Testing of Current-Only Directional Relay Algorithm in a Realistic Distribution Network Testbed

The growth of Distributed Energy Resources is accelerating, causing significant changes in utility distribution systems due to the bidirectionality of power flow. As a result, protection systems will require upgrades to operate with these new requirements. The current-only directional relay (CODR) is a novel proposal that detects the direction of fault currents without the need for new devices, but instead upgrades the software logic of existing devices, making it a cost-effective solution. This work provides a complete description of how to implement a hardware testbed to review the CODR method. Findings show that CODR performs successfully in a real environment, but its algorithm needs to be upgraded if used in distribution systems where lines have a non-negligible resistive component.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Electrical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Vivent Barahona, Francisco Javier

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Centeno, Virgilio A.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Kekatos, Vasileios
• De La Reelopez, Jaime

• Hardware testbed
• overcurrent directional relay
• DER integration
• phasor estimation

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:38417

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/116170