Islanding Detection for PV System Connected to a Utility Grid

Prevention of the islanding phenomena is one of the most important issues because it can damage electrical equipment connected to the utility system and endanger human life. It is very difficult to detect an islanding condition of a power distribution line with conventional voltage of frequency relays, while the output power and the load power of utility interactive PV inverter units are in nearly balanced state in both active power and reactive power. This paper describes the protective equipment that prevents the PV system connected to the utility grid from starting islanding. Both predictive ocntrol method and harmonic injection method are used for a current control and islanding detection for operating safety.