An Adaptive Setting Method for the Overcurrent Relay of Distribution Feeders Considering the Interconnected Distributed Generations

This research investigates the influences of distributed generations (DG), which are interconnected to the bus by the dedicated lines, on the overcurrent relays (OCR) of the neighboring distribution feeders and also proposes a novel method to reduce the negative effects on the feeder protection. Due to the grid connected DG, the entire short-circuit capacity of the distribution networks increases, which may raise the current of the distribution feeder during normal operations as well as fault conditions. In particular, during the switching period for loop operation, the current level of the distribution feeder can be larger than the pickup value for the fault of the feeder's OCR, thereby causing the OCR to perform a mal-operation. This paper proposes the adaptive setting algorithm for the OCR of the distribution feeders having the neighboring dedicated feeders for the DG to prevent the mal-operations of the OCR under normal conditions. The proposed method changes the pickup value of the OCR by adapting the power output of the DG monitored at the relaying point in the distribution network. We tested the proposed method with the actual distribution network model of the Hoenggye substation at the Korea Electric Power Co., which is composed of five feeders supplying the power to network loads and two dedicated feeders for the wind turbine generators. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed adaptive protection method could enhance the conventional OCR of the distribution feeders with the neighboring dedicated lines for the DG.