A Decision-Tree Scheme for Responding to Uncertainties in Microgrid Protection Coordination

Abstract

In addition to the dynamic nature of microgrids, uncertainty in the proper operation of protection system and communication links are other challenges affecting the protection coordination of these networks. Therefore, in this paper, a new protection coordination plan based on decision tree for considering uncertainties in the topology of microgrid, protection system, and communication links is presented. The proposed method allows the adaptive protection to make global decisions and adopt the best strategy to clear faults depending on considered uncertainties. Since circuit breakers are the most prone to failure equipment in the protection system due to fault-caused stress, this paper models uncertainty in the protection system with uncertainty in the performance of circuit breakers. In order to consider uncertainty in circuit breakers and communication links, their probability of correct operation are not considered fixed but variable, respectively, proportional to the fault current flowing through the circuit breakers and the latency of communication links. The proposed plan was tested on a sample microgrid in DIgSILENT Power Factory. Results prove that using the proposed method, adaptive protection can establish an optimal sequence of strategies so that with the failure of each strategy, the best backup strategy is replaced given the uncertainties.

Keywords::

• microgrid
• uncertainty
• protection coordination
• decision tree

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Seyed Amir Hosseini

Seyed Amir Hosseini was born in Golpayegan, Iran, in 1986. He received the B.S. degree in electrical power engineering from Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran, in 2009. He received the M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Tafresh University, Markazi, Iran in 2013. He received the Ph.D. degree in electrical power engineering with Department of Electrical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran in 2017. He is currently an Assistant Professor of electrical engineering with Golpayegan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran. His research interests include power system protection, power system analysis, optimization, and smart grids.

Hossein Askarian Abyaneh

Hossein Askarian Abyaneh received his B.S. degree from Iran University of Science and Technology in 1976 and M.S. degree from Tehran University, Tehran, Iran, in 1982, both in electrical engineering. He received a second M.S. degree and the Ph.D. degree, both in power engineering, from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, Manchester, U.K., in 1985 and 1988, respectively. Currently, he is a Professor with the Department of Electrical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. He has published numerous scientific papers in reviewed journals and presented at international conferences. His research interests include power system protection and power quality.

Seyed Hossein Hesamedin Sadeghi

Seyed Hossein Hesamedin Sadeghi received his B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, in 1980, M.S. degree in power engineering from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, Manchester, U.K., in 1984, and Ph.D. degree in electronic systems engineering from the University of Essex, Colchester, U.K., in 1991. He is currently a Professor of electrical engineering with Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. Professor Sadeghi is a Senior Member of the IEEE. He is a holder of four patents and is the author/coauthor of one book, one book chapter, and more than 350 scientific papers published in reviewed journals and presented at international conferences. His current research interests include power system protection and electromagnetic compatibility.

Reza Eslami

Reza Eslami received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Amirkabir University of technology in 2010, 2012 and 2017, respectively. He is currently an Assistant Professor of electrical engineering with Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran. He has published numerous scientific papers in reviewed journals and presented at international conferences. His research is focused on the operation, protection and power quality of distribution systems, including microgrids.

Farzad Razavi

Farzad Razavi received the B.S, M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in power engineering from the Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, in 1998, 2000, and 2007, respectively. He is a faculty member of Islamic Azad University of Qazvin. His fields of interest include power system protection, mathematics, and flexible ac transmission systems.