Development of an optimal adaptive protection method for modern electric power distribution systems

• Grant number: 18/20128-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: January 03, 2019
• End date: July 02, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Power Systems
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda Caseño Trindade Arioli
• Grantee: Felipe Bayma Barbosa Rolim
• Supervisor: Bala Venkatesh
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação (FEEC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Ryerson University, Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 17/20880-6 - Development of adaptive protection methodology for modern systems of electrical energy distribution, BP.MS

Abstract

Electric power distribution systems have been submitted to major changes related to the integration of new technologies such as distributed generators, electric vehicles, energy storage systems, smart meters, and digital protection equipment. Currently, technological advances related to the digital protection equipment, such as high sampling rate and the capability of communication and remote readjustments have allowed greater flexibility, reliability, and better performance at reasonable costs. Therefore, the use of this equipment allows implementing new specialized protection schemes, integrating optimization methods to minimize the cases of false operation, to improve diagnostics, as well as to accelerate fault clearance. However, in most cases, the functionalities available in the digital equipment are not fully exploited and the protection practices are the same as when the relays were electromechanical. Thus, studies are needed to evaluate the best use of its functionalities for the protection of electric power distribution networks. In this context, this project proposes the development of an optimal adaptive protection method employing the existing or potentially present functionalities from modern protection equipment dedicated to electric power distribution networks. (AU)