Distributed generation, overcurrent protection, electrical power distribution system
Abstract
Over the past years, there has been a significant increase in the generation of electricity close final consumers, called distributed generation. Despite the recognized advantages, this sort of generation can cause several problems, particularly to the protection system of traditional distribution systems. Therefore, studying the impacts that distributed generation (DG) can promote on the protection of Electric Power Distribution Systems (EPDS) is a key factor, since the insertion of DG can modify the values of EPDS currents and the protection that was adjusted for a scenario without DG may not act correctly with the presence of photovoltaic generators (PV), due to the absence of monitoring and control of these units. Thus, the results obtained from modeling the IEEE 34-bus system and the devices commonly used in EPDS protection, i.e., fuses, relays and reclosers, indicate that there is a disposition for problems in protection coordination, requiring adjustments in the parameterization stage of protection devices to ensure continuity of service and respect for protection philosophy.
