THE IMPACT OF SOLID STATE FAULT CURRENT LIMITER ON COORDINATION BETWEEN PROTECTIVE DEVICES OFDISTRIBUTION GRID IN THE PRESENCE OF DISPERSED GENERATIONS

Distributed generation (DG) is predicted to play an increasing role in the electric power system of the near future. DGs are being introduced to power systems to secure theelectric power supply. However, expose of DG, can alter the fault current during a grid disturbance and disturb the existingdistribution protection system. After connecting DG, part of the system may no longer be radial, which means the coordination might not be hold. This will give rise to fault current which is normally greater than interrupt capability of reclosers and fuses. The degree of the problem tends to increase when severalDG sources are installed in the system. The introduction of Solid State Fault Current Limiters (SSFCLs) becomes aneffective way for suppressing such a high short-circuit current fault in distribution systems. In this paper a solid state fault current limiter (SSFCL) application is proposed to minimize theeffect of the DG on the distribution protection system in a radial system during a fault. Simulation is accomplished in PSCAD/EMTDC.

Keywords:

Solid state fault current limiter , Distribution system , Distributed generation , Recloser-fuse coordination