IMPACTS OF POWER SYSTEM-TIED DISTRIBUTED GENERATION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF PROTECTION SYSTEMS

The dispersed integration of smaller power units in the existing utility grid is the new trend. This is largely due to changes in the power generation and distribution markets. The combination of rising cost of new construction, deregulations and improved newer power equipment technologies suitable for deferred expansions make the new trend very attractive to power companies and independent investors. Until recently, other contributions to power distribution systems from such sources as standby units were considered negligible and therefore unaccounted for during the design and operation of power systems. This view has drastically changed, largely due to the increasing penetration levels of these newer technologies termed Distributed Generation Resources. This thesis work is a continuation of ongoing work in the validation of the benefits and pitfalls of grid integrated Distributed Generation using modern modeling and simulation techniques. The proposed simplified but more robust symmetrical components based protection relay system is shown to be immune to the mis-coordination, mis-operation and blinding caused by the bidirectional power flow resulting from the high shares of Distributed renewable resource integration