Impact of DG on power system stability.

The aim of this topic is to analyze the potential impacts that distributed generation might have on the stability of electrical power networks. In particular, the performance of a power system with significant penetration of distributed resources. For this purpose, taking into consideration a hypothetical network with large number of fuel cells and wind turbines and solar energy generation facilities as dispersed units in the low-voltage area. The investigation is carried out at constant load demands but with different contributions from of fuel cells and wind turbines and solar energy generation facilities. Thus, the rated and supplied powers of the conventional synchronous generators are adjusted to achieve the power balance in the network. With each penetration level of the distributed generation, the performance of the network is studied and different stability classes are analyzed.

Impact of DG on the power flow, voltage profile and distribution system losses. ENERGY losses are one of the metrics used to assess distribution network performance. Incentive- based regulation, towards higher performance networks, is the main driver for minimizing losses in distribution systems. Traditionally, loss minimization has focused on optimizing network (re)configuration [1], [2] or reactive power support through capacitor placement [3], [4]. Governments are incentivizing low-carbon technologies, as a means of meeting environmental targets and increasing energy security. This momentum can be controlled by Distribution Network Operators to bring network operational benefits through lower losses delivered by investment in DG. The optimal accommodation and operation of DG plants to minimize losses has attracted the interest of the research community in the last 15 years. The studies found in the literature can be classified into three approaches: minimization of power losses and minimization of energy losses as well as examining the voltage profile and the power flow in the line.

Impact of DG on distribution system protection. [chosen topic] The primary purpose of distribution system protection is to ensure safe operation of distribution systems, thus to care for the safety of people, personnel and equipment.[9] The following requirements should be met in a typical protection system: 1. Selectivity: A protection system should disconnect only the faulted part (or the smallest possible part containing the fault) of the system in order to minimize fault consequences. 2. Redundancy: A protection system has to care for redundant function of relays in order to improve reliability. Redundant functionalities are planed and referred to as backup protection. Moreover, redundancy is reached by combining different protection principles, for example distance and differential protection for transmission lines. 3. Security: The security of a relay protection system is the "ability to reject all power system events and transients that are not faults so that healthy parts of the power system are not unnecessarily disconnected. 4. Dependability: The dependability of a relay protection system is "the ability to detect and disconnect all faults within the protected zone" Generally speaking, DG addition will impose the following changes on the system: - Sensitivity of the main head end relay: this means that the main feeder head end relay should sense any fault in the main feeder under any condition. The addition of the DG, for example, to the distribution system might reduce the fault current level drawn from the main substation. This will in turn affect the operation of the substation breaker or recloser especially on their ability to see the fault. This will be highly dependent on the type, size and location of the DG. The main relay of the feeder should be designed to overcome such problems. - Bi-directionality: this issue is obvious for radial feeders that are fed from the same substation. Protection devices on one feeder may respond to faults in the other feeder due to back feed especially if DG is installed in the healthy feeder. Also, this issue should be considered during the design stage of the protection system. - Overvoltage considerations: overvolatges may occur during faults if the system is ungrounded. This problem is obvious if a DG is installed and interfaced via ungrounded transformer with the main feeder. In order to understand the effect the DG on protection schemes, some fundamental points about protection planning need to be understood.

Relay Pickup setting The selection of the relay settings differs from utility to utility. But there are general rules used to select the setting of each relay. For example, the pickup setting of the timed phase over current relay is selected to be secure (reject non-fault events) under normal loading condition and to be dependable (detect and disconnect) under over loading or short circuit conditions. Some utilities prefer to use lower pickup setting for the relay to ensure dependability under overloading condition and other utilities prefer to use slightly higher pickup setting of the relay to ensure reliability in case of temporary overloading. The time dial setting (TDS) and the curve type of the relay is selected according to coordination criteria of utility. Coordination Paths A coordination path can be defined as a set of protective devices located along a circuit path starting from the main feeder breaker to the most downstream protective device. The fact that most of the lateral (or sub-laterals) fuses are selected to be similar (to ease the maintenance), leads to a limited number of different coordination paths. A single coordination path might represent many laterals utilizing the same types of fuses General Protection Conflicts with DGs The overall problem when integrating DG in existing networks is that distribution systems are planned as passive networks, carrying the power unidirectionally from the central generation (HV level) downstream to the loads at MV/LV level. The protection system design in common MV and LV distribution networks is determined by a passive paradigm, i.e. no generation is expected in the network. With distributed sources, the networks get active, and conventional protection turns out to be unsuitable. The following sections will outline the most important issues.