TY - JOUR
T1 - Optimal directional overcurrent relay settings for stable microgrids with synchronous and inverter-based resources
AU - Eladl, Abdelfattah A.
AU - N. Sheta, Ahmed
AU - Elgamal, Mohammed
AU - Vasquez, Juan C.
AU - Sedhom, Bishoy E.
PY - 2025/6
Y1 - 2025/6
N2 - Microgrid (MG) is a small-scale system that offers on-site energy production and storage capabilities, allowing for the seamless integration of different technology-driven distributed energy resources (DERs), including inverter-based and synchronous-based DERs. Nonetheless, due to the changes caused by DERs in fault currents, providing protection for MGs is more challenging than traditional systems. The article examines the deployment of directional overcurrent relays (DOCRs) in MGs, considering the stability of DERs. Given the impact of inverter-based DERs’ integration and the limited inertia of synchronous-based DERs, extending the operating times of DOCRs may compromise MG stability after fault clearance. Therefore, a novel dual inverse settings for DOCRs to ensure relay coordination and MGs stability is proposed. Critical clearing times for DERs, accounting for inverter-based DER participation, are determined and integrated with coordination constraints to obtain DOCR settings using genetic algorithm. The proposed scheme is evaluated on an IEEE 33-bus test system with synchronous and inverter-based DERs.
AB - Microgrid (MG) is a small-scale system that offers on-site energy production and storage capabilities, allowing for the seamless integration of different technology-driven distributed energy resources (DERs), including inverter-based and synchronous-based DERs. Nonetheless, due to the changes caused by DERs in fault currents, providing protection for MGs is more challenging than traditional systems. The article examines the deployment of directional overcurrent relays (DOCRs) in MGs, considering the stability of DERs. Given the impact of inverter-based DERs’ integration and the limited inertia of synchronous-based DERs, extending the operating times of DOCRs may compromise MG stability after fault clearance. Therefore, a novel dual inverse settings for DOCRs to ensure relay coordination and MGs stability is proposed. Critical clearing times for DERs, accounting for inverter-based DER participation, are determined and integrated with coordination constraints to obtain DOCR settings using genetic algorithm. The proposed scheme is evaluated on an IEEE 33-bus test system with synchronous and inverter-based DERs.
KW - Microgrid
KW - Microgrid Protection
KW - Microgrids (MGs)
KW - Relay coordination
KW - Transient Stability Analysis
KW - Synchronous-based resources
KW - Critical clearing time
KW - Inverter-based resources
KW - Microgrid protection
KW - Transient stability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105001427151&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijepes.2025.110639
DO - 10.1016/j.ijepes.2025.110639
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0142-0615
VL - 167
JO - International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems
JF - International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems
M1 - 110639
ER -
