Impacts of high Solar Inverter Integration on Performance of FLIRS Function: Case Study for Danang Distribution Network

The increasing integration of distributed energy resources (DERs), especially renewable sources such as photo-voltaic (PV) systems, into distribution networks has presented several challenges to the fault location, isolation, and restoration service (FLIRS) integrated in their distribution automation system (DAS). While majority of studies reported paid attention on the issues related to knowledge- or impedance-based fault location, others only adopted simplified PV models which cannot ensure accurate presentation of actual PV fault behaviors. This paper, therefore, aims at conducting an extensive investigation on impacts of PV increased integration on the performance of the existing FLIRS. Since Danang Power Company has recently put in operation a commercial advanced FLIRS function integrated with its DAS system, considering the extremely rapid and high integration of PV systems into its medium-voltage (MV) distribution network, one of its typical highly PV-penetrated MV feeders is adopted for the study. All the network components relevant to the study are simulated with high details in the software environment PowerFactory/DIgSILENT. A total of 2700 fault scenarios is performed for the investigation purpose.