International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 05 Issue: 05 | May-2018 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

ANTI ISLANDING PROTECTION WITH DISTRIBUTED GENERATOR USING

SEMICONDUCTOR
Anandalakshmi A P1, Sreenivas P 2

1M.Tech student, Energy Management, Govt. Model Engineering College, Kerala, India
2Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Govt. Model Engineering College, Kerala, India
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Abstract - The advancement in power generation such as distributed generator, such as a solar system, continues to
wind turbine, fuel cell, photovoltaic, new innovations in power supply power to the grid while the electric utility is down. Also
electronics and consumer demands for better power quality it exposes utility workers life to critical dangerous of shocks
and reliability are forcing the power industry to focus towards and burns, who may think that there is no power once the
Distributed Generations (DG). DG has recently gained utility power is shut down, but the grid may still be powered
momentum in the power industry due to market deregulations due to DGs. To avoid this problem, it is recommended that all
and environmental concerns. Islanding occurs when a portion DGs shall be equipped with devices to prevent islanding. This
of the distribution system becomes electrically isolated from is called anti-islanding.
the remainder of the power system yet continues to be
energized by distributed generators. An important The existing methodologies for islanding detection and
requirement to interconnect a DG to power distributed system prevention can be divided into two categories: active
is the capability of the DG to detect islanding. Failure to trip methods and passive methods [5, 6]. Grid interconnection of
islanded generators can lead to various problems to the photovoltaic (PV) power generation system has the
generators and the connected loads. The present industrial advantage of immediate and efficient utilization of generated
practice is to disconnect all distributed generators power [7]. However, the technical requirements from the
immediately after the occurence of islands. To achieve such a utility system side need to ensure the safety of the PV system
goal, each distributed generator must be equipped with installer and the reliability of the utility grid [8]. Clarifying
devices to prevent islanding called anti islanding. In this the technical requirements for grid interconnection and
project, semiconductor switch based anti-islanding protection solving the problems are therefore very important issues for
device to isolate the DG side generation is simulated in widespread application of PV systems.
MATLAB-SIMULINK and various responses are evaluated. The
waveform generated shows lower spikes in the switching Large distributed generators are usually connected to
response. Medium Voltage (MV) feeders. The anti-islanding protection
depends on the transfer trip from transformer station. In the
Key Words: Distributed Generation, Anti-islanding, existing system it presents a local anti- islanding protection
Semiconductor, Photovoltaic relay as a backup for transfer trip [9]. Relay is a mechanical
contact device, so there exists some issues like surge and
1. INTRODUCTION spark.

This paper presents an approach to the anti-islanding

During the past few years, the energy market worldwide
protection using semiconductor switch in DG side. The
has been encouraging the use of renewable sources. As a
semiconductor switch selected for this study is Insulated
result, the number of small-scale generators connected
Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) which is a non-mechancical
directly to the distribution system has increased. This
contact device. The introduction of IGBT into the DG helps to
improved the power system stability and the power quality
reduce the voltage spikes associated with switching.
supplied to the customers [1, 2]. It also reduces power loss
and hence to reduce energy cost even though the distributed
generator possess some challenges to workers. Distributed 2. OPERATION PRINCIPLE OF THE TYPICAL ANTI-
Generation (DG) is an electric power source connected ISLANDING SCHEME
directly to the distribution network or on the customer site of
the meter [3]. Many kinds of DG systems can be connected to Fig.1 shows a typical medium voltage (MV) distribution
the grid [4]. The main advantage of DG system is that it can system. High voltage transmission network supplies two
be renewable such as other source of energy. They are more loops L1 and L2 with power substation to power MV feeders,
economical and efficient in feeding the peak load. When it is such as M1, M2, and etc., to guarantee high power
connected to grid, islanding should be taken into account [5]. distribution reliability. In feeder M1, diverse DGs, such as
Besides these issues, the possible islanding operation PV-DG, WT-DG, and MT-DG, could be connected by circuit
condition of DG, which takes place when the connection to the breakers (CB) at different sites. Lumped elements Line 1,
utility grid is lost and the distributed generator remains Line 2 and Line 3 are the line impedances, and Load 1, Load
supplying the loads as an islanded grid, is also a concern. 2 and Load 3 represent the equivalent loads, respectively.
Islanding is a critical and unsafe condition in which a Once the feeder CB is opened because of some reasons, or

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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 05 Issue: 05 | May-2018 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

the distribution lines are broken by an accident, the DGs will generator (DFIG) is also monitored. Wind turbines use a
lose the connection with the grid, and an islanding might be DFIG consisting of a wound rotor induction generator and an
formed. This kind of unintentional operating scenario should AC/DC/AC IGBT-based PWM converter. The stator winding
be avoided. This paper proposed a Insulated Gate Bipolar is connected directly to the 60 Hz grid while the rotor is fed
Transistor (IGBT) equipment, which is installed at the point at variable frequency through the AC/DC/AC converter. The
of common coupling of every DG. DFIG technology allows extracting maximum energy from
the wind for low wind speeds by optimizing the turbine
speed, while minimizing mechanical stresses on the turbine
during gusts of wind. The optimum turbine speed producing
maximum mechanical energy for a given wind speed is
proportional to the wind speed. Another advantage of the
DFIG technology is the ability for power electronic
converters to generate or Turbine Data Menu and the
Turbine Power Characteristics absorb reactive power, thus
eliminating the need for installing capacitor banks as in the
case of squirrel-cage induction generators.

3.2 PV System connected to Grid

Fig -1: Overview of MV distribution network with multiple The PV array consists of 86 parallel strings. Each string has 7
feeders and distributed generators [9] Sun Power SPR-415E modules connected in series. Note that
the model menu allows us to plot the I-V and P-V
3. SIMULATION SETUP characteristics of the selected module or of the whole array.
The converter is modeled using a 3-level IGBT bridge PWM-
There are several types of DG system in industry, and controlled. The inverter choke RL and a small harmonics
here a wind farm and PV system separately consider for filter C are used to filter the harmonics generated by the
simulation as grid connected. First, these grid connected IGBT bridge. A 250-kVA 250V/25kV three-phase
systems simulated in normal working conditions and second, transformer is used to connect the inverter to the utility
these system in isolated condition from grid which should distribution system.
show the supply and third, applying the protection by
controlling the semiconductor in the DG side.

3.1 Wind Farm connected to Grid

The wind farm consists of six 1.5 MW wind turbines

connected to a 25 kV distribution system exporting power to
a 120 kV grid through a 30 km 25 kV feeder. A 2300V, 2 MVA
plant consisting of a motor load (1.68 MW induction motor
at 0.93 PF) and of a 200 kW resistive load is connected on
the same feeder at bus B25. A 500 kW load is also connected
on the 575 V bus of the wind farm. The single-line diagram of
this system is illustrated.
Fig -3: Representation of Grid connected PV system

The control system contains five major Simulink-based

subsystems:

 MPPT Controller: The Maximum Power Point

Tracking (MPPT) controller is based on the 'Perturb
and Observe' technique [10]. This MPPT system
automatically varies the VDC reference signal of the
inverter VDC regulator in order to obtain a DC
voltage which will extract maximum power from
the PV array.
Fig -2: Representation of Grid connected wind farm
 VDC Regulator: Determine the required Id (active
Both the wind turbine and the motor load have a current) reference for the current regulator.
protection system monitoring voltage, current and machine
speed. The DC link voltage of the doubly-fed induction

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Volume: 05 Issue: 05 | May-2018 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

 Current Regulator: Based on the current references

Id and Iq (reactive current), the regulator
determines the required reference voltages for the
inverter. In our example, the Iq reference is set to
zero.

 PLL & Measurements: Required for synchronization

and voltage/current measurements.

 PWM Generator: Generate firing signals to the

IGBTs based on the required reference voltages. In
our example, the carrier frequency is set to 1980 Hz
(33*60).

The initial input irradiance to the PV array model is 1000

W/m2 and the operating temperature is 45°C. When steady-
state is reached (around t=0.15 sec.), we get a PV voltage
(Vdc_mean) of 481 V and the power extracted (Pdc_mean)
from the array is 236 kW. These values correspond very well
to the expected values from the PV module manufacturer
specifications.

At t=0.3 sec, sun irradiance is rapidly ramped down from

1000 W/m2 to 200 W/m2. Due to the MPPT operation, the
control system reduces the VDC reference to 464 V in order to Fig -5: Phasor response of wind grid system in normal
extract maximum power from the PV array (46 kW). case

Grid Isolation (IG) detected by grid voltage and current

measurement and control applied to the IGBT system is
shown in Fig 4.

Fig -4: Representation of IGBT control from IG Detection

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Fig -6: Phasor response of wind DG system in normal case

4.1 IG protection in Wind Grid System

Fig. 5 shows the phasor simulation result of wind grid

system in normal condition, the load flow is according to the
wind data applied as the simulation input. Fig. 6 shows the
response of the DG system separately from the wind grid
system.

Fig -7: Wind Grid system Load flow

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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 05 Issue: 05 | May-2018 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

Fig -11: (a)

Fig -8: Wind Grid system Load flow in trip condition

Fig -11: (b)

Fig -9: DG system Load flow in trip condition

Fig -12: (a)

Fig -10: DG system Load flow in controlled condition

Compare the results shown from fig.7 to fig.10, a fault or

tripping action occurred at a t=8, and the Grid load flow
down to zero as show in fig.8. If the protection is not applied
to the system, a load flow still exist in the DG side as shown
in fig.9. When the protection applied by controlling the IGBT
system, the load flow in the DG system is also down to zero
as shown in fig 10.
Fig -12: (b)
4.2 IG protection in PV Grid System
When a fault or trip occurred in the Grid at t=7, and the
As PV system is simulated using discrete models, the DG is isolated, but the DG system is still active as shown in
response shown in fig.11(a) and (b) are the V and I fig.12 (b).
measurement at Grid and DG system respectively.
When applying the measurement and feedback to the
IGBT inverter system, the output from the DG side is
controlled by applying protection logic as shown in fig 13(a)
and (b).

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Volume: 05 Issue: 05 | May-2018 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

[5] P Paliwal, N.P. Patidar, R.K. Nema, “Planning of grid

integrated distributed generators: A review of technology,
objectives and techniques,” Renewable and Sustainable
Energy Reviews (2014) 557–570.

[6] Y Jin, Q Song, W Liu, “Anti-islanding Protection for

Distributed Generation Systems Based on Reactive Power
Drift,” 2009.

[7] R Varier, N.M. Pindoriya, “A Novel Active Anti-Islanding

Fig -13: (a) Protection Scheme for Grid-Interactive Roof-Top Solar PV
System,” 2014.

[8] H.N. Aghdam, N. Ghadimi, P. Farhadi, F. Hashemi, R.

Ghadimi, “Detecting the Anti-Islanding Protection based on
combined changes of Active and Reactive Output Powers of
Distributed Generations,” 2011.

[9] H. Xiao, Z. Fang, C. Li, D. Xu, B. Venkatesh, B.N. Singh,

“Anti-Islanding Protection Relay for Medium Voltage Feeder
with Distributed Generator,” IEEE Electrical Power and
Energy Conference (EPEC), 2016.
Fig -13: (b) [10] A.M. Atallah, A.Y. Abdelaziz, R.S. Jumaah,
“Implementation of perturb and observe mppt of PV system
5. CONCLUSION with direct control method using buck and buck boost
converters,” Emerging Trends in Electrical, Electronics &
Following the increased number and enlarged size of Instrumentation Engineering: An international Journal
distributed generating units installed in a modern power (EEIEJ), Vol. 1, No. 1, February 2014.
system, the protection against islanding has become
extremely challenging nowadays. Anti-islanding protection
has been a major concern for grid connected PV systems. If
the DG system is inverter based, then there will be a
semiconductor system using MOSFET, IGBT etc. It can
control the driving mechanism of the same semiconductors
by IG Detection using existing detection methods. This can
avoid the use of a separate tripping system and hence cost
and maintenance are reduced. Hence, using the
semiconductor for controlling the surge occurred at the time
of tripping is also reduced.

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