TJPRC: Journal of Signal

Processing Systems (TJPRC: JSPS)

Vol. 1, Issue 1, Dec 2015, 37-50
TJPRC Pvt.

PASSIVE FAULT CURRENT LIMITERS TO IMPROVE PROTECTION

COORDINATION IN RADIAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
ALMOATAZ Y. ABDELAZIZ1, MOHAMED ELSAMAHY2 & AMR SALAH ELDIN3
1
2

Department of Electrical Power & Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Department of Electrical Power Engineering, The Higher Institute of Engineering, El- Shorouk Academy, Cairo, Egypt
3

Research Scholar, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

ABSTRACT
Radial power distribution systems typically use coordinated protection schemes for fault protection. However,
the rising interest in distributed generation poses a problem, as a distributed generation causes such system to lose their
radial nature, disrupting the coordinated protection schemes.
The use of a fault current limiter (FCL) is proposed to limit the effect of distributed generation on the
protection coordination in a radial system during a fault. This paper shows that the passive resistive fault current
limiters can restore the protection coordination during faults at radial distribution systems with a distributed generator
(wind farm < 10MW) connected.

introduced, the effects of distributed generation on the protection coordination are examined, and the effectiveness of
the passive resistive fault current limiters to mitigate these effects is determined.
KEYWORDS: Radial Distribution Systems, Distributed Generation, Wind Farms, Coordinated Protection Schemes,
Resistive Fault Current Limiters

Original Article

To determine the effectiveness of the fault current limiters for the proposed application, test system is

Received: Nov 06, 2015; Accepted: Nov 18, 2015; Published: Nov 30, 2015; Paper Id.: TJPRC:JSPSDEC20154

INTRODUCTION
With the increased demands of energy under a lot of environmental limitations of the generating plants,
the introduction of the distributed generation based on renewable sources of energy like wind has been promoted.
However, introduction of distributed generators has been reported to cause increasing in the short-circuit currents
as well as the miss coordination of protection schemes [1], [2], [10], [11] [18] and [19]
Several ideas have been introduced as possible solutions of the miss coordination of protection schemes in
systems with distributed generators like adaptive protection relays. But these solutions will involve very high initial
costs to replace the existing relays with adaptive relays [3], [12] and [17].
Thus a proposed solution is to implement a fault current limiter that would limit the current of the
distributed generators during a fault, and allows the unimpeded flow of power from the distributed generators to
the system under healthy conditions. Among the different technologies of fault current limiters, the passive limiters
are the most implemented in practice [14], [15], [16], and [21].

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Almoataz Y. Abdelaziz, Mohamed Elsamahy & Amr Salah Eldin

SYSTEM UNDER STUDY

Description
The system as shown in Figure 1, has been modeled in PSCAD. The utility was modeled by an equivalent source

behind impedance. The substation is a double-ended type with one transformer on each side, each rated at 100 MVA.
The rated bus voltage is 24.9kV. Each bus feeds six feeders and the tie breaker is normally closed. Normally
closed circuit breaker would allow feeding from separate transformers; however, a normally closed circuit breaker leads to
considerable increase in the short circuit level. For this reason a 2-OHM air core fault current limiting series reactor is
introduced at feeder head end. The presence of the 2-OHM series reactor remarkably decreases the symmetrical short
circuit level. On the other hand, the introduction of the series reactor would introduce large voltage drop.
Therefore, the sending end voltage should increase with equivalent amount to insure that the voltage drop at the
end of the main feeder and at the end of all laterals is within the similarity in all feeders, the remaining 5 feeders on each
bus are modeled as a lumped load connected at the main station bus with a total power demand of 84 MVA and an overall
power factor of 0.95 lagging. A 20 MVAR delta connected capacitor is interconnected at the main station bus for reactive
power compensation [4]. A detailed description of system components is presented in Appendix A.1
The DG used is a small wind farm consists of three wound rotor induction generators (WRIG) each of 2.1 MW
capacity.

Protection Coordination
In radial distribution systems the electricity is transmitted through normally radial feeders and then through lateral

feeders and transformers. Showing protective devices, Figure 2 shows a sample of typical radial distribution feeder. To
protect system components and satisfy safety purpose, the protection devices must be installed along with the main and
lateral feeder. Circuit breaker and recloser are located at the beginning of the main feeder. Besides, fuses are placed at the
lateral feeders and are responsible for lateral circuits. For circuit breaker and recloser, they are normally equipped with
inverse-time over current trip devices also fuses have such inverse-time over current characteristics [4].
The coordination scheme is normally determined according to individual specific topology of a distribution
system, as well as various desired behaviors. For a distribution feeder like that in Figure 2, the protection coordination
could be, however, shown in Figure 3.

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Passive Fault Current Limiters to Improve Protection

Coordination in Radial Distribution Systems

39

Figure 1: Single Line Diagram of the Distribution System under Study [4]

Figure 2: Typical Radial Distribution System

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Almoataz Y. Abdelaziz, Mohamed Elsamahy & Amr Salah Eldin

Figure 3: Characteristics of Protection Devices Used For Radial Systems and their Coordination
It is a general coordination of circuit breaker, recloser, and a lateral fuse behind the recloser. The philosophy here
is that protection coordination should be able to confine the disconnected circuit as the smallest area when a fault takes
place. This is to obtain the least electricity interruption. Here in our case study, when a fault takes place at the lateral feeder,
the recloser would operate first to discriminate for the temporary fault, occurring mostly 70 to 80 percent in distribution
system. If the fault still exists, the recloser would operate again for the second time, this time if the fault still exist the lateral
fuse will be blown up, and cause a permanent electricity outage. To obtain this sequential operation, the fault current must
comply with the minimum and maximum current shown in Figure 3.
Regarding circuit breaker, it will operate lastly as the whole back up protection when both the recloser and fuse
fail in their responsibility.

Impacts of DGs on Radial Distribution Systems

The penetration of DG into distribution system will no longer maintain the radial characteristic of distribution

feeders. Instead, the distribution system will be changed to be mesh configuration. Since the conventional protection in
distribution system is based on over current protection, it means that the existing settings of protective coordination cannot
be held and protective devices may operate undesirably. Finally, this could lead to both the large damage in system
components and the decrease in system reliability.
The impact of fault current from the distributed generator depends on type, size and location of the distributed
generator. Here we study lose of fuse recloser coordination, false tripping and loss of sensitivity as impacts for distributed
generator connection to radial distribution system [5],[7] and [20].
The fuse recloser coordination takes place because temporary faults occurring mostly at lateral feeder should be
discriminated by the fast operation of recloser. However, this scheme may not be held when DG is connected. It is possible
that this temporary fault will be cleared by the lateral fuse, and be changed to a permanent fault. This certainly decreases
the system reliability.
False tripping also leads to reliability problems. When a fault occurs at another feeder, the operating device should
be the devices located in that faulted feeder, e.g. circuit breaker. Nevertheless, the circuit breaker at the feeder of the DG
may operate and cause unreasonable electricity interruption on this healthy feeder.

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Passive Fault Current Limiters to Improve Protection

Coordination in Radial Distribution Systems

41

Loss of sensitivity takes place when the DG current is large enough to decrease the utility current to the value that
will make the utility circuit breaker not to pickup at fault.

Fault Current Limiters

Most of the proposed solutions to for the effects of distributed generators penetrating the distribution systems

involve modifying the existing protection system like using adaptive protection relays. Such solutions tend to be expensive
to implement because of the equipments costs, which reduce the benefit of adding distributed generators.
An alternative approach would be to consider the idea to negate or minimize the contribution of the distributed
generators during the fault, while adding no adverse effects to the network at healthy conditions. Thus a proposed solution
is to implement a fault current limiter that would limit the current of the distributed generator during a fault, and would
allow normal flow of power at healthy condition [8], [9] and [13].
Fault current limiters can be classified into two categories according to the time of operation as follows:

Passive Fault Current Limiters

Devices that are permanently connected to the power system and do not need to be controlled by an external

signal.

Active Fault Current Limiters

Devices that are switched on at the time of fault only by using external signal.
Here we deal with passive fault current limiters by using resistive limiter to study their effect in improving the

protection schemes of radial distribution systems with distributed generator connected.

CASE STUDY
The impact of the FCL on a test system will be determined by its effect on the DG currents during a fault. The
effect of the DG and the FCL on the coordinated protection system will be examined by observing the timing of protection
elements following faults at various locations. We will connect the DG to each bus and study its effect for faults at each bus
and load point. Our interest is to determine if DGs have a negative impact on the coordination of protection systems, and
whether the FCL can mitigate the impact or not.
The impacts under study are:

Fuse recloser miss coordination.

False tripping.

Loss of sensitivity.

CASES
Fuse Recloser Mis-Coordination
By connecting DG at a bus and applying fault at each load point after the lateral fuse we have 4cases for each bus.
We will study the impact of connecting DG at bus2, bus3, bus4 and bus 5. [Table 1] presents all the cases that have fuse
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Almoataz Y. Abdelaziz, Mohamed Elsamahy & Amr Salah Eldin

recloser miss coordination and the effect of different resistances FCLs, Figure 4 shows the two most severe cases with
largest DG currents.

Case 1

Here we have the DG connected to bus 3 and we apply 3ph to ground fault at the load point of bus 2 after the
lateral fuse. Figure 5, shows the DG current with and without FCL and Figure 6 shows the tripping signals with and without
FCL.

Case 2

Here we have the DG connected to bus 4 and we apply 3ph to ground fault at the load point of bus 5 after the
lateral fuse, Figure 7, shows the DG current with and without FCL and Figure 8 shows the tripping signals with and without
FCL.
False Tripping
By connecting DG at one feeder and applying faults at the neighbor one we examine its effect on the circuit
breaker of the faulty feeder. Here in our system we found that there is no false tripping can take place on connecting a DG
(wind farm<10MW) on any bus. Figure 9 illustrates the case of false tripping.
Loss of Sensitivity
When the utility source and the DG are at one side against a fault we can have the utility circuit breaker to be
untripped because the DG will share a part of the fault current which may lead to large decrease in the utility current
making circuit breaker relay to see current less than the pickup one. Figure 10, illustrates case of loss of sensitivity.

RESULTS
As shown in table 1 we have only seven mis-coordinated situation due to the increase of the fault current which
Force the fuses to explode without giving the reclosers the chance to operate which leads to sustained loss of electricity.
By introducing the FCLs we can observe that with increasing their resistance we get lower fault current till we can
restore the lost coordination, but we must take into consideration that increasing the resistance of FCLs above certain
values will lead to some impacts, the most important one is the decreasing of the fault current to levels that may affect the
sensitivity of the protection relays. So the choosing of the FCLs' resistance must held in an optimized mean.
Table 1: Results for All the Fuse-Recloser Mis-Coordination Cases
Case
No.
Idg
Ifault
Coordination
Idg
Ifault
Coordination
Idg
Ifault
Coordination
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Case
Description

Without
FCL

DG at bus 2
&
Fault at bus 2
DG at bus 3
&
Fault at bus 2
DG at bus 3
&
Fault at bus 5

586
7075
No
573
7065
No
439
4916
No

With
25
FCL
351
6795
No
348
6791
No
296
4764
Yes

With
50
FCL
279
6632
Yes
276
6631
Yes
247
4654
Yes

With
75
FCL
227
6507
Yes
225
6507
Yes
208
4562
Yes

With
100
FCL
181
6502
Yes
180
6489
Yes
171
4510
Yes

With
125
FCL
144
6587
Yes
143
6586
Yes
139
4496
Yes

With
150 FCL
123
6521
Yes
122
6518
Yes
120
4502
Yes
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Passive Fault Current Limiters to Improve Protection

Coordination in Radial Distribution Systems

Idg
Ifault
Coordination
Idg
Ifault
Coordination
Idg
Ifault
Coordination
Idg
Ifault
Coordination

DG at bus 4
&
Fault at bus 2
DG at bus 4
&
Fault at bus 5
DG at bus 5
&
Fault at bus 2
DG at bus 5
&
Fault at bus 5

43

561
7056
No
507
5004
No
551
7059
No
583
5104
No

345
6789
No
322
4818
Yes
343
6786
No
350
4880
No

275
6629
Yes
260
4684
Yes
273
6628
Yes
277
4719
Yes

224
6507
Yes
216
4577
Yes
223
6507
Yes
224
4594
Yes

179
6492
Yes
174
4515
Yes
178
6497
Yes
178
4522
Yes

142
6586
Yes
140
4496
Yes
142
6585
Yes
142
4498
Yes

122
6517
Yes
120
4499
Yes
121
6515
Yes
121
4499
Yes

Figure 4: Fault in the Lateral Located Behind Recloser:

(A) Utility Substation and Wind Farm on Different Sides of the Fault
(B) Utility Substation and Wind Farm on the Same Side

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Almoataz Y. Abdelaziz, Mohamed Elsamahy & Amr Salah Eldin

Figure 5: DG Current With and Without FCL (Case 1)

Figure 6: Tripping Signals With and Without FCL (Case 1)

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Passive Fault Current Limiters to Improve Protection

Coordination in Radial Distribution Systems

45

Figure 7: DG Current With and Without FCL (Case 2)

Figure 8: Tripping Signals With and Without FCL

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Almoataz Y. Abdelaziz, Mohamed Elsamahy & Amr Salah Eldin

Figure 9: False Tripping Case

Figure 10: Loss of Sensitivity Case

CONCLUSIONS
The penetration of distributed generators into distribution systems may have severe impacts on the protection
scheme of the system. In this paper we study how to overcome two of these impacts which are loss of fuse recloser
coordination and false tripping by using (PSCAD) to simulate a real radial distribution system and a small wind farm
(<10MW) as a distributed generator.
It was found that with the connection of the distributed generator a fuse recloser mis-coordination occurs but there
is no false tripping took place.
After investigating the effect of using passive fault current limiters to overcome the loss of fuse recloser
coordination, it was found that they succeeded in restoring the coordination of the protection system, providing a cheap and
simple solution for the protection coordination problems that take place by connecting distributed generators to radial
distribution systems.

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Almoataz Y. Abdelaziz, Mohamed Elsamahy & Amr Salah Eldin

15. I.N. Dul'kin, D. V. Yevsin, L. M. Fisher, V. P. Ivanov, A. V. Kalinov and V. A. Sidorov "Modeling thermal process in a resistive
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APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
A.1- System under Study Parameters

Substation Parameters
Number of transformers per substation: 2, Transformer rating: 100MVA, Voltage ratings, 240kV/25kV,

Connection: star earthed/star earthed, 10% Impedance, Reactor grounded (1.5 Ohm)

Substation Bus
Bus rated voltage: 25 kV, Configuration: Breaker tied bus, Voltage ratings, 230kV/25kV, Number of feeders per

bus: 6, Breaker rated: 1200A. No. of capacitor bank/bus: 1 rated at 10MVA, differential bus protection, Surge arrestor:
Station class - 18 KV duty cycle.

Feeder
Feeder head end: The distribution feeder is fitted with the following protection elements: Instantaneous phase over

current relay (50P)- 1500 A, Timed phase over current (51P)- 600 A, Instantaneous ground over current relay (50G)-300 A,
Timed Ground over current- 150 A, Reclosing 70, 2 Ohm series reactor to limit feeder fault current to less than 8 KA.
Feeder Egress: Underground cable, rated 400 AMP, 16 MVA. 380 mm2 triplexed XPLE cable in 125 mm duct. Neutral is
sized 30% of the main phases. Single point sheath ground with 107 mm2 (AWG4/0) bond, Length of express feeder from
station to overhead line (1km), Riser Pole surge arrestor (riser pole class, 18 KV duty cycle)

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Suburban Backbone Overhead Section

The suburban backbone overhead section is 5 Km long, made from ASC Aluminum stranded conductors with 170

mm2 cross-section, armless construction. There exists also another two laterals with same construction as backbone, each is
3 Km long and fed a concentrated load of 5 MVA.

Single-Phase Underground Laterals (Residential Loads)

Length: 1 km, Cable: XPLE 53 mm2 (AWG 1/0). Protection: Head end fuse 200K, Transformers: 21 Units, Pad

mounted, 100kVA single phase, 4 % Impedance, Surge Arrestor: Normal class 18kV duty cycle, Fuse including current
limiting (10), Secondary (240,120 V) three wires, individual 54 mm2 AL, Each transformer fed 15 building with 50 m UG
cable.

Single-Phase Overhead Laterals Residential Loads

Length: 1 Km, Line: 107 mm2, AAC All Aluminium Conductor, Protection: Head end fuse 100 K, Transformers:

21 Units, Pad mounted, 100kVA single phase, 4 % Impedance, Surge Arrestor: Normal class 18kV duty cycle, Fuse
including current limiting (10), Secondary (240,120 V) three wires, individual 54 mm2 AL, Each transformer fed 15
building.

Three Phase Commercial or Condominium Transformers and Loads

Rated 1 MVA, impedance 3%, secondary ( 3phase,delta/star 120,208 V, four wire) surge arrestor ( Normal class

18 KV duty cycle), fuse including current limiting 40 K, secondary at load centre 1 MVA, pf 0.95

Three Phase Industrial Transformers and Loads

Rated 1 MVA, impedance 3%, secondary ( 3phase ,delta/star 120,208 V, four wire) surge arrestor ( Normal class

18 KV duty cycle), fuse including current limiting 40 K, secondary at load centre 1 MVA, pf 0.9

Modelling of the Rest of Feeder Loads

Due to the similarity in all feeders, the remaining 5 feeders on each bus are modelled as a lumped load connected

at the main station bus with a total power demand of 84 MVA and an overall power factor of 0.95 lagging. A 20 MVAR
delta connected capacitor bank is interconnected at the main station bus to provide reactive power compensation.

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