High speed differential protection for smart DC distribution systems

Fletcher, Steven and Norman, Patrick and Fong, Chung Man and Galloway, Stuart and Burt, Graeme (2014) High speed differential protection for smart DC distribution systems. IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, 5 (5). 2610 - 2617. ISSN 1949-3053 (https://doi.org/10.1109/TSG.2014.2306064)

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Abstract

This paper presents a high speed current differential implementation approach for smart dc distribution systems capable of sub-millisecond fault detection. The approach utilizes the natural characteristics of dc differential current measurements to significantly reduce fault detection times compared to standard applications and hence meet requirements for dc converter protection (around 2ms). Analysis is first developed to help quantify protection implementation challenges for a given dc system. Options for implementing the proposed technique are then illustrated. Results of scaled hardware testing are presented which validate the overall protection operating times in a low voltage environment. These results show the implementation approach can consistently achieve protection system operating within the order of a few microseconds.