On the Conflict between LVRT and Line Protection in LV Distribution Systems with PVs: A Current-Limitation-Based Solution

Aristotelis Tsimtsios, Dionisis Voglitsis, Ioannis Perpinias, Christos Korkas and Nick Papanikolaou
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Aristotelis Tsimtsios: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67132 Xanthi, Greece
Dionisis Voglitsis: EMEA Solutions Engineering Center, On Semiconductor, 85609 Munich, Germany
Ioannis Perpinias: Regulatory Authority for Energy, Pireos 132, 11854 Athens, Greece
Christos Korkas: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67132 Xanthi, Greece
Nick Papanikolaou: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67132 Xanthi, Greece

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 15, 1-20

Abstract: The upcoming adoption of low-voltage-ride-through requirements in low-voltage distribution systems is expected to raise significant challenges in the operation of grid-tied inverters. Typically, these inverters interconnect photovoltaic units, which are the predominant distributed energy resource in low-voltage distribution networks, under an umbrella of standards and protection schemes. As such, a challenging issue that should be considered in low-voltage distribution network applications, regards the coordination between the line protection scheme (typically consisting of a non-settable fuse) and the low-voltage-ride-through operation of photovoltaic generators. During a fault, the fuse protecting a low-voltage feeder may melt, letting the generator to continue its ride-through operation. Considering that the efficacy/speed of the anti-islanding detection is affected by ride-through requirements, this situation can lead to protracted energization of the isolated feeder after fuse melting (unintentional islanding). To address this issue, this paper proposes a fault-current-limitation based solution, which does not require any modification in the existing protection scheme. The operation principles, design, and implementation of this solution are presented, while, its effectiveness is supported by extensive simulations in a test-case low-voltage distribution system. A discussion on the presented results concludes the paper.

Keywords: distribution system protection; fault-current limitation; low-voltage ride-through; photovoltaic generator (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: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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