Adaptive Protection of Distribution Networks Integrated With DG Units

Abstract

The integration of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) with the classic electrical distribution network leads to many protection and operation issues. So, it is important to define the best location in the electrical network to connect the RESs. In addition, the best size of the RESs that will be connected to the grid should also be defined in such a way to reduce the number of the disturbances and contingency cases that may bring many protection or operation failures in the distribution networks. This paper presents a modified adaptive protection technique to re-coordinate the Automatic Recloser (AR) and fuses in the distribution networks. The protection devices will adapt its characteristics to the new cases and be able to adjust its parameters to eliminate the fault as fast as possible. The new adaptive algorithm is tested and verified using the MATLAB/Simulink software. An adaptive code is embedded into the technique in such a way that will guarantee not only the least fail cases in the protection and operation contingencies but also in the critical cases. It is applied and tested using the standard IEEE 13 nodes test feeder as a distribution system. The system is modeled and simulated using the ETAP software.