A novel IEC 61850-based distribution line/cable protection scheme design

This paper presents an adaptive distribution overhead line/underground cable protection and fault locator scheme based on IEC61850. This scheme uses the positive-sequence voltage and current phasors at both ends of a distribution line/cable to determine the location of a fault on the distribution line/cable. Traditional distribution systems use time-current coordination for protection devices. These devices assume that faster devices are topologically further from the substation. In a Smart Grid, topology is flexible and this assumption is problematic [1]. The proposed scheme can be used for the protection of distribution overhead lines and underground cables in various system configurations. System simulation studies show that the proposed scheme is able to operate fast and accurately for the distribution line/cable and even a combined distribution line.