IEEE PES PowerAfrica 2007 Conference and Exposition

Johannesburg, South Africa, 16-20 July 2007

A Hybrid Strategy for Distributed Generators Islanding Detection

M. Ezzt, M. I. Marei, M. Abdel-Rahman and M. M. Mansour
Electric power & Machines Dept., Faculty of Engineering, Amn Shams University
1 El-Sarayat St., Abbasia, 11517, Cairo, Egypt, Fax. (202) 6830994

Abstract - Distributed generation is a form of electric power 1- The introduction of a distributed generator changes the
privatization. Consumers install their own power station to supply protection coordination of the network. It changes the
the local loads and/or share in the utility loads. Many protective current ratings in the distribution network cables.
problems have been developed due to the existence of these Therefore, it changes the cables sizes and the fuse
distributed generators. However, a protective strategy should be coordination. Figure (1) shows the difference in cable
developed to protect the system and the generator itself from sizes before and after the installation of distributed
different hazards. One of the main protection problems is a
generator islanding. Islanding means that the generator becomes generation unit.
in a standalone mode of operation when the utility circuit breaker
opens due to either fault occurrence or maintenance. Unidirectional flow
Many techniques of islanding protection are discussed and
simulated to make a suitable strategy for the protection of
distributed generator. This paper introduces a hybrid passive
methodfor islanding detection to minimize the non-detective zone.
This hybrid islanding detection strategy guarantees an accurate
operation of the islanding protection relay. Incoming
Supply (a)
I. INTRODUCTION
Bidirectional flow
Electricity generation from small ratings embedded
generation and storage units has recently gained popularity in
the electricity industry [1]. Distributed generators operate in Network Local I
parallel with the utility grid in synchronism to support both Loads Loads
local loads and utility loads. Distributed generators are either ILoads Distrilibuted
synchronous or induction generators. Some distributed rator
Inco ming (b) Gene
generator technologies are DC supplies connected to the grid Sulpply
through inverter circuits. The ratings of such inverters are
from 5 to 3000 kVA [1]. Furthermore, distributed generation Small Cable sizes
includes renewable energy sources such as wind energy, Large Cable sizes
water energy, solar cells and biomass heat [2]. However, the
widespread penetration of distributed generation technologies Fig. 1. Cable sizes: (a) Without embedded generator, (b) With
embedded generator
within distribution networks drastically changes the
protection philosophy of those networks. One of the 2- The other protection problem is the possibility of
challenges imposed by the introduction of distributed islanding. Islanding is the operation in a standalone mode
generation is islanding. This paper is devoted to discuss this due to the occurrence of a power system fault, as shown
problem for rotating machine based distributed generation. in Figure (2). This fault results in tripping of the utility
circuit breaker that connects the distributed generator to
II. DISTRIBUTED GENERATION PROTECTION the grid. The danger arises from the following:
CHALLENGES a) Auto re-closing of the circuit breaker while the
distributed generator has lost synchronization with the
Problems associated with the introduction of distributed main grid.
generation are: (i) Economical problems, viz, contractual, b) Continuously supplying the fault from the
economical, and financial issue among utilities, distributed distributed generator side.
generation units owners and consumers. (ii) Dispatching c) Safety hazards for human beings, if there are
problems, especially, in the case of non-dispatchable maintenance requirements for the utility transmission
distributed generation, e.g., wind turbines [3]. (iii) Protection lines between the utility circuit beaker and the island.
problems that are summarized in the following:

1-4244-1478-4/07/$25.00 ©2007 IEEE

 Utility Inter-tie voltage. The governor starts to respond and decelerates the
Circuit B eaker Circuit Breaker rotor to adjust the frequency.

Frequency Voltage
_........
-,;Z
x. .. 2wxz L AIrl
Network Local 50
Loads Loads
Distributed . 47
Utility Generator
Generator
Pcower .. I ~~~~Vnltngfv 1.0
Is]iland _ _------ -

0.9
Fig. 2. Islanding condition of embedded generator and its local loads Islan-d _4 AVR boast
event typical Trip
Time
III. ISLANDING PROTECTION TECHNIQUES
Fig. 3. Under voltage and under frequency detection
Protection techniques in the distributed generator side are
required to detect the system faults or the loss of mains. The Frequency Voltage
detection is fulfilled by continuously monitoring the system A I ..A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~....... L
parameters, voltage, current, frequency, etc. A decision of 50.5 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _----

opening the inter-tie circuit breaker should be taken when 50 -->7*'--------- Frequency
islanding takes place. GoveTnor Response
When islanding occurs, the machine loses its
synchronization with the main grid. Changes in the frequency ._____--- ----------------fH111. 01 I

and output voltage happen. The protection strategy I Voltage 1.0

considered in this paper is based upon the detection of Island PP00
parameter changes. This is a passive protection technique. event typical Trip
Passive techniques are preferred to active techniques since
they are: (i) More reliable due to processing the actual system Time
measurements, and (ii) Less expensive since no need for
Fig. 4. Over voltage and over frequency detection
active supply or oscillator. The following subsections
describe the techniques considered for islanding detection.

A. frequency and voltage variations B. Rate ofchange offrequency

The basis of all islanding protection methods is that both This protection technique depends on the generator swing
voltage and frequency respond to an islanding event due to equation which defines the frequency rate of change as [5].
the active and reactive power variations [4]. Figure (3)
Af AP.J (1)
presents the case where the active and reactive power
At 2H.G
demands in the islanded network are greater than the power
produced by the distributed generator. where
The frequency is initially decreased at a rate proportional AP: is the change of the power output.
to the initial active power unbalance. The voltage is also
decreased due to the reactive power changes. After a period
f is the power system frequency.
H: is the inertia constant of generator.
of about half a second the AVR responds to boast the voltage.
G: is the rated capacity of the generator.
Moreover, the governor starts to respond and accelerates the
rotor to adjust the frequency.
Rate of change of frequency (ROCOF) relays monitor the
Figure (4) presents the case where the active and reactive
power demands in the islanded network are lower than the
voltage waveform of the generator and determine the
frequency. They detect the rate of change of frequency and
power produced by the distributed generator. Initially, the
compare it with a preset value. The setting is chosen such that
frequency is increased at a rate proportional to the initial the relay responds for the variation due to loss of mains [6].
active power unbalance. The voltage is also increased to a
level at which the reactive power balance is restored. After a
Figure (5) presents a scenario where the ROCOF is of a
higher negative rate than the preset value. The initial ROCOF
period of about half a second the AVR responds to limit the actually becomes greater than the set point for a period before
the governor action. The governor action maintains the HgGg (2)
frequency inside its frequency protection limits of 50 Hz APg AP, HH g(Jg+ iHmin
G
+1%, -6%. This rate decays to zero afterwards.
where: Hg and Hm are the inertia of the distributed generator
Frequency and the grid respectively. Gg and Gm are the power ratings of
the distributed generator and the grid respectively.
Since the generator inertia is far lower than the grid
event Frequency inertia, the generator share in load variations is very small.
However, if islanding takes place, any change of load will
< Set point dfdt
Tim directly affect the generator output (Gm = 0), as shown in
^
. ~~Measured df/dt Figure (5).
Islan Ti
event Trip Power
A
.4
Time
Fig. 5. Under frequency rate of change detection

Figure (6) represents a scenario where the ROCOF is of a Sharp >

higher positive rate than the preset value. The initial ROCOF Changes
Islanding
actually becomes greater than the set point for a period before event -*
decaying to zero. Power unbalance and the machine inertia
determine the preset value of both over and under frequency Time
rate of changes.
Fig. 7. Power changes detection

eny Measured df/dt

Freqi
50.5 A .-Se.t.Q
_ency/ ..point df/dt D. Reverse VAR detection

_/
. /-- This method is based upon measurement of the reactive
50
Governor
:Governor Frequency power flow in the generation site of supply. Islanding is
considered if the VAR flow exceeds a preset point.
In case of induction generators, the machine cannot
operate without a reactive power support from the grid. When
islanding occurs, reactive power flow over the tie-line is
Island
event
I*Trip reversed. The machine supplies the loads by reactive power.
Time This action takes place if a capacitor bank is connected in
parallel with the machine terminals.
Fig. 6. Over frequency rate of change In case of synchronous generator, the exciter is adjusted to
operate the machine at high power factor for economical
To overcome the mal-operation due to system transients, a considerations [4]. The VAR flow is small with the existence
comparison of rate of change of frequency (COROCOF) is of grid. At the islanding instant, the reactive power flaw
made between the output voltage of the distributed generator increases.
and the grid voltage [7]. The change of reactive power flow affects the phase angle
between the generator voltage and current. Consequently, the
C. Change in output power decision is taken upon the VAR variations or the phase angle
variations.
If the rate of change of frequency is not enough to trip the
relay, a backup protection is achieved by comparing the load IV. THIE PROPOSED HYBRID ISLANDING
variation in the islanded region and the output power DETECTION STRATEGY
variations of the generator. This backup is powerful when the
island load is in the same level as the generator output. All of the aforementioned islanding detection strategies
Consider a simplified representation of a distributed suffer from inherent problems. They are depending on
generator, a change in system load AP, causes a change in the knowledge of threshold setting between normal operation and
output power from the generator APg given by [8] islanding operation. For instance, it is clear that frequency
changes depend on the generator inertia, as shown in equation
(1). As the inertia increases, the rate of change of frequency rate of change after islanding is about -4 Hz/sec. in the case
decreases, which results in increasing the non-detective zone. of 10% overloading after islanding.
Therefore, it is not reliable to depend only on this technique
for the islanding detection. FREQUENCY against TIME 11lO%vneloading after isandlinglH 3.2sfl
Since each islanding detection method has its own
detective zone, a hybrid strategy that combines two or more u
z
islanding detection methods, offers a minimum non-detective
zone. This hybrid islanding detection strategy guarantees an Et
accurate operation of the islanding protection relay.
The proposed islanding detection strategy is based mainly
on the rate of change of frequency method. It trips when rate
exceeds a preset value. The strategy utilizes another two
backup protection schemes; (i) detection of output active
power variations and (ii) reverse VAR detection. Reverse
VAR detection is achieved by measuring the phase angle
TIME in Seconds
between the phase voltage and the phase current that changes
its sign as the reactive power direction is reversed. This Fig. 9. Frequency changes at (H = 3.2s and overloading = 10% over
hybrid islanding detection strategy decreases the non- the generator capacity)
detective zone of the relay compared to individual methods.
V. SIMULATION RESULTS ROCOF: agUainst TIME (I D%ovarloading after isIandinIgjH3.2ij)

A comprehensive evaluation of the proposed islanding X

detection technique was carried out by conducting several test
cases. The first case primarily dealt with examining the
dynamic performance of the ROCOF method for islanding
detection under changing loading levels and generator inertia. w~~~~~~~~~~~ 2

The second test case dealt with the change in active power as
a complementary method for islanding detection to account
for the effect of generator inertia on ROCOF. The last case is
dedicated to test the change in phase angle for islanding
detection under different reactive power conditions. Matlab
program is used for simulating the suggested techniques on a T"ME ~in S*aonds
simple test system shown in Figure (8). Fig. 1 0. ROCOF changes at (H =3.2s and overloading = 1 0% over
the generator capacity)

Figure (I11) and Figure (12) show that for the same
generator, the frequency rate of change after islanding is
about ±4 Hz/sec. in the case of under loading to 2000 of the
capacity after islanding.
FREQUIENCY agatinst TIME (1oad decr.ses to 20%After hIutnding(H 3 2I)j

r
Fig. 8. Single line diagram of the test system

Ht
A. ROCOF LL

Two parameters impact the frequency rate of change; (i)

generator inertia and (ii) loading level. Figure (9) to Figure
(12) illustrate the effect of loading level on the dynamic TIME In Seconds
behaviour of ROCOF. For a generator inertia H= 3.2
Fig. 11. Frequency changes at (H = 3.2s and 20% under loading)
seconds, Figure (9) and Figure (10) show that the frequency
 ROCOF ag"s' t ME libikd dO'Cre-Agot W 20%aftr IsIlAndinglW3.29" FREQUENCY agani
ast TIME "ad de rases to 20% aftr islandflig =1lOs))
I
c
v,

I ai
a

rn

TIME In Saconds TIME In Seconds

Fig. 12. ROCOF changes at (H = 3.2s and 20% under loading) Fig. 15. Frequency changes at (H = 1 Os and 20% under loading)

If the generator inertia is increased to H = 10 seconds,

Figures (13),(14),(15), and (16) show that the rate of change ROCOF Aagant TiME (lad docroais 20%Aei l9lanlilg(Hl1O))
to

value is reduced to ±1 Hz/sec, according to the inertia

constant of the generator. This means that the non-detective
zone of the ROCOF method, which is determined by a
threshold setting, is a function of generator inertia and
loading. Therefore, a backup protection is needed.
FREQUENCY against TIME 1l1% &v#rIoading after igandling{H-10st)
N -------- ~.I..

iiC

MAE in Scords

Fig. 16. ROCOF changes at (H = 1 Os and 20% under loading)

B. Change in output active power

* m~~~~~~TME kh S>eC The second task of the simulation in this study is to

evaluate the performance of the change in active power as an
Fig. 13. Frequency changes at (H = lOs and overloading = 10% over islanding detection method. The simulation time is extended
the generator capacity) to 20 seconds. During this period, a wide range of sudden
power variations is introduced as follows:
ROCOF againstTIME5 t v%oerfoading aer isanWmdIvI9H-1 Ol) 20 kW and 10 kVAR are extracted at t = 5 sec.
20 kW and 10 kVAR are added at t = 8 sec.
Instant of islanding at t = 10 sec.
. 20 kW and 10 kVAR are added at t = 15 sec.
20 kW and 10 kVAR are extracted at t = 18 sec.

Figure (17) and Figure (18) show that the power variations
method has the same results regardless the generator inertia,
so it makes a second line of defense especially with the high
inertia generators. However, this method will fail if the load
is in the same order of generated power from the distributed
TIME jR uindd generator. It is clear that using the ROCOF in conjunction
with change in active power methods for islanding detection
Fig. 14. ROCOF changes at (H = 3.2s and overloading = 10% over decreases the resultant non-detective zone of the relay.
the generator capacity)
Fig.
Fi

e~ ~ 12 Iai
Total Pw

18. Power variations at

C. Change in output phase angle

(H
ast limo {Hi _i 3

Fig. 17. Power variations at (H = 3.2s and overloading

X
.......

....
generator capacity)

Trti6 Power

.......
against Time,

........

Os
generator capacity)

Another test case, shown in Figures (19)-(20) at the same

the on-line dynamic performance of the change in phase

angle for islanding detection.
From these results it is evident that the synchronous
and

load variations to that in Figures (17)-(18), is run to evaluate

generator may be adjusted to operate at power factor near the

unity or it receives reactive power from the grid. Hence, it is
very clear that the phase angle of the generator changes
suddenly to meet the reactive power requirements of the load
after islanding.
As mentioned before, the change in active power detection
method fails when the load is in the same order of generation,
the change in phase angle can be used in parallel to detect
islanding for this condition. These two methods together
combined with the ROCOF technique to minimize the non-
H IO St
10

overloading
TiS

Tnme

=
=
in Sercnds

30%

in secondi

30%
over the

over the
la12I

ci

' Ev

c
*<
3

.fSv4i.BgXi-R.fl,Ee6Di
..Aftite.3..ainst TIMEi (Hl32 X1

operate near the unity power factor

Phase Angle against TIME (H h-

_

,,,i, i.,, ..

.'

Fig. 19. Phase angle variations at (H = 3.2s); Generator is adjusted to

high value ofinertl

Fig. 20. Phase angle variations at (H = 1 Os); Generator is adjusted to

VI.
receive VAR

CONCLUSIONS

This paper introduces a hybrid technique for the islanding

detection based on ROCOF, change in active power, and
change in phase angle detection methods. The simulation
results shows that combining different detection techniques,
decrease the non-detective zones which in turn enhance the
reliability of the islanding protection. Furthermore, The
generator parameters are vital to be considered when
designing different threshold settings of islanding detection
techniques. A superior advantage of the proposed hybrid
strategy is its reduced insensitivity to the system parameters
variation.

[1]
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7'

fU

%i i ecands
...

...

TlMiE iln Seieifond}

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