Novel Hybrid Islanding Detection Technique Based on Digital Lock-In Amplifier

Muhammad Noman Ashraf, Abdul Shakoor Akram and Woojin Choi ()
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Muhammad Noman Ashraf: School of Electrical Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea
Abdul Shakoor Akram: School of Electrical Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea
Woojin Choi: School of Electrical Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-17

Abstract: Islanding detection remains a critical challenge for grid-connected distributed generation systems, as passive techniques suffer from inherent non-detection zones (NDZ), and active methods often degrade power quality. This paper introduces a hybrid detection strategy based on monitoring inherent grid harmonics via a Digital Lock-In Amplifier. By comparing real-time 5th and 7th harmonic amplitudes against their three-cycle-delayed values, the passive stage adaptively identifies potential islanding without fixed thresholds. Upon detecting significant relative variation, a brief injection of a non-characteristic 10th harmonic (limited to under 3% distortion for three line cycles) serves as active verification, ensuring robust discrimination between islanding and normal disturbances. Case studies demonstrate detection within 140 ms—faster than typical reclosing delays and well below the 2 s limit of IEEE std. 1547—while preserving current zero-crossings and enabling grid impedance estimation. The method’s resilience to grid disturbances and stiffness is validated through PSIM simulations and laboratory experiments, meeting IEEE 1547 and UL 1741 requirements. Comparative analysis shows superior accuracy and minimal power-quality impact relative to existing passive, active, and intelligent approaches.

Keywords: islanding detection; harmonics; digital lock-in amplifier; grid-connected inverters (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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