• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.652-661
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• 2020

Recently, the Korean government developed the RE3020 (renewable energy) policy to overcome environmental problems, such as fine dust, climate change, and large-scale PV systems interconnected with a distribution system. When a large-scale PV system is interconnected in the distribution system, however, a malfunction can occur, and the protection devices may not be operated because of the dividing effect depending on the magnitude and direction of fault current as well as connection types and location of the PV system. Therefore, this paper proposes a search algorithm for the malfunction pattern of protection devices based on various scenarios, when large-scale PV systems are operated and interconnected in a distribution system. This paper presents a malfunction mechanism of protection devices according to the installation locations of recloser (R/C). Furthermore, the modeling of a distribution system with large-scale PV systems was performed using Off-DAS S/W, and the malfunction patterns of protection devices were analyzed based on a range of scenarios. From the simulation results with the proposed model and algorithm for searching for protection devices, it was confirmed that they are useful and effective in identifying a malfunction phenomenon depending on the installation location of the R/C and connection type of PV system.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.17-26
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• 2018

If a photovoltaic (PV) system is installed in a primary feeder interconnected with the PV system, bi-directional power flow can occur, and then, the magnitude and direction of the fault current can change, depending on the fault location and point of common coupling (PCC) of the PV system, and the time current curve (TCC) cannot be properly coordinated between protection devices. Also, it is difficult to obtain a proper time interval for protection devices because the conventional setting approach is applied, even though the PV system is installed and operating. Therefore, this paper presents three operation modes considering the operational conditions of the PV system to obtain setting values for protection devices. Based on the mode, this paper proposes an algorithm to calculate the optimal protection coordination time interval according to the introduction capacity of the PV system. In addition, this paper performs modelling of a distribution system with the PV system and protection devices by using Off-DAS S/W, and analyzes the characteristics of the time interval between the protection devices, such as substation relays, reclosers, customer relays, and PV customer relays. The simulation results confirmed that the proposed operational modes and setting-value algorithms are useful and effective for protection coordination in a distribution system for a PV system.