MGSG M4

MICROGRID AND SMARTGRID
COURSE CODE- EEDO7021

Module 4: Microgrid operations and islanding:
 Grid connected and Islanded mode
 Active and Reactive Power control
 Anti-islanding schemes: passive, active and communication based techniques.
Number
of  Protection issues
Lecture Hours  Role of energy Storage in Microgrid operations and stability
=
07
FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

 Grid connected and
Islanded mode IP+ jIQ P+jQ
V
ΔP+jΔQ
Utility
PCC Grid
CB 1 CB2
Transition mode:
Microgrid
 Transition from Grid Connected mode to Island Mode
R L C  Transition from Island Mode to Grid Connected mode
Pload+ JQload
IP+ jIQ P +jQ

V Utility
V
Grid connected mode CB 1 PCC CB2 Grid
Microgrid
R L C
P load+ JQ load
Island mode

 Grid Synchronisation Grid Disturbance Challenge
of Microgrid Grid disturbances are not at all a new issue, and the utilities are aware of them.
However, they have to take a new look because of the rapidly changing customers needs and the
nature of loads.

DISTURBANCE ORIGIN CONSEQUENCES

1 Voltage sag Short circuits in the Disconnection of sensitive
undervoltage network grid passing or loads.
on another radial. Fail functions.
Start up of large motors.
2 Voltage swell Earth fault on another Ageing of insulation

overvoltage phase. Disconnection of equipment.
Shut down of large loads. May harm equipment with
Lightning strike on inadequate design margins
network structure.
Incorrect setting in
substations.

3 Harmonic Non- linear loads. Extended heating.
distortion Resonance-phenomena. Fail function of electronic
Transformer saturation. equipment.
Notches
4 Transients Lightning strike. Insulation failure.

Switching events. Reduced lifetime of
transformer motor etc.

5 Voltage Arc furnaces. Ageing of insulation
fluctuation/ Sawmill, crushing mill. Fail functions
flicker Welding Flicker
Wind turbines
Start up of large motors.
6 Short Direct sort circuits Disconnection

duration Disconnection.
interruptions False tripping.
Load shedding.
7 unbalanced One phase loads. Voltage quality for over

Weak connections in the loaded phase.
network. Overload and noise from
3-pase equipment's.

 Grid Synchronisation Grid Synchronisation of Microgrid
of Microgrid Grid Under and Over-Voltage Challenges
The following conditions should be met, with voltages in RMS and measured at the point of utility
connection.
‘a’- Base voltages are the
nominal system voltages.
‘b’- DR ≤ 30 kW, maximum

clearing times; DR >
30kW, default clearing
times.
 When the grid frequency is outside the range of +/- 1 Hz the inverter should cease to energize
the utility line within 0.2 seconds.
 Thus the grid voltage and frequency should be estimated and monitored fast and accurate
enough in order to cope with the standard
Source: IEEE-1547-2003- IEEE Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems

of Microgrid Grid Under and Over-frequency Challenges
Interconnection system response to abnormal frequencies
‘a’- DR ≤ 30kW,
maximum clearing
times;
DR > 30kW, default
clearing times.

of Microgrid  To provide a reference phase signal synchronized with the grid voltage to meet the power
quality standards in all grid connected converters
 The main goal is to compute in real time an accurate estimate of the phase angle of the grid
voltages
 In general, it is expected to
 Precisely track the phase and frequency variations of the utility signal
 Forcefully reject harmonics, disturbances which exit in the grid
 Should be simple fast accurate and cost effective and easily implementable
Synchronization parameter limits for synchronous interconnection to the Main Grid

Summary of standards dealing with Interconnection of DG to the grid (Blaabjerg et al)
Issue IEEE1547 IEC61727 EN61000-3-2
Nominal Power 30 kW 10 kW 16A x 230V = 3.7 kW
(2-10) 4.0% (3-9) 4% (3) 1.30A
(11-16) 2.0% (11-15) 2.0% (5) 1.14A
(17-22) 1.5% (17-21) 1.5% (7) 0.77A
(23-34) 0.6% (23-33) 0.6% (9) 0.40A
Harmonic Currents Limit (>35) 0.3% (11) 0.33A
(Order-h) (13) 0.21A
(15-39) 2.25 /h
Even Harmonics in these range shall be less than 25% of Eve harmonics approximately 30%
the odd harmonic limits listed of the odd harmonics
Maximum Current THD 5% --
Power Factor at 50% of rated load -- 0.90 --
Dc Current injection Less than 0.5% of Less than 1% of rated output <0.22A – corresponds to a 50 W
rated output Current half wave rectifier
Current
Voltage Range for normal Operation 88% - 110% 85%-110% --
Frequency Range for normal Operation 59.3 Hz to 60.5 Hz 50 ± 1 Hz --

 Grid Synchronisation Regulatory framework for DG and Microgrid- IEEE 1547 Series of Standards:
of Microgrid • IEEE 1547 (2003, 2008r): Standard for DR interconnection (system and interconnection-test
requirements & specs.)
• IEEE 1547.1 (2005) Standard for conformance test procedures for equipment interconnecting
DR with EPS
• IEEE 1547.2 (2008) Guide to IEEE Std 1547
• IEEE 1547.3 (2007) Guide for MIC (monitoring, information exchange and control) of DR
interconnected w/EPS
• IEEE P1547.4 Guide for DR island systems (Microgrid)
• IEEE P1547.5 Guide for interconnection to transmission grid
• IEEE P1547.6 Recommended Practice for DR in distribution secondary networks
• IEEE P1547.7 Guide for impact studies for DR interconnection

 Microgrid Operation According to IEEE std 1547-2003,
in Island Mode :
“An island is a condition where a portion of a grid is energized solely by distributed generators
(DGs) while that portion of the grid is electrically separated from the rest of the power system.”
According to the above standard, an unintentional island is an unplanned island, and the
distributed resource (DR) (DG + storage device) shall detect the island and disconnect the DR
from the utility grid within two seconds of the formation of an island.
Islanding may occur as a result of the following conditions
 A fault that is detected by the utility, and which results in opening a disconnecting device, but
which is not detected by the DG inverter or protection devices
 Accidental opening of the normal utility supply by equipment failure
 Utility switching of the distribution system and loads.
 Intentional disconnect for servicing either at a point on the utility or at the service entrance
 Human error or malicious activity.
 An act of nature

 Island Detection

 Microgrid Operation Operational Challenges:
in Island Mode :
Microgrid controllers and Local controllers will face following challenges
 A risk of out-of-phase reconnection at all open points not designated and designed for
synchronized connection
 Possible damage to equipment due to voltage and frequency aberrations
 Safety for general public, emergency personnel, and operators
 Possible reduction in power quality
 Significant changes in fault duty between normal and island modes
 System protection coordination
 Coordination with load-shedding schemes
 Voltage and frequency regulation
 Load (phase) imbalance
 Load and generation mismatch

Anti Islanding : Why ? Anti Islanding : Why ?
 The utility cannot control voltage and frequency in the island, creating the possibility of
damage to customer equipment in a situation over which the utility has no control.
 Utilities, along with the PV distributed resource owner, can be found liable lines that results
from voltage or frequency excursions outside of the acceptable ranges.
 Islanding may create a hazard for utility line-workers or the public by causing a line to
remain energized that is assumed to be disconnected from all energy sources
 Re-closing into an island may result in re-tripping the line or damaging the distributed
resource equipment, or other connected equipment, because of out of- phase closure.
 Islanding may interfere with the manual or automatic restoration of normal service by the
utility.
ANTI ISLANDING – A SAFETY FEATURE FOR PV ARRAY TO PREVENT FROM REMAINING

CONNECTED TO THE GRID WHEN THE GRID IS DOWN.

 Island Detection Passive schemes
schemes: 1. They are based on parametric limits (voltage V, ΔV, frequency f, Δf, Δf/ ΔV or
combination).
2. But limitations are
1. Non Detection Zone (NDZ) is large
2. False operation
Active Schemes
1. Based on disturbance to observe the system response under grid connected mode relatively
stable but islanded condition tends towards instability.
2. Advantages:
1. Lower NDZ than Passive
2. But deteriorate power quality due to active injection of disturbance signal
Communication based schemes
1. Non availability of the communication signal fed at the grids side and received at Microgrid
side can show the status of Static Switch.
2. The main advantages are that they are very fast, reliable, non-false operation and zero NDZ.
3. The disadvantage is that they require accessibility of grid side switch to the level to which
dis-connectivity is expected. Hence these are not very popular scheme.

 Non Detection Zone The reliability of islanding detection methods can be represented by the non-detection zone
(NDZ) (NDZ), defined in the power mismatch space (P versus Q) at the point of common coupling PCC
where the islanding is not detectable and there is potential for parasitic trips.
PDG+∆ 𝐏 = 𝐏 𝐋𝐎𝐀𝐃; QDG +∆ 𝐐 = 𝐐𝐋𝐎𝐀𝐃
Where, ∆ 𝐏 is the real power output of the grid, ∆ 𝐐 is the reactive power output the grid.
If PLOAD =PDG there is no power mismatch between the power produced by the PV system.
If QLOAD=QDG there is no reactive power mismatch between the PV system and the utility.
The behavior of the system during islanding depends on the value of P & Q at the instant of
opening of the recloser.
 Islanding Detection 1. Active Frequency Drift (AFD)
methods: • A slightly distorted is the output current
waveform, representing a zero-current
section for a drift-up procedure.
• This is achieved by forcing the present sine wave
distorted wave
frequency in the past cycle to be
DG current output
moderately (0.5 − 1.5 Hz) greater than the
voltage frequency and maintaining the
inverter current at zero from the end of its t1 t2
negative semi-cycle to the positive zero- t
crossing of the voltage.

• The ‘chopping factor’ for AFD is defined Time(ms)
as:
𝟐∗𝒕𝟐
𝐜𝐟 = Active frequency drift waveform
𝒕
• where 𝐭𝟐 is the zero time of the AFD
signal and 𝐭 is the period of the utility
voltage.
• Fig. shows that drift being added in sine
signal along with the distorted waveform.
 Islanding Detection 2. Sandia Frequency Shift (SFS)
methods:
• Also called active frequency drift with positive feedback (AFDPF), this is an expansion of the
AFD technique and is another technique that uses positive feedback.
• In this technique, the beneficial feedback is applied to the PCC voltage frequency. To enforce
the positive feedback, AFD’s 'chopping fraction' is a function of the error in the line frequency.
f0 cf0
𝐜𝐟
ω 1/2π K π/2 = 𝐜𝒇𝟎 + 𝐤(𝒇 − 𝒇𝟎 )
ϴinv
Id ref Id* ref

Cos ϴinv -sin ϴinv
Iq ref sin ϴinv cos ϴinv Iq* ref
• where, k -acceleration gain, 𝒄𝒇𝟎 -chopping factor when there is no frequency error and
𝒇 − 𝒇𝟎 -difference between the estimated frequency and nominal value.
• Positive feedback formulated as linear function of deviation in frequency of PCC voltage is
applied to chopping fraction (cf) which causes frequency to deviate from nominal value in
absence of the grid.
 Islanding Detection 3. Sandia Voltage Shift (SVS)
methods: • In this technique the voltage amplitude acts as a positive feedback to the current reference.
Thus, if there is a decrease in the amplitude of voltage at the PCC (usually it is the RMS value
that is measured in practice), the inverter reduces its current output and thus its power
output.
• When the utility is attached, when the power is lowered, there is little or no impact on the
voltage. If the utility is absent and voltage is lowered, the amplitude will be further decreased
as dictated by the Ohm's law the load impedance (RLC) to the decreased current.
• This extra reduction in voltage amplitude leads to a further decrease in the output current of
the PV inverter, resulting in a possible decrease in voltage that the UVP can be detected.
• The energy output of the inverter can either be increased or decreased, resulting in a
respective OVP or UVP trip. However, it is preferable to react with a decrease in energy and
an UVP trip because this is less probable to harm the loading devices.

 Islanding Detection PCC
GRID
methods: INVERTER LCL FILTER
LOAD
CONTROL current
i
- voltage
+ MONITORING
PLL
iref PLL
phase
CURRENT
CALCULATOR
frequency amplitude
P Q
dQ
-
+ Kf < +
+
Q_DG FG
-
+ Kv < +
+
P_DG
VG
Sandia voltage shift schematic

 Communication Communication assisted Methods/ Remote Detection Techniques
assisted Methods/ The detection techniques are based on some kind of communication between the grid and the
Remote Detection DG.
Techniques 1. Impedance insertion
2. Power line carrier communications (PLCC)
3. Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)

 Communication  Impedance insertion
assisted Methods/ • low response time.
Remote Detection • The banks of capacitors can be used also for reactive compensation.
Techniques • It is expensive to implement and the time needed to insert the capacitor bank after the grid
disconnection could not meet certain standards.
• The impedance value should be sized according to the minimum variation of phase (and
therefore the frequency) that can be detected.

 IEEE Guide for IEEE Guide for Design, Operation, and Integration of Distributed Resource Island Systems
Design, Operation, with Electric Power Systems
and Integration of
Distributed Resource  IEEE created a new term DR island systems to generically refer to all intentional island
Island Systems with systems. The term DR island systems, sometimes referred to as microgrids, is used for
Electric Power these intentional islands.
Systems
 DR island systems are EPSs that:
(1) have DR and load,
(2) have the ability to disconnect from and parallel with the area EPS,
(3) include the local EPS and may include portions of the area EPS, and
(4) are intentionally planned.
(5) DR island systems can be either local EPS islands or area EPS islands.

 Glimpse of Island
Event

 Intentional Island: IEEE  DR island systems offer many potential benefits.
1547-4  They can:
1. Improve reliability by providing the islanded portion of the EPS power during an area EPS
outage or disturbance.
2. Relieve area EPS overload problems by allowing a part of the EPS to intentionally island
and removing load from the rest of the area EPS. The benefit is for both island and normal
parallel operation.
3. Isolate from area EPS power quality issues (voltage distortion, voltage sag, flicker,
lightning transients, etc.) while in island mode operation.
4. Resolve power-quality issues by reducing total harmonic distortion (THD) at the loads.
5. Allow for maintenance on the area EPS while allowing intentionally islanded customers to
remain powered.

• Protection Issues for Protection Issues for Micro grids
Micro grids
To guarantee the stable operation of a Micro grid during contingencies, two major protection
issues that must be dealt are:
• To find out the instance at which the Micro grid have to be islanded under a particular
contingency.
• To isolate the Micro grid and give sections with sufficient coordinate fault protection.

• Protection Issues for Performance and characteristic of majority of protection elements of a micro grid are similar to
Micro grids
those present in conventional utility system,
but it is not same for the inverters connected with micro sources.
Why ????????
Reasons :
1. Characteristic of inverters are not similar to existing protection equipment's
2. Different inverter designs have different characteristic and hence they do not have any
standardized characteristic that symbolize inverters as class of equipment
3. Fundamental characteristic of inverter units vary clearly depending on design and application.
4. Low fault current capacity in inverter units.
5. For Micro sources with larger no. of PEIs reduction in Micro grid fault level during change over
from grid connected to stand alone operation
6. Systematic understanding of Micro grid dynamics before, during and after islanding is
necessary to resolve protection issues for Micro grids properly.
7. Realistic evaluation on the benefits - before islanding the Micro grids

• Protection Issues for  For reliable and safe operation of stand alone Micro grid, the protection system must ensure
Micro grids
the following:
1. Stand alone Micro grid with suitable grounding
2. Coordination of Load shedding plans:-load shedding plans setup in area by utility
system must be closely coordinated
3. Fault detection devices must work in agreement with the fault detection system of both
the modes (stand alone and grid connected)
4. Fault detection Method - independent of large ratio between fault current and maximum
load current
5. Avoid undesirable loss or instability of micro sources with receptive settings, current
anti-islanding schemes.

• Islanding: Separation Issues to be considered for proper Islanding
from Utility
• Method to minimize false separation.
• Separation protection limitations imposed by micro girds that export power to the utility.
• Whether re-synchronization Micro grid to utility grid will be manual or automatic.
• Whether speed of operation of the protection want to approach SEMIF47 specification.
• Whether no fault separation would be permitted for open phase, voltage imbalance, under-
voltage conditions.

• Islanding: Separation Different Islanding Scenarios
from Utility
1. Quick Separation From Faulty Feeder
• Micro grid provides continuous power supply to priority loads during any disturbance in utility.
• The existing protective equipment may fail to clear the fault quickly if loads of the Micro grid is
voltage- sensitive then it requires separation times of fewer than 50ms.
• Relay time required to direct and interrupt the circuit on receiving the trip signal for an over/
under voltage is up to 2 cycles and for medium voltage is three to five cycles.
• Hence, if a quick acting solid state CB is not available at PCC between micro grid and utility
grid; other methods must be employed to avoid the voltage falling below 50% for three cycles
or longer.

• Islanding: Separation
from Utility

• Islanding: Separation Following cases have been considered to achieve design and protection improvements:
from Utility (i) When separation is compulsory
(ii)When separation is not compulsory
1. When separation is compulsory:

• Must be isolated from the utility grid when occurrence of fault is on its main incoming feeder at
PCC.
• As indicated in Fig. 1 the fault point is upstream to the PCC breaker CB1
• High speed separation is needed for this fault under all utility protection requirements and
technical standards, without continuing even a low under-voltage tie to the utility.
2. When separation is not compulsory
• Such cases arise when the fault is not situated between the utility substation breaker and the
PCC.
• For example: a fault on neighbouring feeder fed from the same substation might cause sag on
substation bus.
• Installing electronics sag correctors or substituting a D-Y transformer for Y-Y transformer at PCC
and addition of a high voltage side breaker can prevent the sag.

• Islanding: Separation 2. When separation is not compulsory (contd…)
from Utility • Electronic sag protectors are of two types, one appropriate for longer protection period above
two cycles and other 4 shorter protection period of about two cycles.
• The long term sag protector employs an energy storage device.
• the short term sag protector doesn’t uses it.
• Sag protectors
– does not require storage device - if the under voltage condition is not less than 50%.
– can hold up the voltage for three cycles even for zero voltage conditions.
• Hence a combination of 3 cycle breakers and instantaneous relays installed in adjacent feeders to
the main incoming feeder of the Micro grid must satisfy the SEMIF47 necessities for fast fault
clearance.

• Islanding: Separation Micro grid Separation is required
from Utility • If the utility employs instantaneous over current tripping of the feeder for fuse saving purposes.
• Substituting D-Y transformer for Y-Y transformer is a cheaper solution, but it is less effective.
• D-Y interconnection is effective only for single phase to ground faults on the D side and for loads
connected between line and neutral on the Y side.

• Islanding: Separation 2. Prevention from False Separation
from Utility
 Keeping a tie between the utility grid and the Micro grid is recommended for reliable
operation
 The Micro grid must be separated from the utility using fast tripping devices in case of fault
occurring on the tie.
 Low cost protective devices are not safe and might cause fake trips and fault separations.
 Reliable fast tripping technique- transfer trip from utility grid substation breaker.
 False tripping mainly happens from
• electromechanical relays and breakers
• from the complicated microprocessor based protection schemes.
 False trips leads to serious power quality issues
 Protection devices must be examined as an assurance against the loss of potential production

• Islanding: Separation  False tripping can be tolerated to some extend if backup power is supplied by the microgrid to
from Utility its own load.
 The microgrid will be separated – if intolerable voltage deviation continues longer than the
permissible duration.
 Permitting false separation – unnecessary outages to non- priority loads if Micro grids shed
them upon islanding.
 In exporting Microgrids, it will lead to revenue loss and a period of over frequency operation
until frequency stabilizes.
 In addition, the consumers might feel that such regularly interrupted generation will not be
worthy.

• Islanding: Separation 3. Separation in Non Fault Conditions
from Utility
 Under non –fault conditions also low voltages can occur.
 Hence without the help of high speed communication between utility and Microgrid
controllers it is difficult determine whether an LVcondition is related with a fault or not.
 The utility and Microgrid will also settle a trip control for balanced voltage conditions (as in
SEMI F47 specification)
 The trip control will be accomplished through communication
i. With the trip restraint system
ii. With utility using balanced voltage blocking of single phase under voltage relays at PCC
when desired voltage trip levels are lesser than delayed trip settings as specified by IEEE
P1547 standards.

• Islanding: Separation  The criteria for fixing the under voltage tolerance limit is determined by considering the
from Utility sensitivity to voltage imbalance of microsources, loads and other distribution equipment.
 An intelligent controller function is included in the PCM at the PCC to formulate the correct
decision on whether to separate or not based on voltage imbalance.
 Open phases are normally associated with systems where fuses are located between the PCC
and the utility substation.
 The Microgrid may not detect open phases as an abnormal condition, since an open phase
causes phase to phase voltage to remain at or above 50%.
 If not isolated properly, excessive over voltage/over current may exist across the open phase
with three phase switching.

• Islanding: Separation 4. Separation of Exporting Micro grids
from Utility
 Simple reverse power relays won’t work with exporting Microgrids to determine utility
contingency conditions.
 Impedance ratio of exporting Microgrid is much closer to that of the utility as it contains
excess generation than its maximum load - main difference between an importing and
exporting Microgrids
 Hence exporting and importing Microgrids has different voltage division during fault.

• Islanding: Separation 5. Re-synchronization
from Utility
 Re-synchronizing - conventional synchronous generator and power electronic inverter
interfaced microsources - carried out using relay and control schemes.
 Microgrids with only one microsource - choice for automatic or manual re-synchronization
depends - on the availability and skills of operator.
 Advanced control schemes - delayed re-synchronizing during storm conditions, where
disturbances may be frequent and facilities at least with the larger microsources may be also
included in PCM

• Major Protection Issues The protection considerations differ for stand alone and grid connected schemes
of Stand-Alone Micro For proper separation of microgrid - following protection considerations must be taken into
grid
account,
• Fault Protection of • Fault Protection of Distribution System
Distribution System • Protection of Micro sources
• National Electric Code (NEC) Requirements for Distribution Transformer protection
• Neutral Grounding Requirements
Fault Protection of Distribution System

The problems that must be properly considered as follows,
1. Microgrid Utility Side Protection
2. Low voltage Fault Clearing Requirements
3. Presence of Dispersed DERs in a Microgrid

• Major Protection 1. Microgrid Utility Side Protection
Issues of Stand-Alone • By tripping all the micro sources the faults occurring in the utility side (I.e. MV zone) of the
Micro grid
Microgrid can be easily cleared.
• If the fault is second contingency , it must be decided whether to keep the rest of the
Microgrid operating and go for selective isolation of MV faults.
• Micro grid is a classic onsite LV active distribution system fuses on MV/LV
• Assigning fault as second contingency, means the first contingency has occurred already as a
result Micro grid has occurred already, as a result of Microgrid has be separated from the
utility grid and the MV fault is a second contingency in stand alone Micro grid
• Microgrid - on site LV active distribution system

• Major Protection • Fuses on MV/LV distribution transformer connecting Micro grid to utility grid are the only MV
Issues of Stand-Alone protective devices employed in Micro grids.
Micro grid
• Normally, the fuses are set to function quickly (within 0.1-0.2s) for predefined fault current
from utility grid for a utility side fault happening during grid connected mode of operation.
• On LV side fuses are set for fault currents of 10-20 times the maximum load current and time
delay within 0.5-1.5 seconds.
• Drastic reduction in fault level is main problem that a protection system for a stand alone
Microgrid will face.
• An MV fault – Fault Current
= 20-50 times full load current - grid connected condition ,
= 5 times full load current - standalone condition.

• Major Protection Standalone Condition:
Issues of Stand-Alone • Distribution transformer fuses - operate very slowly to such faults with extremely inverse time
Micro grid
current characteristics
• Difficult to coordinate with micro source protection.
• There are only two choices under this condition

i. To accept that an MV fault will lead to a total microgrid outage
ii. To install extra protective devices to MV system for correct coordination
• Complexities due to utility side faults in a microgrid

–Fuse will be blow rapidly if fault occurs on transformer side.
–The faulty transformer will be disconnected from the utility, but it still connected to microgrid.
–Micro grid will be left with an open phase condition.

• Major Protection • If the micro grid is having a centralized generation , then two choices are there as discussed
Issues of Stand-Alone before:
Micro grid
(i) To accept outage due to second contingency.
(ii) To add properly graded additional protective devices with centralized micro source.
(iii)To fit relays at proper points in LV network
• Options (ii) and (iii) are suitable choices for Microgrids with micro sources at more than one
location.
• For fault within Micro grid, protection system must be sufficiently time delayed to avoid micro
sources generation loss due to utility disturbances
• Realize coordination through PCM
• Feeder sections employ - directional over current relay.
• The operating times of relays (if same), leads to reduced selectivity.
• Thus by employing differential protection schemes around each circuit segment appropriate
selectivity has to be achieved
• High-speed communication is necessary to and from all protective devices that trip any faulted
circuit.

• Major Protection 2. Low Voltage Fault Clearing Requirements
Issues of Stand-Alone • Conventional protective devices - time-current coordinated - fault current levels of about 2-20
Micro grid
times the maximum load current.
• The device nearest to fault - primary device
• The devices away from the fault - backup devices.
• Both devices detect the fault and maximum fault current flow through both of them
• The primary one is adjusted to operate quicker than secondary one.
• When fault location moves away from the source of generation, time-graded coordination
takes the advantage of the natural falling off of the fault current.
• The falling off depends upon the magnitude of impedance of transformers/lines between the
fault point and generation point.
• High set instantaneous over current relays and inverse-time overcurrent relays are used for LV
and MV distribution networks.
• By using this fault clearing time becomes more or less proportional to the distance of the fault
from the substation.
• In fault studies the generation point is defined as infinite bus.

• Major Protection • One main issue is that the stand-alone microgrid won’t appear as an infinite bus on the MV
Issues of Stand-Alone side of MV/LV transformer and the apparent impedance of the transformer may be much
Micro grid
smaller than that of microgrid source.
• So, when the fault moves from the MV zone to the LV system the fault current change will be
comparatively small.
• Transition from grid-connected to stand-alone mode
• limit backup protection
• low down fault clearing in overcurrent coordinated protection schemes.
• Should not disturb the protection coordination
• Inverse time characteristics of over current relays improves the time margin at lower fault
currents
• Less inverse characteristics ensures proper coordination.
• More distinct change will be shown by extremely inverse devices during the transition time of
operation.
• Severe reduction in fault current level is caused by the transition will affected more on high-set
instantaneous over-current devices.
• Fault current of both modes matched by Installing a fault limiting CB at the PCC

• Major Protection 3. Presence of Dispersed DERs in a Microgrid
Issues of Stand-Alone • To designing a secure and reliable protection system the impact of dispersed DERs on
Micro grid
microgrid protection system is needed
• Microgrid - in the form of a quasi network with dispersed generation, the changes of
bidirectional fault current flow in various feeders and the reduction in fault current must also
be taken into account while making changes in fault protection scheme.
• If there is a fault between the master (controller) and a slave (controlled) DER, then the slave
must be disconnected from the system as per IEEE P1547 specification.
• Separation will be difficult if the protection scheme for the slave DER is already designed in
such a way that it must not trip for fault current on the utility side of the PCC.
• Hence, it will not detect whether the fault is on the master DER side in the Microgrid or on the
utility side.
• Therefore, high-speed communication between all microgrid CBs and the PCM is the only
reliable way to realize selective tripping

Protection of Micro Protection of Micro sources
sources
• The following issues should be considered while designing a reliable micro source protection
scheme,
1. Fixing frequency and voltage protection tolerances for a standalone microgrid.
2. Evaluating the requirement for anti-islanding protection of DERs, if such protection needed, the
way to override or disable during stand-alone mode of operation of microgrid.
3. Investigating whether the existing anti islanding methods might lead to frequency and/or
voltage instability if employed in a standalone microgrid
4. Evaluating the requirements for an under frequency load shedding scheme for microgrid

 Protection scheme Protection scheme for Grid-Connected Mode
for Grid-Connected • Normal Condition
Mode • Utility Grid Fault
• Micro grid Feeder Fault
• Micro grid Bus Fault
• Re-Synchronization

for Grid-Connected
Mode 1. Normal Condition
• Micro grid remains connected to the utility grid via PCC /CB.
• All the CBs remain closed.
• The loads are fed jointly by the utility grid and the micro sources.
2. Utility Grid Fault

• By opening CB1, the micro grid disconnects itself from utility grid.
•CB1 monitors the direction and magnitude of current on each phase and sends a trip signal to CB1
if current limits go beyond specified value within a pre-set time.
• Also guarantees that the micro sources are not falsely tripped.

for Grid-Connected
Mode 3. Micro grid Feeder Fault
• Fault power flow is unidirectional.
• By opening the feeder breaker, faults are cleared simply.
• The breakers have directional over current relays to detect the faulty zone and clear fault.
• For all the relays the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) grades relay settings such that the faulty
zone is isolated before all the micro sources are disconnected from the feeder.
• This guarantees micro grid stability and minimum loss of generation.

 Protection scheme 4. Micro grid Bus Fault
for Grid-Connected • If fault occurs on the micro grid bus, then by opening CB the micro grid would be disconnected
Mode from the utility grid.
• PCM grades the CB relay to co-ordinate with the upstream protection in the utility grid in case of
any fault within the micro grid.
• CB1 is also graded with respect to the protective devices for the Micro sources to minimize loss of
generation, spurious tripping and supply interruption.
5. Re-Synchronization
• It is responsibility of PCM to synchronize and reconnect the micro grid to the utility grid through
synchronism check schemes.
• This may need a few seconds to minutes, depending upon the nature of the loads and feeder.
• The PCM contains the control scheme to bring all micro sources into synchronization with utility
grid.
• PCM provides both options for manual and automatic resynchronization as per requirement.

1. Protection: Reliability and Stability in islanding : Low Voltage Ride Through
i. Fault Behaviour in
Grid Connected
Mode and Island
mode,
ii. Types of Protection

Systems- Fault
Source Based
protection,
Adaptive
protection

 Reliability and
Stability in islanding :
Low Voltage Ride
Through

 Basic Protection Basic Protection Requirement:
Requirement:  Selectivity: Selection of protective equipment
 Microgrid Scenario:  Sensitivity: Selection of protective equipment directly depends on the sensitivity of load which
in a broader way means how quickly and adversely change in load effects to the system
 Reliability: The reliability comes from the protection or quick response towards detection and
mitigation of the fault in the electrical system
Microgrid Scenario:
 In grid-connected mode, the fault currents of higher magnitudes (10–50 times the full load
current) are available from the utility grid in order to activate conventional OC protection
devices.
 On the contrary, for a stand-alone/ Islanded Microgrid the fault current of about five times the
full load current is available .
 To avoid communication failure, adaptive protection schemes or alternate means are needed
to cope up with these issues.
 Protection system design for microgrid pose significant challenges due to bi-directional flow
from DGs as well as lower fault current levels due to the inverter connected DG sources in
islanded microgrid .

 Protection of the
Islanded Microgrid:
Fault Scenario
Fault Scenario in Grid Connected mode Fault Scenario in Islanded mode

 Protection of the Protection of the Radial/ Ring type Microgrids
Islanded Microgrid:
Major Challenges:
Radial/Ring Type

 Protection of the External and Internal faults
Islanded Microgrid:
Major Challenges

 Protection of the Protection of the Islanded Microgrid: Adaptive Protection Scheme
Islanded Microgrid:  Needs for adaptive protection
Adaptive  Simplest idea with two pre-computed setting groups (for grid and islanded modes) is not
Protection Scheme suitable
 It is essential to ensure that settings chosen for overcurrent relays take into account a
microgrid state (topology and type and amount of connected DER)
 Relay settings must be checked/adapted periodically with regard to a current microgrid
state to ensure a fault sensitivity and a selective tripping in case of the fault
 Two main research directions:
1. Automatic adaptive protection, i.e. change of protection settings depending on the microgrid
configuration:
 Based on pre-calculated settings
 Based on real-time calculated settings
2. Increase the amount of fault current level by help of a dedicated device
Source: http://microgrids.eu/documents/a._oudalov_protection_and_control_issues_%20network_designs.pdf

 Protection of the Adaptive Protection Scheme: Requirements
Islanded Microgrid:  Use of digital (microprocessor based) OC relays (fuses or electro-mechanical and standard
Adaptive solid state relays are especially for selectivity holding inapplicable, because they don’t provide
Protection Scheme flexibility for setting of tripping characteristics).
 Digital OC relays must dispose of possibility for using different tripping characteristics (several
setting groups, i.e. modern digital over-current relays for low voltage applications have up to 6
settings groups) that can be automatically parameterized locally or remotely.
 Use of new/existing communication infrastructure (e.g. twisted pair, power line, optic fibre,
radio, etc.) and standard communication protocols (Modbus, Profibus, DeviceNet, IEC61850,
etc.) such that individual relays can communicate and exchange information with a central unit
or between different individual relays fast and reliably to guarantee a required application
performance.

 Adaptive Protection
of Microgrid:
Source: Advanced Architectures and Control Concepts for MORE MICROGRIDS

of Microgrid:

of Microgrid:

 Adaptive Protection Based on pre-calculated values
of Microgrid:  The main goal of the adaptive protection
system is to adapt protection settings with
regard to a current microgrid state
 The concept is based on real time

measurements (status of circuit breakers and
DER output) and communication system
 By polling individual CBs the Microgrid Central

Controller (MCC) can read data (electrical
values, status) from CBs and if necessary
modify protection settings (tripping
characteristics

 Adaptive Based on Real Time Calculations
Protection System  A non-real time block which saves in a data base the detailed information about
for Microgrids characteristics of all microgrid units: lines, transformers and DER (provided short circuit
power).
 A real time block analyses the grid operation continuously and calculates the actual short-
circuit current supplied by all available DER connected to the appropriate feeder and adapts if
necessary settings for protection units.

• Adaptive
Protection System
for Microgrids


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MICROGRID AND SMARTGRID

COURSE CODE- EEDO7021

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

IP+ jIQ P +jQ

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

DISTURBANCE ORIGIN CONSEQUENCES

2 Voltage swell Earth fault on another Ageing of insulation

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

4 Transients Lightning strike. Insulation failure.

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

6 Short Direct sort circuits Disconnection

7 unbalanced One phase loads. Voltage quality for over

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

‘b’- DR ≤ 30 kW, maximum

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

ANTI ISLANDING – A SAFETY FEATURE FOR PV ARRAY TO PREVENT FROM REMAINING

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

PDG+∆ 𝐏 = 𝐏 𝐋𝐎𝐀𝐃; QDG +∆ 𝐐 = 𝐐𝐋𝐎𝐀𝐃

negative semi-cycle to the positive zero- t

crossing of the voltage.

Id ref Id* ref

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

Sandia voltage shift schematic

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

1. When separation is compulsory:

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

Fault Protection of Distribution System

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

• There are only two choices under this condition

• Complexities due to utility side faults in a microgrid

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan

FCRIT, Dept. of Electrical Engg. Ms. Misbah Khan