A Reliable Accelerated Protection Scheme For Converter-Dominated Power Networks
A Reliable Accelerated Protection Scheme For Converter-Dominated Power Networks
Abstract—Rising penetration of converter-based sources with converters to ensure reliable power system operation [3]. Con-
different control operations is introducing severe non-homogeneity verters controlled with grid-forming techniques are increasing
in the power systems, especially during faults. Such non- to maintain stable grid operation with high renewable pene-
homogeneity leads the decision derived by available distance and
directional relays to be unreliable. Performances of the avail- tration [3], [4]. Different grid code requirements also enforce
able communication-assisted tripping schemes being dependent on the control operations to adjust accordingly [5]. Diversity in
these two relay decisions at both ends become a concern for the pro- control schemes compels converter-interfaced renewable en-
tection of converter-dominated power networks. This work demon- ergy sources (CIRES) to respond differently compared to con-
strates the impact of converter-based sources on both distance and ventional synchronous generators during fault. This modulates
directional relays and the possible maloperation of the accelerated
protection schemes. A new transfer trip scheme has been proposed source impedances differently and results in a non-homogeneous
mitigating the issue. Considering the homogeneity present in the situation in the grid [6]. Generation variability and intermittency
negative and zero sequence networks in high voltage transmission associated with renewable sources intensify such complexity by
system even with converter-based sources, two indices are derived varying the source-impedance-ratio (SIR) dynamically [7]. Such
using local voltage and current data to identify the fault direction at situations impel to revisit the performance of available protec-
each end of a protected line. The decisions are transferred to the al-
ternative ends through low-bandwidth communication channels to tions schemes for the power networks dominated by converter-
ensure the protection decision derived for the line to be dependable based sources. This article is an improved and expanded version
as well as secured. The scheme is tested for a 9-bus and a 39-bus of the paper presented at the 2022 22nd National Power Systems
system, even with 100% converter-based sources using PSCAD/ Conference [1].
EMTDC simulation platform and found to be reliable for different
faults and system conditions. Comparative assessment with a few
advanced techniques demonstrates the superiority of the proposed
method. B. Literature Review
Index Terms—Accelerated protection, converter-interfaced With such variable SIR situations and increasing non-
renewable sources, directional relaying, distance relaying, power homogeneity in power systems, available local data-based pro-
system faults, transfer trip scheme. tection schemes fail to derive correct decisions at times [6], [8],
[9]. Line differential scheme employing both end current data
I. INTRODUCTION communicated through dedicated communication channels are
A. Motivation and Incitement recommended for such a situation [10]. Cost associated with
the required high-bandwidth dedicated communication channels
MBITIOUS decarbonization target are enforcing power
A grids for large-scale integration of renewable energy
sources [1], [2]. Integration of such sources necessitates nu-
and the communication latency are two major concerns for the
wide-application of such a scheme for protection of transmission
networks. Limited performance of current differential relays
merous control functions to be employed in the interfacing in renewable-connected lines also discourages for such a high
investment [11]. Therefore, the transfer trip schemes requiring
Manuscript received 1 October 2023; revised 4 January 2024 and 15 March
2024; accepted 1 April 2024. Date of publication 7 May 2024; date of current low-bandwidth communication channel are preferred [12]. Such
version 22 July 2024. Paper 2023-PSEC-1171.R2, presented at the 2022 22nd schemes communicate the trip decision derived by local distance
National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), New Delhi, India, Dec. 17–19, and or directional units to the other end for ensuring secure and
approved for publication in the IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICA-
TIONS by the Power Systems Engineering Committee of the IEEE Industry Ap- dependable accelerated protection for the lines. High and vari-
plications Society [DOI: 10.1109/NPSC57038.2022.10069232]. This work was able source impedance situations cause severe underreach and
supported in part by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, overreach issues with distance relays [13]. Different techniques
U.K., under Grant EP/T021829/1, and in part by IIT Indore, India, through Young
Research Seed Grant Scheme under Grant IITI/YFRSG/2023-24/Phase-III/05. are applied to enhance its performance in such situations, like
(Corresponding author: Subhadeep Paladhi.) multiple setting based approach [14], [15], [16], adaptive trip
Subhadeep Paladhi is with the Department of Electrical Engineering, In- boundary setting [17], [18], application of data-driven tech-
dian Institute of Technology Indore, Indore 453552, India (e-mail: spaladhi@
iiti.ac.in). niques [19], [20], control-based adjustment [21], fault loca-
Qiteng Hong and Campbell Booth are with the Department of Electronic and tion mapping [8], and also by introducing intentional delay
Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, G1 1XQ Glasgow, U.K. in decision [22]. Most of the techniques consider either the
Color versions of one or more figures in this article are available at
https://doi.org/10.1109/TIA.2024.3397640. equivalent impedance associated with different sources to be
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/TIA.2024.3397640 negligible or the system to be homogeneous. The techniques
0093-9994 © 2024 IEEE. Personal use is permitted, but republication/redistribution requires IEEE permission.
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C. Contribution
In this work, the limited performance of available communi-
cation assisted tripping schemes are demonstrated for converter-
dominated power systems and a novel scheme is proposed
mitigating the issue. A new criteria is defined using local voltage
and current data to identify the fault direction in power net-
works in the presence of converter-based sources. The proposed
scheme uses a low-bandwidth dedicated communication channel
to transfer decisions derived at both ends and issues a trip
command when the fault is detected in forward direction at both
ends of the line. The scheme is tested for a modified WSCC
9-bus system with 100% converter-based sources and a CIRES
integrated 39-bus system using PSCAD/ EMTDC simulation
data. The method is found to be accurate and independent of
Fig. 1. Overview of common communication assisted transfer trip schemes.
fault resistances, fault locations and different control operations
associated with converters-based sources.
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PALADHI et al.: RELIABLE ACCELERATED PROTECTION SCHEME FOR CONVERTER-DOMINATED POWER NETWORKS 5601
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PALADHI et al.: RELIABLE ACCELERATED PROTECTION SCHEME FOR CONVERTER-DOMINATED POWER NETWORKS 5603
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Fig. 10. Reactive current requirement with voltage dip for different grid codes.
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PALADHI et al.: RELIABLE ACCELERATED PROTECTION SCHEME FOR CONVERTER-DOMINATED POWER NETWORKS 5605
Fig. 11. Performance of the proposed method with CIRESs complied with Fig. 12. Performance of the proposed method for different types of CIRESs
different grid code requirements. connected to the line.
V. CONCLUSION
TABLE II
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS WITH RECENT AVAILABLE METHODS Power grid is experiencing a noticeable change in fault char-
acteristics with growing penetration of converter-based renew-
able sources. Conventional distance and directional relaying
decisions derived in such a new grid scenario is found to be
unreliable. This work demonstrates the impact of CIRESs on
communication assisted accelerated protection schemes, where
the trip decisions are generated and supervised by conventional
distance and/ or directional relays. The work proposes a new cri-
teria to identify the fault direction in converter-dominated power
networks using local voltage and current data. The directional
decisions derived at both ends are transferred mutually through
a low-bandwidth dedicated communication channel to generate
a secure and dependable trip command for the line end breakers.
The method is derived using the homogeneity present in negative
decisions correctly satisfying the criteria in (8). This declares and zero sequence networks in high voltage transmission grids,
the method to be independent of the converter-control operation even with CIRESs. This generalizes the method for application
with different renewable sources. in any transmission network with or without CIRESs. The
method is tested for a 9-bus system with 100% converter-based
sources and a CIRES integrated 39-bus system. The method
is found to be reliable for faults created at different locations,
F. Comparative Assessment with different fault resistances, in the presence of CIRESs with
Different techniques are being tested to prevent the growing different control operations satisfying grid code requirements.
maloperation issues with conventional distance and directional The proposed protection scheme addresses two important con-
relays in the presence of CIRESs. Features of the proposed cerns for the present power systems. It performs correctly being
method is now compared with some of those techniques, avail- independent of the behavior of the sources feeding the fault
able in [8], [22], [34], [35], [36]. The comparative assessment current. In addition, accelerated protection decisions from both
in Table II clearly reveals the novelty and necessity of the ends help in reliable and quick isolation of the faulted part which
proposed method for the present power systems moving towards helps in maintaining system stability in low-inertia situations as
decarbonization. being experience with growing penetration of converter-based
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Fig. 13. Sequence networks of the system in Fig. 1(a) for (a) BCG, (b) BC, and (c) 3-phase faults.
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PALADHI et al.: RELIABLE ACCELERATED PROTECTION SCHEME FOR CONVERTER-DOMINATED POWER NETWORKS 5607
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