LARSEN & TOUBRO LIMITED

Grid Islanding Schemes

For
Generator Installations

R.Seshadri
Larsen & Toubro Limited
Mysore Works
 Grid Islanding and Load shedding Schemes

1.0 Generators in parallel with grid

DG sets / TG sets are finding more and more applications as captive

power sources in modern day industrial plants. A DG set owner may
decide to connect his DG to the local Electricity Grid supply (ie) the DG
will be synchronized to the grid. The main objective here is to feed the
plant load will both by the grid as well as the DG set.

Whenever a DG is connected to local grid, there can be two modes of

opesration as shown in fig.-1 and fig.-2 shown below:

Please see fig.1. A DG is shown connected in parallel to EB power. Plant

load is connected to the same bus where both DG and EB are present.

Here the plant load is 9 MW. The DG capacity is 3 MW. The DG is

connected to the bus where the grid supply is also connected. The DG
delivers 3 MW. Remaining 6 MW is drawn from the grid. Here the user
has less dependence on EB, and better control on the power availability
even if grid fails, he has at least 3 MW available to run critical loads. In
this case the plant is said to be importing power.

Grid

Incomer
6 MW Transformer
import
Incomer
Breaker
Incomer Bus

DG
Breaker
Plant Loads
DG
(9 MW)
3 MW Fig.-1

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Please see fig.-2 . Here the plant load is 2 MW. The DG capacity is
3 MW. The DG is connected to the bus where the grid supply is also
connected. The DG delivers 2 MW to plant load. The DG has a spare 1
MW available from its generation it delivers this 1 MW back into the
grid. In this case the plant is said to be exporting power.

Grid

1 MW Incomer
Export Transformer

Incomer
Breaker
Incomer Bus

DG Braker

DG Plant Loads
2 MW
3 MW Fig.-2

In both cases , the DG owner should obtain special permission from the
local Electricity board to connect his DG in parallel to the grid. The local
EB will permit DG paralleling, subject to the condition that the DG
owner installs a Grid Islanding Scheme at the incomer of the plant.

2.0 What is Grid Islanding Scheme ?

Grid Islanding scheme is a set of protective relays, connected at the

incomer bus these relays will sense a disturbance in the grid and give a
trip command to the incomer breaker whenever the grid disturbance
exceeds a set limit. By opening the incomer breaker, the plant is isolated
from the grid. The plant as well as the DG is disconnected from the
disturbed grid by the grid islanding scheme. The process of
disconnecting the DG from the EB is called Islanding of the DG.

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3. Why is the Grid Islanding Scheme required ?

Grid Islanding scheme helps both the EB as well as the DG owner.

In our country, due to several reasons, the grid is not stable and is always
fluctuating with respect to voltage and frequency. In addition, Grid
failures are frequent.

Benefits to EB :
The EB, who have the responsibility to maintain the grid, normally do
not want an additional independent power source (like the DG) in their
grid network, when the grid is disturbed. Since the power source is not in
their control, it will complicate EBs methods of dealing with the
disturbed grid. While the EB are in the process of solving the grid
disturbance, they do not like to have another power source which they do
not control and which may add to the disturbance. Once the DG (non EB
power source) is disconnected from the grid, it becomes easier for the EB
to locate the source of disturbance and rectify the same. The main idea is
that the EB eliminates the possibility of the DG feeding the disturbance.
Hence the local EB will insist on installing the Grid islanding scheme in
the DG owners premises, before allowing the DG to be connected to
grid.

Benefits to DG owner:
It is strongly advisable to disconnect the DG from the grid, when the grid
is disturbed. The main reason is that the DG or the TG may get spoilt due
to grid disturbances resulting in heavy repair costs and shut downs. It is
necessary to protect the DG from grid disturbances.

It is also better to disconnect the DG from EB whenever the EB fails, by

opening the incomer. If not, the DG which is running will experience a
severe jolt when the EB comes back. This will cause extreme damage to
DG.

Hence the user will also insist for the islanding scheme when the DG has
to operate in parallel with the grid.

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4. What are grid disturbances ?

A grid is said to be disturbed when :

a) there is an under voltage (U/V)

b) there is over voltage (O/V)
c) there is under frequency (U/F)
d) there is over frequency (O/F)
e) there is a rapid fall or rise in frequency ( +dF/dT or dF/dT )
f) there is a power failure in the grid
g) there is a fault in the grid

It may also happen that the DG may experience a reverse power flow
when operating in parallel with grid, without any of the above listed
symptoms. This is due to changing PF conditions in the grid. This is not
a major problem for the EB, but it is harmful to the DG. DGs may not
be able to operate below a certain PF. If compelled to work with low PF,
the DG will experience a reverse reactive power flow - this can damage
the DG.

On line Power factor control of DG is a better solution than islanding in

such cases. Please refer to a separate document from L&T on PF control
of DG / TG sets.

5. What are the relays which can detect Grid disturbances ?

It should be noted that :

a) an over loaded grid will give rise to fall in frequency

b) a fault in the grid will give rise to fall in voltage.

It is possible to detect each of the above symptoms by individual relays.

While detection of U/V , O/V and faults can be done by simple
electromechanical relays, the parameters like frequency, dF/dT have to
be monitored by numerical relays .

Numerical relays, with capability to perform mathematical algorithms

and to offer very high accuracy & resolution ( settings in terms of 0.01
Hz) which are normally required to detect dF/dT.
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The EB supply failure condition ( the most frequent of the disturbances)

is difficult to detect. It can not be detected by under voltage relays
since the DG supply will be available on the bus. Normally the mains
failure will be detected by a dF/dT relay . As a back up a reverse power
relay or a vector surge relay is also used to detect a EB failure.

If the DG is in export mode, a low forward power relay will be required

to detect the EB failure.

Grid faults are detected by directional Over current + Directional E/F

relays.

6. What else is required along with grid islanding scheme ?

A fast acting load management scheme and a reverse synchronization

scheme are also required along with grid islanding scheme to ensure that
DG operates properly after an islanding has occurred.

It should be noted that that there can be two conditions of grid paralleling
of DG sets.

a) Case 1
DG in parallel with grid, plant is importing power :

Refer fig.1. Let us say that the incomer is opened by grid islanding
scheme, when the plant load of 9 MW was fed by DG (3 MW) and
EB(6MW). The moment incomer opens, the DG will have all the
plant load coming onto it there would be an overload of 6 MW.
The generator protection relay will trip the DG, causing a total
black out. This is not desirable what we should have is that :

- the DG should continue to run and deliver its 3 MW to critical ,

pre selected loads
- the over load of 6 MW should be removed from the DG bus,
soon after islanding so that DG does not trip on overload.

This is achieved by a load shedding scheme.

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b) Case-2
DG in parallel with grid , plant is exporting power :

Refer fig.2. The DG is exporting 1 MW into grid ( 30% of its rated

capacity). If islanding occurs, the DG will have no path to
dissipate the 1 MW the immediate effect is that it may over
speed or its terminal voltage may rise. Both will be detected by the
over frequency and over voltage relays of the DG and they will
trip the DG, causing power black out. This is not desirable. We
should ensure that the DG continues to run by automatically
changing its its power level to suit the 2 MW plant load.

This is achieved by having a fast load shading scheme.

c) Case 3
The DG has islanded on EB failure

Let us consider that DG is continuing to run , after islanding due to

proper load management schemes explained above. Please also
note that the incomer is open.

Let us now say that the EB power has come back. At this time it is
desirable to restore the original condition of DG set parallel
connection with grid, without wasting any time.

The DG has to be synchronized with grid , on its return.

The user has two choices

a) manual synchronization : this will take any where between 15

min to 1 hour depending upon the availability and skills of the
operator.

b) Auto synchronization : This is the best choice this scheme

will detect the return of the EB power, adjust the frequency and
voltage of the DG set , and close the breaker automatically all
within a maximum of 3 minutes from the time of EB return.

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This is a great advantage to user it improves power

availability to plant ( in the import mode) . It improves export
revenues to the user ( in the export mode).

Special auto synchronising relays are available to achieve the

above level of performance.

7. What is L&T solution for all this?

L&T can offer a comprehensive Grid Islanding , Auto Synchronising ,

Load shedding and Load shading scheme. Please see Fig 3.

The complete scheme consists of various relays to carry out the

operations as follows:

Grid Islading is carried out by the following relays:

a) a special numerical relay UFD34. The salient features of UFD34

are :

- user can set 4 levels frequency settings ( either U/F or O/F)

- user can set two levels of dF/dT
- user can set two levels voltages ( U/V or O/V)
- One level of dE/dT

The dF/dT can be anded through software with any of the 4 U/F
elements. Wit this feature the user can reliably detect a rapidly
falling frequency in the bus , without any spurious triggers.

Relay gives out 4 independent contacts. One of these can be used

for opening the incomer . The remaining three contacts can be
used for load shedding, based on progressive under frequency.

The voltage elements detect an U/V or O/V .

The dE/dT element helps to detect a fault in the grid ( a fault in the
grid will result in rapid fall of voltage)

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b) a directional Over current + directional E/F relay DM30 this is a

numerical relay which senses high fault currents flowing from the
DG to the grid and issues trip command.

c) a high sensitivity reverse power relay MRP11 this relay has

possibility is set a reverse power of 0.5 %. This very useful to
sense mains failure in import mode.

d) A power management relay MW33 this will help sensing low

forward power in export mode . At the same time user can set a
max limit to power export. This relay also monitors the PF in the
bus another parameter which can be monitored at the bus.

e) An under voltage relay MV12 is provided to detect re-appearance

of voltage in grid.

f) A vector surge relay UM30-SV this can be a back up for

detecting mains failure.

Load shedding is carried out with following relays :

a) The UFD34 relay, which was used for islanding, can also be
provide contacts for load shedding.

b) Matrix module MX 7-5 this is a logic module. This will accept 7

inputs and provide 5 out puts which can be configured to follow a
specific logical sequence of the 7 inputs.

c) Power management relay MW33 this will help to have a load

shedding scheme based on power levels.

Load shading is provided buy the relay RRS this measures the power
out of the DG it also receives an auxiliary contact from the incomer
breaker. If incomer opens, this relay immediately give decrease pulses to
exciter and governor to bring the power levels of the DG to the required
levels of plant load.

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Reverse synchronization is provided by Auto synchronizing relay

SPM21. Please refer a separate document from L&T on Auto
Synchroninsing with SPM21 relay.

L&T offers all the above relays as a single source solution. The user can
now select any of the relays to suit his requirements at a given site .

L&T has a team of full fledged application specialists to study,

recommend, supply, install and commission a comprehensive grids
islanding, load shedding, load shading and auto synchronizing scheme.

--ooO&Ooo--