Peer Review of Renewable Energy-based Adaptive Protection(s) & Relay Coordination Optimization Techniques

Abstract

Background: Distributed Sustainable Energy Generation (DSEG) has become a leading trend in modern R&D to achieve practical, financial, and environmental benefits. With respect to the power system, the benefits are minimization of power failures, enhancement of energy quality & reliability, congestion relief, and smart/micro grid demand response. The widespread use of modern technologies encourages the use of DSEG for safe power production and power loss reduction. Besides, it also poses new challenges such as optimal placement of relays, protection device settings, and voltage control problems in power systems. : Among various solutions reported in the literature, a widely accepted solution seems to be the deployment of Fault Current Limiter (FCL) to minimize DSEG impacts. However, FCLs are an expensive option to restore relay coordination. The adaptive protection scheme provides benefits to the smart grid's advanced features and serves as an efficient solution to address new DSEG and FCL challenges. Objective: This paper presents an extensive review of the effect of DSEG on distribution systems from the safety point of view, different optimization techniques used for adaptive protections, optimal relay coordination, and merits & demerits of FCL. Methods: The paper discusses various recent optimization and hybrid optimization techniques used for solving the Optimal Relay Coordination model (ORC). Adaptive and FCL based non-adaptive techniques are also discussed to solve this model. An attempt has also been made to present a comparative study of various optimization techniques in tabular form, considering different bus models and their outcomes. Conclusion: Comparative study of these techniques shows that Water cycle optimization, hybrid whale-GWO and GSA-SQP algorithms give better results in solving the ORC problem. FCL based non-adaptive technique was found better as compared with adaptive techniques because a greater number of DGs can be integrated on a grid with less complexity.