Anti-Islanding Techniques

for Distributed Power

Generators
AIF FORUM
Jun Yin

Outline
Introduction
Review of Anti-Islanding Techniques
Islanding Frequency Model & Hidden Gene Principle
Proportional Power Spectral Density (PPSD) for
Islanding Detection
Covariance Index for Islanding Detection
Adaptive Logic Phase Shift (ALPS) and Adaptive
Reactive Power Shift (ARPS) Anti-Islanding Algorithm
Hybrid Anti-Islanding Techniques
Conclusion
Questions
References

Introduction
Distributed Generation Systems

DG
Systems

Regional
Dispatch
Energy Value Information
Distribution Substation

Transmission
Line

Smart
Controller

Communication
& Control Links

~
Genset

Central
Generating Station

Wind

Photovoltaic

Micro gas

Distribution Line
Factory

Town

Remote Load

 Interconnection of Distributed Power

Generators with Power System
Unintentional islanding is a
situation in which local DG
systems continue to supply
power to the local loads at a
sustained voltage and
frequency while the main
EPS is de-energized
unknowingly.
Islanding operation could
be fatally harmful to the
line workers and power
system facilities.
IEEE Std 1547-2003 and
IEEE Std 929-2000 require
that islanded DG systems
be shut down within a
specified time.

Main Electric Power System

(EPS)

Area Electric Power System

(AEPS)
Point of Common Coupling
(PCC)

Local
Load

DG Unit

DG Unit

Local
Load

Potential Power Islands

Fig. 1 Interconnection of DG systems

with the power system

Review of Anti-Islanding Techniques

Two types of techniques for anti-islanding purpose
Remote techniques: normally used on the utility site. Most of them
are based on the communication between utilities and DG units
Power Line Carrier Communication (PLCC)
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Network (SCADA)
Local techniques: used on the DG site. They are based on the
information available on the DG site. Two types of local techniques
Passive techniques: Detect abnormalities related to the
islanding conditions
Traditional Over/Under Voltage and Over/Under
Frequency Protection (OVP/UVP & OFP/UFP)
Rate of Change of Power Output (ROCOP) as an index of
islanding
Rate of Change of Frequency (ROCOF) as an index of
islanding
Rate of Change of Frequency over Power Change
(ROCOFOP) as an index of islanding

 Phase Jump Detection (PJD)

Voltage Harmonics Detection (HD)

Active Techniques: introduce disturbance to the DG output

for the islanding detection
The Reactive Power Export Error Detection (RPEED)
Impedance Measurement (IM)
Phase Shift (or Frequency Shift) techniques for inverter-based
DG systems
Active Frequency Drift (AFD)
Active Frequency Drift with Positive Feedback (AFDPF)
Slip-Mode Frequency Shift (SMS)
Automatic Phase Shift (APS)

 General Comparison of Anti-islanding Techniques

Remote Techniques:
Usually do not have non-detection zone (NDZ)
Do not degrade the quality of the generating power of the DG
Effective in multi-DG systems
But
too expensive to implement
Complicated communication techniques in multi-DG systems

Local Techniques:
Passive Techniques:
Do not degrade the quality of the power generation of the DG
Inexpensive and easy to implement
But
Have relatively large non-detection zone (NDZ)
Effectiveness may be impaired in multi-DG systems

Active Techniques
Relatively small non-detection zone (NDZ)
Inexpensive and easy to implement
But
may degrade the quality of the output power and the stability
of the DG

Islanding Frequency Model & Hidden Gene

Principle
General Aspects of Islanding Operation
4

voltage
voltage

f=fo

f>fo

current

Magnitude

Magnitude

f=fo

current

f<fo

-2

-2

-4

-4

Tc
0

0.005

0.01

0.015
0.02
Time (second)

0.025

0.03

>0

0.01

0.02
Time (second)

0.03

0.04

<0

Fig. 2 The phase characteristics of the islanding load

The relationship between the current period Tc and the voltage

period Tv in islanding operation
Tv [n] = (1 + / 2 ) Tc [n]

(1)

 Hidden Gene Principle & Islanding

A 4th order moving average filter is embedded as a hidden
gene into the inverters frequency controller
The islanding frequency model
Tv (n)

f0

Tc (n)

( )1

( z 1 + z 2 + z 3 + z 4 ) / 4

Fig. 3 Islanding frequency model

It has been proven that the stable region for islanding

operation is
0

<

<

5
f 0

(2)

 The

Frequency Response of The System

D (n)
N (n)

( z 1 + z 2 + z 3 + z 4 ) / 4

Tc (n)

Tv (n)

1 f0k
k

Fig. 4 System model for response to disturbance and noise

Magnitude Response (dB)
10

-10

Magnitude (dB)

-20

-30

-40

-50

-60

-70

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4
0.5
0.6
Normalized Frequency ( rad/sample)

0.7

0.8

0.9

Fig. 5 Bode plot of system transfer function

4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
-1

-0.8

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

Fig. 6 Frequency response to disturbance and noise

Proportional Power Spectral Density (PPSD) for

Islanding Detection
The definition of the PPSD
2
1
X N ( e j )
N

P ( ) =

(3)

The signal energy is given by

N 1

En =

N 1

x ( n ) = x ( n) x
2

n=0

( n)

n =0

N 1

x ( n ) e j n
n =0

N 1

1
N

1 N 1
X N (e j ) X *N (e j )
N k =0

1
N

X N (e

k =0

N 1

(4)

( e j ) = E

k =0

The proportional Power Spectral Density

P( )
PPSD( ) =
=
E

X N (e j )
N 1

X N (e

k =0

2
2

(5)

50
0
-50
10
20
30
40
50
60
Sample Instant of Voltage Periods at PCC

PPSDinGrid-ConnectedOperation

Period Variations

Comparison of PPSD of voltage periods in gridconnected and islanding operation

Fig. 7 Period variation in gridconnected operation.

6
5
4
3
2
1
0
-1

-0.5
0
0.5
Normalized Frequency ( radian)

Fig. 8 PPSD of voltage periods

in grid-connected operation

60

60

20

PPSD

Period Variations

40

0
-20

40
20

-40
-60
-80

10
20
30
40
50
Sample Instant of Voltage Periods at PCC

60

Fig. 9 Period variation in

islanding operation

0
-1

-0.5
0
0.5
Normalized Frequency ( radian)

Fig. 10 PPSD of voltage

periods in islanding operation

 The Proportional Energy

Fig. 11 A lab testing system for single phase islanding operation

Proportional Energy (PE)

140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0

500
1000
1500
Sample Instant of Voltage Periods at PCC

2000

Fig. 12 Proportional energy in frequency band from 0 0.2 radian

5kW Single-Phase Inverter

The Lab Test System for Single Phase

Islanding Operation

Covariance Index for Islanding Detection

0.5

0
2000
4000
6000
8000
Sample Instant of Voltage Periods

Covariance of Voltage Periods

in Islanding Operation

Covariance of Voltage Periods

in Grid-Connected Operation

Comparison of covariance function in grid-connected operation

and islanding operation

Fig. 13 Covariance in
grid-connected operation

0.5

2000
4000
6000
8000
Sample Instant of Voltage Periods

Fig. 14 Covariance in
islanding operation

Proposed covariance estimator

the covariance between the current command periods and the
actual voltage periods can be taken as a significant islanding
indicator
cov ariance (Tav , Tv ) = E [(Tav (n) uav ) (Tv (n) uv )]

(6)

Fig. 15 A lab testing system for three phase islanding operation

Un-normalized Covariance

3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0

200
400
600
800
1000
Sample Instant of Voltage Periods at PCC

Fig. 16 Covariance changes during

islanding operation

Adaptive Logic Phase Shift (ALPS) or Adaptive

Reactive Power Shift (ARPS) Algorithm
Slip-Mode Shift As a Basic Phase Shift

Fig. 17 SMS phase shift

 Probability of suspicious islanding

The probability of

or

[k ] > 0
if

then T = Tav Tv [k + 1] > 0

if [k ] < 0
then T = T T [k + 1] < 0
av
v

Type I
A

f0

Is greater than 0.6

Additional Phase Shift is added

= 0 . sgn(T )

sgn( T ) =

1, T > 0

0, T = 0
1, T < 0

Reference Period (or Frequency) Stop and Resume Criteria

Hybrid Anti-Islanding Algorithms

A hybrid of passive and active algorithms is to use passive
islanding indicators such as PPSD and covariance to activate the
active anti-islanding techniques such as ALPS and ARPS to
move the frequency into the UFP/OFP trip window. The goal of
this hybrid anti-islanding algorithm is to robustly trip the
islanding operation while maintain a zero or the least
disturbance in grid-connected operation.

 The flowchart of hybrid anti-islanding

Period detection

ALPS or ARPS anti-islanding

alogrithm

PPSD or Covariance
computation

PPSD or
Covariance>Presetting?
Yes

No

N>=8?

Phase shift or D-axis

current is activated
Set the total phase shift or
d-axis current to zero
Count the number of cycles in which
the phase shift or d-axis current is
activated
N=N+1

End of hybrid anti-islanding

algorithm

N=0

 Lab Testing Results

iq

did*
diq*

PI

PI

VLd
VLq

Vd

Vdc

Vdc

SVPWM

3-phase
VSI

Vq

ia
ib
ic

id
iq

2r

3s

grid

Grid
Voltage
Detection

id *

Angle
Detection

Local
Load

Vga Vgb Vgc

vd
vq

2r

3s

Hybrid Anti-islanding
Algorithm

Frequency
Detection

Fig. 18 Lab testing system for hybrid anti-islanding algorithm

Probability of Cause and Effect (PCE)

Un-normalized Covariance

3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0

1
0.8

0.6
0.4

0.2

200
400
600
800
1000
Sample Instant of Voltage Periods at PCC

(1) Covariance changes after

islanding operation

20
Total D-axis Current id (A)

Additional D-axis Current (A)

1000

(2) Probability of Cause and Effect

after islanding operation

15

10

200
400
600
800
Sample Instant of Voltage Periods at PCC

200
400
600
800
Sample Instant of Voltage Periods at PCC

1000

(3) Additional D-axis current after

islanding operation

15

10

200
400
600
800
Sample Instant of Voltage Periods at PCC

1000

(4) Total D-axis current after

islanding operation

Voltage Periods (second)

0.0165

0.016

0.0155

200
400
600
800
1000
Sample Instant of Voltage Periods at PCC

(5) Period shift after the islanding operation

Fig. 19 Lab tests for hybrid anti-islanding algorithm

30kW Three Phase SVPWM Inverter System

The Lab Test System for Three-Phase

Islanding Operation

Three-Phase Islanding Load

Conclusion
A hidden gene concept is introduced in islanding
detection
Proportional power spectral density of voltage
periods can be used as a distinct islanding indicator
The effectiveness of the covariance islanding
indicator is proved
ALPS and ARPS active anti-islanding algorithms are
proposed
Hybrid of passive and active anti-islanding
techniques can provide a way to robustly trip the
islanding operation while maintain a zero or the least
disturbance in grid-connected operation.

References:
[1] L. Chang, C. Diduch, and P. Cusack, Development of standards for interconnecting distributed generators with electric
power systems, IEEE Canadian Conference on Electrical and Power Engineering, Montreal, May, 2003.
[2] IEEE, Standard 1547, Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems, June 2003.
[3] IEEE, Standard 929-2000, IEEE Recommended Practice for Utility Interface of Photovoltaic (PV) Systems, 2000.
[4] J. Yin, L. Chang and C. Diduch, Recent developments in islanding detection for distributed power generation, in Proc.
Large Engineering Systems Conference on Power Engineering, July 28-30, 2004, pp. 124-128.
[5] R. M. Rifaat, Critical considerations for utility/cogeneration inter-tie protection scheme configuration, IEEE Trans.
Industry Applications, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 973-977, Sep./Oct. 1995.
[6] M. E. Ropp, M. Begovic, A. Rohatgi, G. A. Kern, R. H. Bonn, Sr., and S. Gonzalez, Determining the relative effectiveness
of islanding detection methods using phase criteria and non-detection zones, IEEE Trans. Energy Conversion, vol. 15, no. 3,
pp. 290-296, Sept. 2000.
[7] W. BOWER and M. ROPP, Evaluation of islanding detection methods for photovoltaic utility-interactive power systems,
Report IEA PVPS T5-09: 2002.
[8] J. Warin and W. H. Allen, Loss of mains protection, ERA Conference on Circuit Protection for Industrial and Commercial
Installations, London, UK, pp. 4.3.1-12, 1990.
[9] M. A. Refern, O. Usta, and G. Fielding, Protection against loss of utility grid supply for a dispersed storage and generation
unit, IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 948-954, July 1993.
[10] M. A. Redfern, J. I. Barrett, and O. Usta, A new microprocessor based islanding protection algorithm for dispersed storage
and generation units, IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 1249-1254, July 1995.
[11] F. Pai and S. Huang, A detection algorithm for islanding-prevention of dispersed consumer-owned storage and generating
units, IEEE Trans. Energy Conversion, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 346-351, Dec. 2001.
[12] W. Freitas, W. Xu, C. M. Affonso and Z. Huang, Comparative Analysis Between ROCOF and Vector Surge Relays for
Distributed Generation Applications, IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 1315-1324, Apr. 2005.
[13] P. OKane and B. Fox, Loss of mains detection for embedded generation by system impedance monitoring, Development
in Power System Protection, 25-27th March 1997, Conference Publication No. 434, IEE 1997, pp.95-98.
[14] M. Sumner, B. Palethorpe, D. W. P. Thomas, P. Zanchetta, and M. C. D. Piazza, A technique for power supply harmonic
impedance estimation using a controlled voltage disturbance, IEEE Trans. Power Electronics, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 207-215, Mar.
2002.

[15] M. E. Ropp, Design Issue for Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System, PhD., Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta,
GA, 1998.
[16] G. A. Kern, SunSine300: Utility interactive AC module anti-islanding test results, in Proc. 26th IEEE Photovoltaic
Specialists Conf., pp. 1265-1268, 1997.
[17] M. E. Ropp, M. Begovic, A. Rohatgi, Analysis and performance assessment of the active frequency drift method of
islanding prevention, IEEE Trans. Energy Conversion, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 810-816, Sept. 1999.
[18] G. Hung, C. Chang, and C. Chen, Automatic phase-shift method for islanding detection of grid-connected photovoltaic
inverter, IEEE Trans. Energy Conversion, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 169-173, Mar. 2003.
[19] Z. Ye, R. Walling, L. Garces, R. Zhou, L. Li, and T. Wang, Study and Development of Anti-Islanding Control for GridConnected Inverters, Report, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL/SR-560-36243, May 2004.
[20] V. John, Z. Ye, and A. Kolwalkar, Investigation of anti-islanding protection of power converter based distributed
generators using frequency domain analysis, IEEE Trans. Power Electronics, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 1177-1183, Sept. 2000.
[21] J. Yin, L. Chang and C. Diduch, A new adaptive logic phase-shift algorithm for anti-islanding protections in inverterbased DG systems, IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference 2005, Recife, Brazil, June 13-16, 2005, pp. 231-236.