Protection Coordination for Wind Farm Integration in the Kosovo Transmission System

Abstract

The implementation of wind power generators into transmission system presents several challenges related to protection schemes, particularly in the areas of relay protection and overcurrent protection. This paper provides an overview in the impact of connecting wind power generators to the transmission system and discusses the key considerations for designing effective relay and overcurrent protection strategies. Intensive analysis was conducted on multiple scenarios involving critical short-circuits, occurring at different nodes within the system, specifically focusing on three-phase current. The situation where the circuit breaker is disconnected after the relay protection was activated, ensuring the protection of high voltage equipment, was also examined. Without proper protection coordination, the selectivity, reliability and sensitivity of the protection system can be compromised. In this paper, a comprehensive protection coordination strategy was developed for the new substation 35/10 kV in Koznica. The use of system simulation techniques, such as employing (Electrical Transient Analyser Program (ETAP) software, can be an effective way to validate the performance and functionality of a system protection. In all simulated scenarios, the analysis identified the circuit breakers that were activated in response to short-circuit faults. This ap - proach ensured the reliability and accuracy of the coordination scheme, thereby enhancing the overall performance and resilience of the system.