An analytic approach for optimal coordination of overcurrent relays

This study presents a new analytic approach to optimal coordination of directional overcurrent relays. This approach is based on the selection of optimum pickup current and time dial setting, in order to obtain minimum operating time for the relays, while satisfying various coordination and boundary constraints. Based on the new optimal relay setting procedure, an iterative numerical solution is proposed. The proposed numerical algorithm converges to the global optimum values, which are independent of initial values and the order of relay setting. The proposed method is applied to three different test systems. The new method is compared with some previously proposed analytic and evolutionary approaches. The results demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method over the previous works.