Optimal Coordination of Directional Overcurrent Relays Using an Exponential-Based Non-Standard Characteristic and the Nutcracker Optimizer

Abstract

Directional overcurrent relays (DOCRs) play a crucial role in protecting sub-transmission and distribution systems due to their simplicity and cost-effectiveness. For selective and rapid protection, proper coordination of these relays is essential. At this point, the coordination of DOCRs is formulated as an optimization problem. The primary objective of this problem is to minimize relay operating times without violating coordination constraints. However, considering the complex nature of power systems, solving this nonlinear problem with high-level constraints becomes challenging. Furthermore, achieving efficiency in such solutions using standard relay characteristics is also difficult under the presence of numerous coordination constraints. In this context, this study proposes the use of an exponential-based non-standard relay characteristic function for calculating relay operating times and employs the nutcracker optimizer, a recently developed metaheuristic optimization algorithm, for solving the problem. The performance of the proposed method is tested on the IEEE 9-bus and IEEE 15-bus test systems, which are widely used in this field. The results obtained with the proposed method are compared with those in the literature and show the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Especially, the results demonstrate that the exponential-based non-standard relay characteristic used in the proposed method achieves approximately a 67% reduction in relay operating times compared to the standard relay characteristic (normally inverse) for the IEEE 15-bus system.

Keywords

• Optimal coordination
• Directional overcurrent relays
• Non-standard characteristic
• Nutcracker optimizer

Yönlü Aşırı Akım Koruma Rölelerinin Üstel Tabanlı Standart Olmayan Karakteristik ve Fındıkkıran Kuşu Optimize Edicisi Kullanılarak Optimal Koordinasyonu

Öz

Yönlü aşırı akım koruma röleleri (YAAKR), alt iletim ve dağıtım sistemlerinin korunmasında basit ve ekonomik oluşları dolayısıyla önemli bir rol oynamaktadırlar. Seçici ve hızlı bir koruma için bu rölelerin doğru bir şekilde koordine edilmesine ihtiyaç vardır. Bu noktada, Yakar’larına koordinasyonu bir optimizasyon problem olarak tasarlanmaktadır. Bu problemin temel amacı, röle işlem sürelerinin koordinasyon kısıtlarında bir ihlale yol açmadan minimize edilmesidir. Fakat güç sistemlerinin kompleks yapısı göz önüne alındığında bu yüksek seviyede kısıtlar içerebilen ve lineer olmayan problemi çözmek zor bir hal alabilmektedir. Buna ek, yüksek sayıda koordinasyon kısıtların varlığı altında standart röle karakteristikleri ile bu çözümde verim elde etmek de zor olabilmektedir. Bu kapsamda, bu çalışma röle işlem sürelerinin hesaplanmasında üstel tabanlı standart olmayan bir röle karakteristik fonksiyonunun ve problemin çözümünde son zamanlarda geliştirilen bir metasezgisel optimizasyon algoritması olan fındıkkıran kuşu optimize edicisinin kullanımını önermektedir. Önerilen yöntemin performansı, bu alanda sıklıkla kullanılan IEEE 9-bara ve IEEE 15-bara güç sistemleri üzerinde test edilmiştir. Önerilen yöntemle elde edilen sonuçlar, literatürdeki sonuçlarla karşılaştırılmış ve önerilen yöntemin etkililiği doğrulanmıştır. Özellikle, sonuçlar, önerilen çalışma kapsamında kullanılan üstel tabanlı standart olmayan röle karakteristiğinin 15-bara güç sistemi için röle işlem sürelerinde standart röle karakteristiği (normal t

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Optimal koordinasyon
• Yönlü aşırı akım koruma röleleri
• Standart olmayan karakteristik
• Fındıkkıran kuşu optimize edicisi

Kaynakça

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