Determining the relative effectiveness of islanding detection methods using phase criteria and nondetection zones

Author

Ropp, Michael E. ; Begovic, Miroslav ; Rohatgi, Ajeet ; Kern, Gregory A. ; Bonn, R.H., Sr. ; Gonzalez, S.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng., South Dakota State Univ., Brookings, SD, USA

Volume

15

Issue

3

fYear

2000

fDate

9/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

290

Lastpage

296

Abstract

Islanding of a utility-interactive photovoltaic (UIPV) system occurs if the UIPV system continues to power a section of the utility system after that section has been disconnected from the utility source. Since islanding creates hazards for personnel and equipment, UIPV systems are required to detect and prevent it. It is desirable to have a simplified method of determining which islanding detection methods (IDMs) are most effective. In this paper, a previously described method for finding the nondetection zones (NDZs) of IDMs is experimentally verified. This method is used to determine the NDZs of several common IDMs. These results indicate that, of the IDMs discussed in this paper: (1) Sandia Frequency Shift (SFS) is most effective; and (2) the worst-case loads are low-power loads that are near resonance at the line frequency and have a large capacitance and small inductance (a high value of the quality factor Q)

Keywords

photovoltaic power systems; Sandia Frequency Shift; capacitance; equipment hazards; high quality factor; inductance; islanding detection methods; near resonance low-power loads; nondetection zones; personnel hazards; phase criteria; utility-interactive photovoltaic system; worst-case loads; Capacitance; Frequency; Hazards; Phase detection; Photovoltaic systems; Reactive power; Solar power generation; Strontium; Switches; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Energy Conversion, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-8969

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/60.875495

Filename

875495