finite element simulation, revealing that low-frequency excitation can make the core’s magnetic flux density distribution more uniform, and that the leakage flux and the flux inside the core have similar characteristics, which helps to determine the optimal position for flux detection. Next, the relationship between the small hysteresis loop area and residual magnetism is studied, revealing a monotonic mapping relationship between the normalized area of the negative hysteresis loop under current pulse excitation and the residual magnetism. Finally, experimental verification shows that this method effectively detects residual magnetism under different levels and operational conditions. The method is non-invasive, real-time, and highly resistant to interference, offering a new approach for residual magnetism detection in power transformers. Full article

The gas relay is a common non-electric protection device inside transformers, installed on the connecting pipeline between the transformer oil tank and the oil conservator. When the transformer malfunctions and the oil flow value reaches the heavy gas setting value of the gas relay, a heavy gas alarm is triggered. Therefore, accurately analyzing the heavy gas action characteristics and the setting value of the gas relay directly affects the accuracy of the heavy gas alarm. The BF(Bi-Float) type double float ball gas relay uses steady-state oil flow to calibrate the setting values of heavy gas action. In reality, transformer faults cause transient oil flow. To explore the relationship between the oil flow state and gas relay flow velocity setting values, a dynamic model of the heavy gas action process of BF type double float ball gas relay was first established, and the influence of the oil flow state on the gas relay baffle action process was analyzed. Then, a transient oil flow impact test bench was developed to experimentally study the heavy gas action characteristics of gas relays under different intensities of transient oil flow impact. Theoretical and experimental research results indicate that different oil flow impact states have a significant effect on the flow velocity setting values of gas relays. The flow velocity setting value of the BF type double float ball gas relay used in this study under transient oil flow impact is 0.8 m/s, which is lower than its factory flow velocity setting value of 1 m/s. These research results have positive significance for optimizing the performance of gas relays and improving the operational reliability of power transformers. Full article

The parallel operation of multiple LCL-type converters will result in a deviation of the resonant frequency and resonance phenomena. The occurrence of harmonic resonance can cause problems such as an increase in harmonic voltage and current. This can lead to the malfunction of relay protection and automatic devices, causing damage to system equipment. In severe cases, it can cause accidents and threaten the safe operation of the power system. A hybrid damping active disturbance rejection control (HD-ADRC) method is proposed in this paper to suppress the harmonic resonance of parallel LCL-type converters. First, a third-order linear disturbance rejection controller (LADRC) including the linear extended-state observer and the error-feedback control rate is designed based on LCL-type converter model analysis. The proposed method considers the resonance couplings caused by both internal and external disturbances as the total disturbance, thus improving the anti-disturbance capabilities as well as the operational stability of converters in parallel. Then, a hybrid damping control is proposed to reconstruct the damping characteristics of converters to suppress the parallel resonance spike and reduce the resonance frequency offset. And the parameter selection of the control system is optimized through a stability analysis of the tracking performance and anti-disturbance performance of the HD-ADRC controller. Finally, all the theoretical considerations are verified by simulation and experimental results based on the Matlab/Simulink 2018B and dSpace platform. The simulation and experimental results show that the PI controller gives a THD of 5.33%, which is reduced to 4.66% by employing the HD-LADRC, indicating an improved decoupling between the converters working in parallel with the proposed control scheme. Full article

The unprecedented growth of distributed renewable generation is changing the distribution network from passive to active, resulting in issues like reverse power flow, voltage violations, malfunction of protection relays, etc. To ensure the reliable and flawless operation of active distribution networks, an electrical device enabling active network management is necessary, and a hybrid distribution transformer offers a promising solution. This study introduces a novel hybrid transformer topology and multi-mode control strategy to achieve coordinated voltage and reverse power regulation in active distribution networks. The proposed hybrid transformer combines conventional transformer windings with a partially rated SiC-MOSFET-based back-to-back converter, reducing additional investment costs and enhancing system reliability. A multi-mode control strategy is proposed to facilitate the concurrent reverse power control and voltage violation mitigation of the presented hybrid transformer, allowing a smooth transition between the P–Q control mode and the V–f control mode. The control mode switching can be activated manually or autonomously in response to voltage violations or reverse power overloading. The effectiveness of the proposed hybrid transformer configuration and its control mode transition mechanism are examined through comprehensive case studies conducted in the PSCAD/EMTDC environment. The proposed HT design has been confirmed to achieve a voltage regulation range of ±20% of the nominal voltage and effectively regulate bidirectional active power flow within a range of −25% to 25% of the rated power. Full article

The rising demand for stable power supply in distribution systems has increased the importance of reliable supply. Thus, a networked distribution system (NDS) linked with individual lines is being adopted, gradually replacing the radial distribution system (RDS) currently applied to most distribution systems. Implementing the NDS can lead to various improvements in factors such as line utilization rate, acceptance rates of distributed power, and terminal voltages, while mitigating line losses. However, compared with the RDS, the NDS can experience bidirectional fault currents owing to its interconnected lines, thereby hindering protection coordination, which must be addressed before the NDS can be implemented in real-world power systems. Due to the characteristics of NDS, the reverse fault current is relatively small. However, this phenomenon becomes more severe when the high impedance fault (HIF) occurs. In this paper, the malfunction of protective devices during the HIF is directly verified and analyzed in the NDS. As a result, when the HIF occurs, the issue of the reverse protective device malfunctioning worsens because of a reduction in fault current and a failure in direction detection. To solve this issue, this work proposes a communication-based protection algorithm. Through the comparative verification of the proposed algorithm and the conventional protection method, protection coordination can be secured in the case of an HIF without new devices. It must be highlighted that the proposed method does not affect the settings of the protective device and provides a cost-effective and efficient solution since this algorithm is added independently to the existing relay. Full article

Due to the demand for eco-friendly energy, distributed energy resources (DERs) using renewable energy have increased. The increase in DER has caused the power system to become more complex and caused problems in the protection system. Typical problems include an increase in fault current and a problem that causes malfunction of the overcurrent relay (OCR). If the fault current increases and exceeds the capacity of the existing protection devices, it may lead to a large blackout. The most effective way to limit the fault current is to install a superconducting current limiter (SFCL). The installation of SFCL and system penetration of DER both affect OCR operating characteristics. In this paper, a simulated power distribution system is constructed and OCR malfunctions caused by DER penetration and SFCL installation are analyzed. Full article

The occurrence of high-amplitude magnetizing inrush current during the energization of a transformer without load poses significant challenges to the stable operation of both the transformer and the power grid, potentially leading to malfunctions in relay protection devices. This paper analyzes the underlying mechanisms of transformer inrush current and presents a novel approach utilizing a soft-start-based method for effectively suppressing inrush currents. The proposed method employs an inrush current suppressor comprising anti-parallel thyristors and filters to mitigate the adverse effects caused by the inrush current. A comparative study is conducted to evaluate the filtering efficacy of three types of filters incorporated in the inrush current suppressor: an LCLC damping filter, a high-order single trap filter and a high-order double trap filter. Through careful analysis and optimization, the high-order double trap filter with parallel RC damping damper is selected as the optimal configuration. To ensure effective suppression, it is necessary to incorporate a filter at the termination point of the anti-parallel thyristor. Additionally, a closed-loop control strategy is implemented to ensure a smooth start and actively suppress the magnetizing inrush current. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, comprehensive simulations are performed using Matlab/Simulink. The results demonstrate the successful suppression of inrush current and the maintenance of stable operation for the transformer. This inrush suppression method does not require considering the influence of residual magnetism and the grounding mode of the transformer’s neutral point. It is also suitable for various transformer structures and wiring methods, which makes it highly applicable. Full article

This study aims to evaluate the impact of the distributed generator (DG) connection to the grid. The simulated results present the parameters of the system required to install DG on the end of the main distribution feeder. Various parameters, such as voltage, current, and protective relay coordination are modelled after the actual provincial electricity authority (PEA) distribution system. Various case studies compared the coordination without and with DG connections to the grid by finding the difference of protective devices. The results indicate that the malfunction can be fixed in order of priority protective devices, which operate according to the parameter setting. Additionally, the coordinate functions between the recloser and fuse devices in both phase and ground configurations in the operating zone prevented the drop-out fuse melting or burning out. Based on the result, this problem is fixed by providing a directional recloser device and increasing the fuse-link rated with 40k installation for replacing the conventional sizing, which can improve the performance in case of fault occurrence to investigate the reliability and stability of the distribution system. Full article

High-voltage switchgears can generate high-frequency and high-amplitude electromagnetic interference during their operation, which may lead to abnormal outputs of the measurement devices, thus giving rise to measurement errors or protective relay malfunctions and impacts on the stable running of the power grid. Considering the air breakdown delay, a dynamic reignition model consisting of the hyperbolic model, the static model and the improved Mayr model is proposed to analyze the transient process during the on/off operation of open-type disconnectors. Meanwhile, the influence of arc resistance, line length and breakdown delay on the model were analyzed, and an experimental circuit was built to verify the simulation results through a comparison. It was found that the proposed model could reflect the high-frequency voltage and current during the on/off operation more accurately and thus provide an effective method for the precise modeling of the switching operation of the disconnector. Full article

Malfunctions in relay protection devices are predominantly caused by current transformer (CT) saturation which produces distortion in current measurements and disturbances in power system protection. The development of deep learning in power system protection is on the rise recently because of its robustness. This study presents a CT saturation detection where the secondary current becomes distorted. The proposed scheme offers a wide range of saturation detection and consists of a moving-window technique and stacked denoising autoencoders. Moreover, Bayesian optimization was used to minimize the difficulty of determining neural network structure for the proposed approach. The performance of the algorithm was evaluated for a-g faults on 154 kV and 345 kV overhead transmission line in South Korea. The waveform variation has been generated by PSCAD for different scenarios that heavily influence CT saturation. Moreover, a comparative analysis with other methods demonstrated the superiority of the proposed DNN method. With the proposed algorithm to detect CT saturation, it significantly yielded high accuracy and precision for CT saturation detection which were approximately 99.71% and 99.32%, respectively. Full article

A zone 3 distance relay is utilized to provide remote backup protection in the event that the primary protection fails. However, under stressful situations such as severe loads, voltage, and transient instability, the danger of malfunction in distance relay is relatively high since it collapses the system’s stability and reliability. During maloperation, the relay does not function properly to operate the transmission line. To overcome this problem, an advanced power swing blocking scheme has been developed. An improved DNN-based power swing blocking system is proposed to avoid the maloperation of the distance relay and improve the system’s reliability. The current and voltage signal of the system is sensed, and the sensed data is fed into the Improved Discrete Wavelet Transform (IMDWT). The IMDWT generates the coefficient value of the sensed data and further computes the standard deviation (SD) from the coefficient, which is used to detect the condition of a system, such as normal or stressed. The SD value is given to the most valuable algorithm for the improved Deep Neural Network (IDNN). In the proposed work, the improved DNN operates in two modes, the first mode is RDL-1 (normal condition), and the second mode is RDL-2 (power swing condition). The performance of the IDNN is enhanced by using the threshold-based blocking approach. Based on the threshold value, the proposed method detects an appropriate condition of the system. The proposed method is implemented in the Western System Coordinating Council (WSCC) IEEE 9 bus system, and the results are validated in MATLAB/Simulink software. The overall accuracy of the proposed method is 97%. The proposed method provides rapid operation and detects the power swing condition to trip the distance relay. Full article

The miscoordination and malfunctioning of directional overcurrent relays (DOCR) may occur due to a significant change in the fault current level (FCL) and a change in the network topology, from a radial to ring topology, caused by renewable energy resource-based distributed generation (RES-DG). In this paper, a hybrid time–current–voltage (TCV)-based protection scheme is proposed to eliminate the DOCR miscoordination and to reduce the overall operation time of DOCRs. The DOCR coordination problem is solved with alpha Harris Hawks optimization (α-HHO). Detailed numerical studies are carried out, and to show the performance of the proposed scheme, the results are compared with the existing protection schemes in the recent literature. Full article

This paper presents an adaptive protection scheme (APS) for solving the coordination problem that deals with coordination directional overcurrent relays (DOCRs) and distance relays second zone time, in relation to coordination with DOCRs. The coordination problem becomes more complex with the impact of renewable energy sources (RES) when added to the distribution grid. This leads to a change in the grid topology, caused by the on/off states of the distribution generators (DG). The frequency of topological changes in distribution grids poses a challenge to the power system’s protection components. The change in the state of DGs leads to malfunction in reliability and miscoordination between protection relays, since that causes a direct effect to the short circuit currents. This paper used the school-based optimization (SBO) algorithm, which simulates the educational process, in order to deal with coordination problems. That algorithm is modified (MSBO) by modified both learning and teaching processes. The IEEE 8-bus test system and IEEE 14-bus distribution network are used to validate the proposed coordination system’s effectiveness when dealing with the coordination process between distance and DOCRs, at both the near- and far-end in the typical topological grid and with DGs in working order. Full article

Microgrids active characteristics such as grid-connected or islanded operation mode, the distributed generators with an intermittent nature, and bidirectional power flow in active distribution lines lead to malfunction of traditional protection schemes. In this article, an impedance-based fault detection scheme is proposed as the main protection of microgrids by applying the proposed equivalent circuits for doubly-fed lines. In this scheme, relay location data and positive sequence voltage absolute value of the other end of the line are used. It can detect even high impedance faults in grid-connected and islanded modes. It is robust against load and generation uncertainties and network reconfigurations. Low sampling rate and minimum data exchange are among the advantages of the proposed scheme. Moreover, a backup protection scheme based on the conductance variations is suggested. No requirement for the communication link is a distinguished advantage of the proposed backup protection scheme. The proposed schemes have been simulated using PSCAD and MATLAB software and the results confirmed their validity. Full article

This research represents a conceptual shift in the process of introducing flexibility into power system frequency stability-related protection. The existing underfrequency load shedding (UFLS) solution, although robust and fast, has often proved to be incapable of adjusting to different operating conditions. It triggers upon detection of frequency threshold violations, and functions by interrupting the electricity supply to a certain number of consumers, both of which values are decided upon beforehand. Consequently, it often does not comply with its main purpose, i.e., bringing frequency decay to a halt. Instead, the power imbalance is often reversed, resulting in equally undesirable frequency overshoots. Researchers have sought a solution to this shortcoming either by increasing the amount of available information (by means of wide-area communication) or through complex changes to all involved protection relays. In this research, we retain the existing concept of UFLS that performs so well for fast-occurring frequency events. The flexible rebalancing of power is achieved by a small and specialized group of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) with machine learning functionalities. These IEDs interrupt consumers only when the need to do so is detected with a high degree of certainty. Their small number assures the fine-tuning of power rebalancing and, at the same time, poses no serious threat to system stability in cases of malfunction. Full article