A Study on the Optimal Method for Mal-function of Re-closer at the Distribution Feeders Interconnected with PV Systems

Recently, new dispersed power sources such as photovoltaics, wind power, fuel cell etc. are energetically interconnected and operated in the distribution systems, as one of the national projects for alternative energy. This paper deals with the optimal countermeasures for the mal-function of protective devices at primary feeder in distribution systems when new power sources like photovoltaic (PV) systems are interconnected, based on the symmetrical components of short circuit studies. When new power sources are considered to be interconnected to distribution systems, bi-directional power flow and interconnection transformer connection of new power sources may cause the operation problems of protective devices (mainly re-closer), since new power sources can change typical characteristics of distribution systems. Therefore, this paper shows an analysis skill of the mal-functional mechanism of protective relay and proposes the optimal solution for the mal-function problem using the symmetrical components of fault analysis. And, this paper also shows the effectiveness of proposed method by the simulation at the field distribution systems.