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ICESEP-2022 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2310 (2022) 012031 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2310/1/012031

Research on grid-connected distributed generation

considering relay protection

Yingliang Li 1a*, Xiyao Sun1b*, Heming Cai1c, Mengxi Liu1d, Yi Yang1e

1
School of Electronic Engineering, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China
a*
[email protected], b*[email protected], [email protected],
d
[email protected], [email protected]

Abstract—The access of distributed generation can cause some impacts on the distribution
network, especially the change of the magnitude and direction of the short-circuit current may
cause the relay protection device in the system to refuse or malfunction. Aiming at this
problem, a mathematical model id founded in this paper, whose target is the maximum
capacity of distributed generation. Besides normal constraints such as the node voltage and the
total capacity, the current protection constraint is also taken into account. The genetic
algorithm is used to optimize the capacity and location of the distributed generation in the
IEEE33 bus distribution system model, and the obtained results verify the importance of taking
into account the relay protection constraint.

1. Introduction
Distributed Generation (DG) is an important energy utilization method that promotes the revolution of
energy supply and the leap-forward development of non-fossil energy. The proportion of DG in the
distribution network is getting larger and larger, giving full play to its characteristics of high flexibility
and rapid power flow regulation [1-2]. However, its increasing penetration rate also brings many
challenges to the security and stability of the distribution network. When the distribution network fails,
the grid-connected DG will generate a bidirectional short-circuit current in the system [3-4], which
may cause the original relay protection device in the system to refuse to operate or malfunction,
reducing the protection device’s sensitivity and selectivity.
In order to solve this problem, many experts and scholars have carried out a series of in-depth
studies from different angles. Literature [5], when researching the optimal configuration of a single
DG grid-connected, the requirements of the sensitivity of the relay protection are considered to ensure
that the protection device will not refuse to act or malfunction. Literature [6] established a DG
configuration model considering current protection constraint and node voltage constraint. However,
when analyzing the current protection constraint, only the current protection stage I is considered, and
the influence of the grid-connected DG on the protection of the current stage II and III is ignored.
Literature [7] proposed a distributed photovoltaic current configuration method considering current
protection without adding distribution network equipment, which satisfies the selectivity, sensitivity
and reliability requirements of relay protection. However, only the optimal configuration scheme of a
single distributed photovoltaic power supply grid-connected is given, and the calculation is
complicated, and there is a problem of long calculation time for large-scale systems. Therefore,
without changing the setting value of the original relay protection device in the system, this paper
establishes the objective function with the sum of the DG capacity as the maximum value, and uses the

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ICESEP-2022 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2310 (2022) 012031 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2310/1/012031

genetic algorithm to optimize the configuration of DG. The proposed method is simple in calculation
and can effectively improve the safety and reliability of the power system.

2. Impact of DG on Distributed Network Relay Protection

2.1. A short circuit fault occurs on the downstream of the DG grid-connected point
f3
A D
CB3 LD2

f2 f1
B C
CB2 CB1 LD1

DG
Fig.1 Simple distribution network system diagram

Fig. 1 is a structure diagram of a simple distribution network with DG. DG is connected to the
distribution network system from bus B. When a fault occurs at f1, the access of DG will increase the
short-circuit current flowing through the downstream protection, which will increase the protection
distance of CB1 and easily lose cooperation with the next-level protection [8-10]. On the other hand,
the short-circuit current flowing through the upstream protection device after DG is connected is
smaller than that when DG is not connected, which may cause CB2 to refuse to operate.

2.2. A short circuit fault occurs on the adjacent feeder of the DG grid-connected point
When a fault occurs on the adjacent feeder of the DG grid-connected point, that is, at f3, the short-
circuit current flowing through CB3 is larger than that before DG is connected, and its value may be
greater than the original first stage setting value of CB3, causing CB3 to malfunction. And when a
fault occurs at LD2, the CB2 may also malfunction and fail to meet the selectivity requirements.

2.3. A short circuit fault occurs on the upstream of the DG grid-connected point
When a fault occurs at f2, the DG is still in the grid-connected operation state and continues to provide
short-circuit current to the fault point, which is easy to make the transient fault develop into a
permanent fault and affect the reliability of the system. Therefore, in this case, it is necessary to take
the DG out of operation to remove the fault.
According to the above analysis, the impact of grid-connected DG on the original relay protection
in the system can be summarized as follows: (1) Maloperation occurs due to the loss of coordination
of the line protection; (2) Refusing to act due to the reduction of the protection sensitivity of the line;
(3) Misoperation of protection on adjacent lines is caused, and selectivity is lost.

3. Relay Protection Integrated DG Optimal Sizing and Placement

3.1. Objective function

This paper establishes an objective function with the total DG capacity as the maximum:
n
max F   Sdgi (1)
i 1
where F is the total DG capacity connected to the system, and the unit is MVA; n is the number of DG
connected to the system; and Sdgi is the capacity of the i-th DG connected, which the unit is MVA.

2
ICESEP-2022 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2310 (2022) 012031 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2310/1/012031

3.2. Constraint equations

(1) Current protection constraint
 I CBi  I op.CB
I
i
 (2) (2)
 I CBi  I op.CBi
III

where I CBi is the three-phase short-circuit current flowing through the i-th protection device, and
I (2)
I op.CBi is the setting value of sectionⅠof the i-th protection device. I CBi is the two-phase short-circuit
III
current flowing through the i-th protective device, I op.CBi is the setting value of stage III of the
protection device.
(2) Voltage constraint
0.95VT  Vi  1.05VT (3)
where VT is the per-unit value of the voltage of the power supply node of the distribution network, and
the value is 1; Vi is the per-unit value of each node voltage.
(3) The total DG capacity constraint
0  F  25% S total (4)
where Stotal is the total load capacity of the system, and the unit is MVA.

3.3. Solution approach

The genetic algorithm(GA) is used to solve the optimization problem in equations (1)-(4). The specific
solution process of GA is shown in Fig. 2.

Start

Enter grid parameters and code

Generate initial population

according to constraints, and gen=0

Calculate objective function

(fitness)

GA operations gen=gen+1
(selection, crossover, and mutation)

Save the optimal fitness value for

this iteration

N
gen≥M

Y
End
Fig.2 Algorithm flow chart

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ICESEP-2022 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2310 (2022) 012031 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2310/1/012031

4. Simulation Studies
This example adopts the IEEE33 bus distribution system model, and configures seven protection
devices in the distribution network model to ensure the normal operation of the system with grid-
connected DG and does not change the setting value of the original relay protection device. The
voltage reference of the system network is 12.66kV, the power reference value is 10MVA. The total
system load is (3715+j2300) kVA, and combined with the total capacity constraints mentioned above,
it can be obtained that the total capacity of this DG configuration should not exceed 1.092MVA. This
distribution network model is shown in Fig. 3.

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
CB5 CB6
CB1 CB2 CB3 CB4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
CB7
19 20 21 22
Fig.3 IEEE33 bus system

Table 1 shows the current setting values of section I and section III of the protection devices CB1
to CB7 in the IEEE33 node system [11].

Table 1 Settings of protection device

Circuit Breaker I
I op (pu) I opIII (pu)
Number
CB1 2.385 8 1.021 6
CB2 2.313 6 0.693 8
CB3 2.013 1 0.621 5
CB4 0.952 9 0.289 4
CB5 1.865 4 0.255 4
CB6 1.303 3 0.289 4
CB7 1.693 2 0.097 9

In this example simulation, the grid-connected locations and capacities of the three DGs are
optimally configured with GA. The size of individual population(M) is set as 100, crossover rate is 0.7,
mutation rate is 0.02 and the total number of generation is 150. The objective function is solved
through the MATLAB programming environment, and the optimized configuration results are shown
in Table 2.
Table 2 The access capacity and placement of DGs
The total
DG
DG
Number Case Node capacity
capacity
(MVA)
(MVA)
Consider current 7 0.131 1
1 protection 24 0.386 0 1.089 4
constraints 29 0.572 3
Current protection 5 0.510 5
2 constraints are not 12 0.205 1 1.091 5
considered 30 0.375 9

It can be seen from the above table that the configuration capacity of DG under case 1 is smaller
than that of case 2, because the current protection constraints limit the configuration of DG to a certain
extent. Although the configuration capacity is reduced, it can ensure that the relay protection device of
the system does not refuse to act or malfunction.

4
ICESEP-2022 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2310 (2022) 012031 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2310/1/012031

In order to verify the correctness of the proposed method, the scheme is substituted into the
IEEE33 bus system, combined with the content of equation (2), the current protection constraints
under the scheme are analyzed, and the fault current in the model is solved at the same time. The
details are shown in Table 3.

Table 3 The feedback situation of short-circuit current restraint after DG’s insertion
Short circuit
Protection current
Number Constraints current value
setting value (pu)
(pu)
1 I CB3  I op.CB3
I
0.378 9 2.013 1
2 I CB4  I op.CB4
I
0.904 3 0.952 9
3 I CB5  I op.CB5
I
0.657 8 1.865 4
4 I CB6  I op.CB6
I
0.598 1 1.303 3
5
(2)
I CB4  I op.CB4
III
1.483 6 0.289 4
6 I (2)
CB5 I III
op.CB5 2.031 1 0.255 4
7 I (2)
CB6 I III
op.CB6 1.843 7 0.289 4
Table 3 is shown that the relationship between the fault current and the setting value of the
protection device is in line with the current protection constraints, which satisfies the selectivity and
sensitivity of the relay protection. The addition of the current protection constraints limits the access of
the DG, ensuring that the protection device will not be refused or malfunctioned after failure. After the
case 1 is incorporated into the example model, the voltage exceeding the limit will not occur, as shown
in Fig. 4.
1.00
0.99
Voltage Amplitude (pu)

0.98
0.97
0.96
0.95
0.94
0.93
0.92
0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33
Node Number
Fig.4 Voltage value of each node

As can be seen from the above figure, after the DG is connected to the grid, the voltage amplitude
(pu) of each node is 1 at the maximum, and not less than 0.92 at the minimum, which conforms to the
voltage constraint condition of equation (3). Therefore, the effectiveness and correctness of the
method proposed in this paper are further verified.

5. Conclusion
In order to avoid the influence of grid-connected DG on the system relay protection, this paper
proposes a method to optimize the DG capacity and location taking into account the relay protection
constraint. Based on the analysis of the results of the above examples, the conclusions are obtained as
below:
(1) Under the premise of considering the constraints of current protection, the capacity and location
selection of DG is studied. The obtained scheme ensures that the original relay protection device of the

5
ICESEP-2022 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2310 (2022) 012031 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2310/1/012031

system will not refuse or malfunction, and can meet the basic requirements of relay protection. It
proves the necessity of taking into account the relay protection.
(2) The use of GA to optimize the configuration of DG can fully consider multiple constraints,
optimize the capacity and location of DG without increasing the investment cost of the original relay
protection equipment in system. This method has a short calculation time, fast convergence speed, and
it is suitable for large-scale distribution network models.

Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Science and Technology Basic Research Program of Shaanxi (No.
2021JM-404), the Scientific Research Program Funded by Shaanxi Provincial Education Department
(No. 21JK0843), the Key Project of Enterprise Innovation and Development Joint Fund by National
Natural Science Foundation of China (No. U20B2029), the Key Research Program of Shaanxi (No.
2021KW-33), and the General Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.
52174005). And funded by Xi'an Shiyou University Graduate Student Innovation and Practice Ability
Training Program.

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