Hindawi Publishing Corporation

ISRN Power Engineering

Volume 2014, Article ID 869617, 10 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/869617

Research Article
Optimal Overcurrent Relay Coordination Using Optimized
Objective Function
Seyed Hadi Mousavi Motlagh1,2 and Kazem Mazlumi1
1
2

Electrical Engineering Department, University of Zanjan, Zanjan 45371-38791, Iran

Zanjan Regional Electric Company, Zanjan 33685-45137, Iran

Correspondence should be addressed to Kazem Mazlumi; kmazlumi@znu.ac.ir

Received 8 January 2014; Accepted 9 March 2014; Published 3 April 2014
Academic Editors: L. D. S. Coelho, B. Li, and H. Torkaman
Copyright 2014 S. H. Mousavi Motlagh and K. Mazlumi. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons
Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is
properly cited.
A novel strategy for directional overcurrent relays (DOCRs) coordination is proposed. In the proposed method, the objective
function is improved during the optimization process and objective function coefficients are changed in optimization problem. The
proposed objective function is more flexible than the old objective functions because various coefficients of objective function are
set by optimization algorithm. The optimization problem is solved using hybrid genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization
algorithm (HGAPSOA). This method is applied to 6-bus and 30-bus sample networks.

1. Introduction
Protection of distribution networks is one of the most important issues in power systems. Overcurrent relay is one of
the most commonly used protective relays in these systems.
There are two types of settings for these kinds of relays: current and time settings. A proper relay setting plays a crucial
role in reducing undesired effects of faults on the power systems [1, 2]. Overcurrent relays commonly have plug setting
(PS) ranging from 50 to 200% in steps of 25%. The PS shows
the current setting of the overcurrent relays. For a relay
installed on a line, PS is defined by two parameters: the minimum fault current and the maximum load current. However,
the most important variable in the optimal coordination of
overcurrent relays is the time multiplier setting (TMS) [3].
So far, some researches have been carried out on coordination of overcurrent relays [37]. Due to the difficulty of
nonlinear optimal programming techniques, the usual optimal coordination of overcurrent relays is generally carried out
by linear programming techniques, including simplex, twophase simplex, and dual simplex methods [3]. In these methods, the discrimination time of the main and backup relays
(mb ) are considered as constraints and then the optimal
coordination problem is solved using both objective function

and constraints. In [8], a fast method for optimization of the

TMSs and current settings by evolutionary algorithm and
linear programming has been proposed. In [4], an online
technique to estimate the setting of DOCRs is introduced.
This technique is based on estimation of parameters of a
proper equivalent circuit of the grid. Relay coordination
which is very constrained discrete optimization problem is
hardly solved by traditional optimization techniques [5]. In
[9], the pickup current and the TMS of the relays have been
considered the optimization parameters for optimal coordination of directional overcurrent relays. These optimization
techniques are started by an initial conjecture and are possibly
trapped in a local optimum [3]. The intelligent optimization
techniques have come up in such a way that can adjust
the settings of the relays without the mentioned problems.
In these methods, the constraints are considered a part of
objective function. In [6], a developed method based on
genetic algorithm (GA) for optimal coordination has been
proposed; this method has not considered the main principle
of the coordination. So there may be some miscoordination
in the settings of the relays. As a result of the miscoordination,
when a fault occurs in front of the main relays, some backup
relays may operate faster than the main one. This causes more
lines of network to go out due to the occurring faults in some

2
parts of the network. Obviously, in this case, the number of
interrupted customers increases and consequently the power
quality declines.
In [10], continuous genetic algorithm has been used
in a ring fed distribution system for optimal coordination
of overcurrent relays. In [11], an objective function has
been proposed in which the problem of miscoordination
has almost been solved. The objective function of [11] can
prevent the appearance of inappropriate results which make
miscoordination. Suitable parameter initializing has been
considered in the objective function of the paper that weights
both the time and the delay time of the backup relays. The
main shortcoming of the objective function of [11] is that
some of the coefficients of objective function are set by try and
error. It is proved by experience that using such coefficients
cannot guarantee accessing to the smallest operation time of
the relays. In some cases, using inappropriate parameters in
objective function may result in some miscoordination.
In this paper, a new method for directional overcurrent
relay coordination is proposed in which not only the miscoordination is omitted but also operation times of the relays
are the smallest. This is because, in this novel algorithm,
the coefficients of the previous proposed objective function
are considered a part of the optimization problem. So the
coefficients of the objective function are not constant and
they are not set by try and error. In the proposed method,
the coefficients are calculated based on the optimization
technique. The optimization problem of this paper is solved
using a hybrid genetic and particle swarm optimization
algorithm. This method is applied to 6-bus and 30-bus sample
networks. The results of this method are compared with the
results of the existing ones. The simulation results and the
comparisons demonstrate the effectiveness and the advantage
of the proposed algorithm.

2. Hybrid GA and PSO (HGAPSO) in

Relay Coordination Application
By incorporating the GA into the PSO, the novel HGAPSO
algorithm is obtained [12]. The HGAPSOA can provide better
results [13]. In this algorithm, the initial population of GA
is assigned by the solution of PSO. The total numbers of the
iterations are equivalently shared by GA and PSO. First half
of the iterations are carried out by PSO and the solutions
are given as initial population of GA [14]. In this section, we
briefly discuss the application of HGAPSOA in overcurrent
relay coordination. According to Figure 1, at first, the user
initializes the information such as algorithm parameters
(population size, iteration numbers, mutation, and crossover
range), relay data, and network data. The HGAPSOA basics
in coordination of the DOCRs are described in 4 steps.
Step 1: Initial Generation. A number of random particles are
produced. The variables of HGAPSOA are the TMSs of the
DOCRs and the coefficients of the objective function. In
our problem, the number of the variables is equal to the
number of the relays and the number of the objective function
coefficients. The TMSs are randomly generated between 0.05
and 1.

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Step 2: Evaluate the Objective Function. In this step, the value
of the objective function is calculated for every gene and
discerns between good and bad chromosomes.
Step 3: PSO Operators. In PSO box, update the local best
position experienced by every particle denoted as best and
update the best position experienced by whole particles
denoted as best .
Step 4: GA Operators. The best particles are selected as the
initial population of GA. In this step, the objective function
evaluation is compared with its initial best chromosome
(minimum value in the TMS vector). If the evaluated value
is less than the initial best chromosome, set the best chromosome equal to the evaluated value. Then, update the position
of the genes by using crossover and mutation operators.
Finally, if any of the following stopping criteria (in
this study maximum number of iterations), then go to the
following module. This module is used to transfer the optimal
relay TMSs calculated from HGAPSOA through the interface
system to each relay.

3. Problem Statement
To prevent overcurrent relays miscoordination and to find the
optimum results of the objective function of [11], the novel
objective function is formulated as follows:

= 1 ( ) + 2

(mb (mb mb )) ,

(1)

where 1 , 2 , and are weighting coefficients; and are

even numbers; is the operating time of th overcurrent relay
when a fault occurs next to the relay; mb is the discrimination time between the main and backup overcurrent relays.
mb is obtained by
mb = b m CTI,

(2)

where b and m are the operating time of the backup and main
relays when a fault occurs next to the main relay. The value
of coordination time interval (CTI) is mainly chosen based
on the practical limitations, which consist of the relay overtravel time, the breaker operating time, and the safety margin
for the relay error [15]. Generally, the suitable CTI is selected
between 0.2 and 0.5 second. In this study, CTI is considered to
be 0.3 seconds. According to the proposed objective function
of [11], the weighting coefficients (, 1 , 2 ) are set by try and
error and also the coefficients of (, ) are constant and
cannot guarantee accessing to the smallest operation time of
the relays.
The first term of (1) is the sum of overcurrent relays
operating time and the second term is the coordination
constraint. To describe the role of the second term of the
above object function, consider that mb must be positive;
then the relative expression (mb (mb |mb |) is equal
to mb . Exactly the mentioned equation, if mb is negative
is, as follows:
(1 + 2) (mb ) .

(3)

ISRN Power Engineering

Start

Algorithm parameters input:

population size, iteration number,
mutation, and crossover range

Relay and network data

Initial generation

GA operators

Evaluate objective
function

End iteration?

Mutation

No

Crossover

Update Pbest

Yes

Update gbest

Selection

Position update

PSO operators

Record outputs: relay

operation times, relay
TMS, 1 , 2 M, N

End

Figure 1: Flowchart of the proposed method.

If the coefficient is a large number, the value of (3)

is greater than the mb , and the object function results in
a large value and is not selected for the next iterations in
the optimization algorithm. Consequently, the output results
contain no miscoordination.

4. New Method
In this paper, the five coefficients of (1), that is, , 1 , 2 ,
, and , beside TMSs, are incorporated as a part of
the optimization parameters. The new objective function is
shown in (1).
To understand the importance of these coefficients the
following notes are helpful.
(i) To assure minimizing the main relay operating time,
a great value must be assigned to 1 and .
(ii) To assure minimizing the backup relay operation
time, a great value must be assigned to 2 and .
(iii) To prevent miscoordination and have faster and more
accurate convergence, choose a large value for and
.

According to the above notes, it is obvious that determining these five coefficients as well as the TMS of the relays
with an optimization algorithm will result in a better relay
coordination. Therefore, the method presented in this paper
optimizes the objective function coefficients as well as the
TMSs of the relays to have a tradeoff between the fast operating time and preventing miscoordination. The algorithm
applied to the relays coordination optimization problem
for the proposed technique is provided in Figure 1. In the
first step of the algorithm, the initial values are randomly
guessed. The initial values consist of both relays TMS and
the coefficients of the objective function. The relay settings
are packed into a packet; each packet is a probable result for
the optimization problem; and therefore each member of a
packet represents a TMS of a relay. In addition, there are five
extra coefficients that should be optimized which belong to
the objective function (1 , 2 , , , and ). In the second
step, the packet is evaluated by the objective function of (1).
The objective function determines the value of each packet
by receiving the TMS of all relays. After evaluation process,
the best packet is chosen from the least objective function
output point of view. In the next step, finishing criteria of
algorithm are checked to be the limited iterations and yield a

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prespecified fitness value. If one of them is satisfied, then the

algorithm terminates and goes to the next stage; otherwise it
returns to the second step and starts the next iteration.

5. Mathematical Overcurrent Relay Models

There are many mathematical models for the overcurrent
relays. In this study, the mathematical model of overcurrent
relays is considered to be the standard inverse type. In this
mathematical model, the operating time of the overcurrent
relay is expressed as follows [16]:
=

TMS
+ ,

(sc /0 ) 1

(4)

where 0 is relay current setting; sc is short-circuit current;

is the relay operating time; and TMS is the time multiplier
setting of the relay. TMS varies from 0.05 to 1. From the IEC
curves, for standard inverse type relays, the parameters of (4)
are assumed to be = 0, = 0.14, and = 0.02.

6. Comparison of the Results and Discussion

As described in Section 4, the values of the five coefficients
are variable; so the output value of the objective function will
not be an appropriate criterion for comparing results of the
proposed algorithm in [11]. Therefore, in order to gain this
aim, two indicators are defined as follows.
(i) Summation of TMSs. If, in a set of results of relay coordination, there is not any miscoordination between
each two relays, it can be said that the better coordination has smaller summation of TMSs and, therewith,
relays have lower operating times.
(ii) Summation of Difference between Each Time Operation ( m,b ). For comparing two sets of the coordination results, for example, result and result ,
which do not have any miscoordination, if value of
(5) is true, then the set of result is better than .
Consider

Table 1: Main/backup pair information.

Main relay
8
8
2
2
3
4
5
6
6
14
14
1
9
10
11
12
12
13
7
7

Backup relay

Primary relay
SC current

Backup relay
current

9
7
7
1
2
3
4
5
14
1
9
6
10
11
12
14
13
8
5
13

4961
4961
5362
5362
3334
2234
1352
4965
4965
4232
4232
2682
1443
2334
3480
5365
5365
2490
4232
4232

410
1520
1528
804
3334
2234
1352
411
1522
794
407
2682
1443
2334
3480
1529
805
2490
407
794

Table 2: max information.

Relay number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Maximum load
current

Relay number

Maximum load
current

416
666
500
666
458
458
541

8
9
10
11
12
13
14

458
450
458
541
458
500
666

((m,b) (m,b) ) < 0.

(5)

Table 3: The input parameters of the optimization algorithm.

(m,b)=1

In (5), the number of pairs of main/backup (m, b) relays

is equal to . In this paper, the proposed method is applied to
two different networks, namely, case study 1 and case study 2
(case study 1 consists of 6 buses and case study 2 is the IEEE
30-bus system) which are selected.

Mutate range
Crossover range
Number of variables
Number of population
Maximum iteration
Maximum subiteration GA
Maximum subiteration PSO

6.1. Case Study 1: Network and Protection Information. Case

study 1 is 6-bus network shown in Figure 2. This network
consists of 7 lines, 6 buses, 2 generators, 2 transformers, and
14 overcurrent relays [17].
All the information about this network including shortcircuit current of backup and main relays and relevant information relative to main/backup relays have been provided in
[11] and also are shown in Table 1.

Table 2 shows the maximum load current passing

through the relays. The way of the relay current settings is
described as follows [11]:
0 = 1.2 max .

0.3
0.7
19
100
200
10
10

(6)

ISRN Power Engineering

R10

R2
R8

R4
R9

R14

R7

R6

R13

R1

R3

R5

R12

R11

Figure 2: Case study 1 network.

54

42
79

57

85

86
14

38
81
82

39

80

36

40

37

41

78

76

30
29

72
35

55
12
50 52

58

74
77

84

31

24

67

56
71
70

26

49

13

65
25

34

83

33 73

15

66

75

69
68

20

23
32

22
63

19

59 16

47

62
18

64

21

48

61

5
46

45
44

3
2
1

Figure 3: IEEE 30-bus system.

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Table 4: The coordination results.

Coordination output
TMS1
TMS2
TMS3
TMS4
TMS5
TMS6
TMS7
TMS8
TMS9
TMS10
TMS11
TMS12
TMS13
TMS14
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
89
87
27
21
32
43
54
65
6,14
14,1
14,9
16
9,10
10,11
11,12
12,14
12,13
13,8
7,5
7,13

TMS

Reference [11]
0.15
0.35
0.25
0.1
0.1
0.25
0.2
0.25
0.05
0.15
0.25
0.4
0.1
0.15
0.5894
1.2173
0.9621
0.6636
0.7660
0.7623
0.7059
0.7625
0.3479
0.6883
0.9835
1.1847
0.4665
0.5944
0
0.4673
0.0028
0.6290
0.2657
0.2057
0.1885
0
0.4825
1.3181
0
0.0532
0.3173
0.2195
0.0492
0.0489
0.8135
0.2292
0
1.4086
6.699
2.75

Table 5: The object function parameters.

GAPSO
0.066
0.1833
0.146
0.069
0.08
0.13
0.12
0.12
0.095
0.135
0.174
0.273
0.05
0.1
0.27
0.66
0.58
0.46
0.61
0.4
0.43
0.37
0.66
0.64
0.71
0.82
0.24
0.43
0
0.296
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.418
0.258
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.065
0
0
0.511
1.55
1.741

1
2

25
0.1
15.722
100
2

Table 6: Algorithm parameters information.

Mutate range
Crossover range
Number of variables
Number of population
Maximum iteration
Maximum subiteration GA
Maximum subiteration PSO

0.3
0.8
91
200
500
10
10

All control parameters of algorithm are listed in Table 3.

The number of the variables in optimization problem is 19.
Fourteen of the variables are related to the TMS of the relays
and the remaining five variables are the coefficients of the
objective function, that is, , 1 , 2 , , .
The results of the proposed method by GAPSO algorithm
and the best results of [11] are compared in Table 4. The best
results of [11] are shown in the second column of Table 4. The
third column of Table 4 represents feasible results for coordination of the relays using the proposed method. From Table
4, all mb values are small and positive and the largest mb
is 0.511 sec. The results mean there is not any miscoordination
in the results. Table 4 shows two superiority indicators,
that is, TMS and mb , optimized using the proposed
algorithm. The first superiority indicator ( ) for the
results of [11] is 2.75 and for the proposed method is 1.741;
and the second superiority indicator ( mb ) for the results
of [11] is 6.699 sec and for the proposed method is 1.55 sec.
The superiority indicators show that the results would be
more optimized when the coefficients are optimized by the
proposed algorithm. The advantage of this method is revealed
when this new method is compared with the result of [11] in
which the parameters are set manually in Table 4.
With attend to Table 4, more relays operating time that
are earn from proposed method, are smaller than [11]. For
example, 2 in the proposed method is 0.66 seconds and in [11]
is 1.2173 seconds or 12 in proposed method is 0.82 seconds
and in [11] is 1.1847 sec. Also, the values of the five parameters
of objective function are shown in Table 5.
6.2. Case Study 2: Network and Protection Information. For
the other test case, 30-bus IEEE network is considered. This
network has 86 OC relays. It consists of 30 buses (132- and
33-kV buses), 37 lines, 6 generators, 4 transformers, and
86 OC relays [18]. The distribution section of network that
will be studied here is shown in Figure 3 [19]. The generator,
transmission lines, and transformer information are given
from [20].

ISRN Power Engineering

Table 7: Coordination output results.

Relay number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48

Table 7: Continued.

TMS

0.3092
0.3092
0.3467
0.2095
0.7561
0.5671
0.248
0.7271
0.5679
0.6679
0.67
0.423
0.621
0.9412
0.9268
0.2343
0.5493
0.5749
0.3947
0.5669
0.2716
0.5094
0.5468
0.7716
0.7482
0.6391
0.6033
0.6351
0.6351
0.6358
0.4274
0.5374
0.252
0.2694
0.3322
0.8262
0.4902
0.1732
0.1731
0.1627
0.6102
0.2748
0.656
0.2103
0.2249
0.397
0.1756
0.5501

0.117
0.117
0.119
0.068
0.102
0.227
0.091
0.189
0.107
0.245
0.241
0.160
0.195
0.25
0.170
0.074
0.139
0.190
0.105
0.163
0.059
0.090
0.139
0.142
0.217
0.239
0.203
0.184
0.184
0.183
0.088
0.118
0.090
0.089
0.084
0.174
0.106
0.05
0.061
0.068
0.123
0.115
0.25
0.076
0.084
0.081
0.056
0.179

Relay number
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
80
81
82
83
84
85
86

0.7792
0.1803
0.654
0.6578
0.6173
0.5556
1.0366
0.5839
0.6095
0.2618
0.4635
0.2769
0.3095
0.3954
0.5534
0.3576
0.5278
0.5855
0.7435
0.5109
0.6543
0.2269
0.477
0.2072
0.6521
0.3362
0.5226
0.2853
0.4494
0.4341
0.3934
0.8588
0.9303
0.5091
0.3488
0.3566

TMS
0.155
0.061
0.211
0.166
0.129
0.093
0.224
0.143
0.176
0.065
0.129
0.056
0.061
0.066
0.128
0.094
0.099
0.099
0.161
0.095
0.113
0.078
0.143
0.070
0.204
0.104
0.115
0.073
0.116
0.137
0.111
0.154
0.202
0.077
0.144
0.079

In this paper, four different cases are simulated for a

suitable comparison. Three cases are simulated according to
the method of [11] in which the objective function coefficients
are set manually, and the last case is simulated according to
the method proposed in this paper, in which the objective
function coefficients are not set before simulation and the
optimization results show the values of the coefficients. All
cases are evaluated by HGAPSO algorithm and all control
parameters of algorithm are listed in Table 6. The parameters
are considered the same as 4 test cases. A number of variables
in new method are considered 91, 86 variables for relays
number and 5 variables for (, 1 , 2 , , ) and for method
proposed in [11] are considered 86.
Firstly, the results of the proposed method by GAPSOA
are shown in Tables 7 and 8. The first column of Table 7

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Table 8: Time difference for each pair of M/B relays.

4,1
6,1
7,1
45,1
4,2
6,2
7,2
44,2
5,3
8,4
16,4
48,4
8,5
16,5
47,5
9,6
10,7
11,7
12,7
13,7
43,7
51,7
10,8
11,8
12,8
13,8
43,8
50,8
53,9
52,10
42,11
14,12
15,12
26,13
27,13
28,13
29,13
30,13
58,13
26,15
27,15
28,15
29,15
30,15
56,15
17,16

0.3529
0
0.3146
0.3418
0.3529
0
0.3146
0.3565
0
0
0.56
0.1792
0
0.5385
0.5848
0.6558
0.015
0
0.2883
0.0488
0.0184
0.0165
0.0076
0
0.2671
0.0494
0.0161
0.5093
0
0.0881
0.3288
0.0006
0
0.005
0.027
0.0001
0.0001
0
0.0262
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0001

18,16
19,16
20,16
21,18
23,19
32,19
64,19
22,20
23,21
32,21
62,21
70,22
24,23
25,24
69,25
68,26
65,27
31,28
72,28
31,29
71,29
33,30
74,30
33,31
73,31
34,32
35,33
77,33
35,34
76,34
36,35
37,35
39,37
40,37
81,37
39,38
40,38
80,38
41,39
84,40
83,41
38,42
86,42
38,43
85,43
2,44

0.0021
0.1591
0
1.0402
0
0.0027
0
0.5459
0.0023
0
0.2384
0
0.3009
0
0
0.4949
0.2957
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0514
0.6332
0
0.0416
0.2067
0
0
0.2988
0.2264
0.2523
0
0.3152
0.3684
0.0055
0
0
0
0.1969
0
0.5089
0.3278
0.0333

3,44
1,45
3,45
1,46
2,46
6,47
7,47
44,47
45,47
46,48
4,49
7,49
44,49
45,49
4,50
6,50
44,50
45,50
16,51
47,51
48,51
49,52
11,53
12,53
13,53
43,53
50,53
51,53
10,54
12,54
13,54
43,54
50,54
51,54
10,55
11,55
13,55
43,55
50,55
51,55
10,56
11,56
12,56
43,56
50,56
51,56

shows relay number, the second column () shows relay

operating time for a fault close to the circuit breaker of
each relay, and the third column indicates the TMS of the
relays. From Table 8, all of the values of mb are small and
positive numbers. The positive values of mb show that

0
0.0337
0
0
0
0
0.3238
0.3147
0.3
0
0
0
0
0
0.3518
0
0.3118
0.2971
0.3311
0.3843
0
0
0
0.2759
0.0489
0.0171
0.5228
0.0163
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0082
0
0.2863
0.0169
0.5088
0.0146

15,57
55,57
14,58
55,58
8,59
47,59
48,59
18,60
19,60
20,60
59,60
17,61
19,61
20,61
59,61
17,62
18,62
20,62
59,62
17,63
18,63
19,63
59,63
61,64
63,65
32,66
62,66
64,66
66,67
67,68
27,69
28,69
29,69
30,69
56,69
58,69
26,70
28,70
29,70
30,70
56,70
58,70
26,71
27,71
29,71
30,71

0
0
0.1002
0
0
0.5927
0.1788
0
0.1665
0.0008
0.3069
0
0
0
0
0
0.0312
0.0022
0.3093
0
0.0059
0.1605
0.3125
0
0
0.0072
0.2319
0
0
0
0.0239
0
0
0.0006
0.0331
0.0202
0.0155
0
0
0.0003
0.0368
0.0215
0
0.0031
0.0142
0.006

56,71
58,71
26,72
27,72
28,72
30,72
56,72
58,72
26,73
27,73
28,73
29,73
56,73
58,73
71,74
72,74
23,75
62,75
64,75
73,76
74,76
75,77
76,78
77,78
37,79
78,79
36,80
78,80
85,81
86,81
40,82
80,82
81,82
39,83
80,83
81,83
82,84
54,85
10,86
11,86
12,86
13,86
50,86
51,86

0.0122
0.0025
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0003
0
0
0
0.0081
0
0.2501
0
0.0048
0.2319
0
0.4701
0
0
0
0
0
0.2437
0
0.3633
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0116
0.2807
0.0363
0.5105
0

there is no miscoordination in the results. For example, 4,1

refers to the relay pairs (4 and 1) that are obtained at 0.3529
seconds. The values of the five coefficients of the objective
function , 1 , 2 , , and are obtained as 585.5, 15, 5,
12.5, and 6, respectively. When a fault occurs at downstream,

ISRN Power Engineering

Table 9: Comparison between the proposed method and the

method of [11].

TMS

Case 1
=1
1 = 1
2 = 100
=2
N=2
29.8211
15.15

Case 2
= 10
1 = 10
2 = 1
=2
N=2
24.115
14.55

Case 3
= 10
1 = 1
2 = 10
=2
N=2
26.9
15.6

Case 4
= 585.5
1 = 15
2 = 5
= 12.5
N=6
22.19
11.32

operating time of the downstream protective relays would not

be affected [21]. In current grading, the pickup current was
chosen by considering the maximum possible load current
due to normal overloading or contingency conditions. The
loads of the buses 11 and 26 are the static types and there
is no need to install overcurrent relays on these buses. So
TMSs of relays 57 and 79 that are connected to these buses are
considered to be 0.05 [22] and other TMSs were calculated.
In Table 9, the results of the simulations for the four cases
are illustrated. In this table, the first row shows the four
different cases; and the second and the third rows show the
results of the first index ( ) and the second index ( TMS)
for these cases. The three first cases are related to the method
of [11], where in these cases the coefficients of the objective
function are set before optimization process. The values of the
coefficients are shown in the first column of the table. The last
case shows the results of the proposed method. The values of
in all cases are positive and have not any miscoordination.
The advantage of the proposed method is revealed when
the results of the proposed method (Case 4) are compared
with the best results of the traditional method of [11].
According to Table 9, the best TMS and of method
[11] (between three cases: 1 and 2 and 3) are 14.55 and
24.115, respectively, whereas TMS and t of the proposed
method are 11.32 and 22.19, respectively. This means that
the results of Case 4, related to the new proposed method,
show the best coordination. So, considering the coefficients
of objective function as a part of the optimization problem, results are better compared with conventional method
according to the results of Tables 4 and 9.

7. Conclusion
In this paper, a new flexible technique for overcurrent relays
coordination has been proposed. In this new technique, the
coefficients of the conventional objective functions have been
improved by optimization problem to obtain the minimum
values for the TMSs of the relays. In the proposed technique, GAPSOA optimization method is used to solve the
optimization problem. This proposed method is tested on 6bus case study and 30-bus IEEE case study. The results of
the simulation show the flexibility of the technique and the
best reliability because of the smallest TMS and mb
compared to the conventional coordination methods.

Conflict of Interests
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests
regarding the publication of this paper.

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