This paper addresses the resonance problem in a parallel-inverter-based grid-connected system. Harmonic interactions between inverters and the grid exhibit various and complicated characteristics that threatens the system stability and power quality. In this paper, a method of harmonic resonance analysis is proposed to investigate the resonance problem in a multi-inverter grid-connected system based on resonance modal analy-sis (RMA) and participation factor (PF) calculations. Firstly, an impedance-based analytical approach is employed and expanded to a power network that is dominated by multiple inverters with LCL filters and proportional resonant controllers. Then, the RMA is introduced to investigate the resonant interactions be-tween inverters and the grid. Specifically, harmonic resonance characteristics are addressed through transfer functions and the proposed method considering variation of inverter number, dif-ferent inverter combinations and critical system components. Finally, time domain simulations on the PSCAD/EMTDC plat-form are presented. The case study results validate the effective-ness of the proposed method.

With the penetration of renewable energy sources based distributed generation (RES-DG) in the distribution network (DN), the operating time of protection relays becomes a major concern to avoid the mis-coordination and nuisance tripping of RES-DG. It is due to the bidirectional flow of current, variance in the fault current level, i.e. high fault current in case of Squirrel cage induction generator (SCIG) based RES-DG, and low fault current for an inverter-based RES-DGs. This paper proposes a novel User-defined dual setting direction overcurrent relay with hybrid time current-voltage (UDDOR-TCV) characteristics to intensify the proposed scheme’s flexibility without any communication assistance for radial DN. The proposed model is formulated in a constrained non-linear optimization fashion and solved with the MINLP solver of general algebraic modelling system(GAMS) software to determine the optimal relay settings. The propounded protection scheme is simulated on IEEE-33 bus radial distribution system and a local 40-bus system hosting the multiple SCIG and PV based RES-DGs at optimal locations. Detailed numerical studies are carried out to show the performance of the proposed scheme. 66.848% and 68.26% reduction in relay operation time with zero mis-coordination is achieved with SCIG-WTG case and PV-units case for the IEEE-33 bus system and a similar reduction in operation time is 68.937% and 66.563% for Local-40 bus system. Moreover, the relays numbers are reduced by 32.692% and 39.7% for IEEE-33 and Local-40 bus systems, respectively, due to the forward/reverse characteristics capability of the proposed UDDOR-TCV. The performance of the proposed scheme is also evaluated on IEEE-8 bus meshed DN. The results are compared with the existing protection schemes in recent literature.

Renewable energy-based distributed generators (DGs) are gaining more penetration in modern grids to meet the growing demand for electrical energy. The anticipated techno-economic benefits of these eco-friendly resources require their judicious and properly sized allocation in distribution networks (DNs). The preeminent objective of this research is to determine the sizing and optimal placing of DGs in the condensed DN of a smart city. The placing and sizing problem is modeled as an optimization problem to reduce the distribution loss without violating the technical constraints. The formulated model is solved for a radial distribution system with a non-uniformly distributed load utilizing the selective particle swarm optimization (SPSO) algorithm. The intended technique decreases the power loss and perfects the voltage profile at the system’s nodes. MATLAB is used for the simulation, and the obtained results are also validated by the Electrical Transient Analysis Program (ETAP). Results show that placing optimally sized DGs at optimal system nodes offers a considerable decline in power loss with an improved voltage profile at the network’s nodes. Distribution system operators can utilize the proposed technique to realize the reliable operation of overloaded urban networks.

Conventional protection schemes in the distribution system are liable to suffer from high penetration of renewable energy source-based distributed generation (RES-DG). The characteristics of RES-DG, such as wind turbine generators (WTGs), are stochastic due to the intermittent behavior of wind dynamics (WD). It can fluctuate the fault current level, which in turn creates the overcurrent relay coordination (ORC) problem. In this paper, the effects of WD such as wind speed and direction on the short-circuit current contribution from a WTG is investigated, and a robust adaptive overcurrent relay coordination scheme is proposed by forecasting the WD. The seasonal autoregression integrated moving average (SARIMA) and artificial neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) are implemented for forecasting periodic and nonperiodic WD, respectively, and the fault current level is calculated in advance. Furthermore, the ORC problem is optimized using hybrid Harris hawks optimization and linear programming (HHO–LP) to minimize the operating times of relays. The proposed algorithm is tested on the modified IEEE-8 bus system with wind farms, and the overcurrent relay (OCR) miscoordination caused by WD is eliminated. To further prove the effectiveness of the algorithm, it is also tested in a typical wind-farm-integrated substation. Compared to conventional protection schemes, the results of the proposed scheme were found to be promising in fault isolation with a remarkable reduction in the total operation time of relays and zero miscoordination.