2nd International Conference on Advances in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (ICAEE'2013) March 17-18, 2013 Dubai (UAE)

Islanding Detection Algorithm for Inverter

Based Distributed Generation Using Positive
Sequence of Load Voltage
Noradin Ghadimi1 and Alireza Alizade2

products are connected through electronic power converter to

the network [2]. Most of inverters of DGs that produce DC
voltage usually operate with current control system in order to
control the output power of DG. But DGs will have affects in
the network. One of these effects has become an islanding
phenomenon.
An essential requirement of the grid interconnected DG
system is the capability of islanding detection [3]. Islanding
state happens when one or more DGs without connecting to
the network are connected and supplied local loads. In most
cases this phenomenon can occur unwanted. The islanding
operation of DG may cause potential hazards to linemaintenance personnel, equipment damage due to instability
in user voltage and frequency and risk the DG in being
damaged by out of phase reconnection to the grid. The
majority of utilities require that DG should be disconnected
from the grid as soon as the islanding occurs. Therefore,
according to IEEE1547 standard, islanding state should be
detected and disconnected in less than 2 seconds [4][5].
So far many methods to detect Islanding condition have
been proposed. These methods can be classified in two broad
categories of active and passive classifications [6]. In active
techniques, disturbances are injected locally into the system
and responses of these disturbances are used to detect
islanding conditions. Including the active method we can
point to the followings: Impedance measurement method [6],
Sandia Frequency Shift (SFS) and Sandia Voltage Shift (SVS)
[3], Frequency domain analysis [3], Changing voltage
amplitude and reactive power method [7], the mid-harmonic
method [8], Reactive power export error detection [9],
And the passive techniques make decisions based on the
local measurements of voltage and current signals. Passive
techniques include:
Under/over voltage and under/over frequency [3], Rate of
change of frequency relay (df/dt) [10], Phase displacement
monitoring [6], Output power speed changing [10],
Comparison of rate of change of frequency (COROCOF) [11],
Unbalanced voltage and Total current (or voltage) harmonic
distortion (THD) [12].
The method in this paper is one active algorithm that can be
detecting the islanding condition based on Rate of Change of
Positive Voltage Sequence (RoCoPVS) injection. Most of the
multiple DER units control is based on dq-current control

AbstractDuring the last years, growing power demand

and increasing concern about the use of fossil fuels in
conventional power plants, the new paradigm of distributed
generation is gaining greater commercial and technical
importance in worldwide. Due to the DGs advantages,
including using of Renewable Energy which not polluting
environment and has endless nature, the application of DGs
can potentially reduce the need for traditional system
expansion, controlling a potentially huge number of DGs
creates a daunting new challenge for operating and controlling
the network safely and efficiently. One problem that
encountered with it when using with DGs, is an unwanted
Islanding phenomenon. In this paper, a active technique for
inverter based distributed generations using positive feedback
of rate of change of positive voltage sequence of voltage in
order to detecting islanding conditions has been present. Its
performance is much more appropriate than that of previous
techniques. The simulation results performed in MATLAB,
clearly show improved operation of this method.
Keywords Distributed Generation- Islanding, -SwitchingPassive Technique.
I. INTRODUCTION

ECENTLY, the penetration of Distributed Generation

(DG) at medium and low voltages in utility networks is
increasing in developed countries and takes special place for
them worldwide. Renewable distributed generation involves
the interconnection of small-scale, on-site distributed energy
resources (DERs) with the main power utility at distribution
voltage level [1]. DERs mainly combined from renewable
energy sources like solar PV, wind turbines, fuel cells, smallscale hydro, tidal and wave generators, micro-turbines,
combined heat power (CHP) systems, etc.
Bulk of distributed generations in power system is from
renewable energy. Depending on the distributed generations,
their production can be AC or DC. But in all, most of these
1

Young Researchers Club, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University,

Ardabil, Iran (corresponding author to provide phone: +98-9147028949; email noradin.ghadimi@gmail.com).
2
Ardabil Province Electricity Distribution co, Ardabil, Iran (e-mail:
ar_alizade@yahoo.com).

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2nd International Conference on Advances in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (ICAEE'2013) March 17-18, 2013 Dubai (UAE)

strategy according to drop characteristics of reactivepower/voltage and active-power/frequency in grid connected

mode. In order to islanding detection in this paper RoCoPVS
of load voltage add to q-component of dq-current control that
can be change the output voltage when islanding is happen.

measured signals are being processed and in the Islanding

state a fast decision made and command for disconnecting
system will be exported.
III. PROPOSED ALGORITHM
DG systems are connected to the distribution system
through an inverter as shown in Fig. 1. The inverter performs
two main functions:
Controlling the active power output of the DG and, in
some cases, injecting a suitable amount of reactive power to
mitigate a power quality problem.
According to the IEEE Standard 1547, the DG should be
equipped with an anti-islanding detection algorithm, which
could be performed using the inverter interface control (active
methods).
In this paper, these variables are controlled using the dq
frame of reference [13]. The VSC controls its output real and
reactive power components. Figure 2 depicted the dq-current
control strategy in order to control of active and reactive
power of DGs output.

II. STUDY SYSTEM

The study system in this paper that the proposed algorithm
applied to this system is shown in figure (1). As depicted, The
DG unit is represented by a DC voltage source, a VSC that
control with conventional dq-current controller, a series filter
(L f and C f ), and a transformer that join the DG to utility. The
local load is represented by a three-phase parallel RLC
network at the PCC. A step-up transformer is located between
DGs local loads and utility grid. The utility grid simulated
with ideal source and Rs ,Ls. connection between utility grid
and DG is done with Circuit Breaker (CB). In order to convert
the DC voltage to AC voltage, as can be seen, used of inverter
with IGBT switches. The parameters of study system are
given in table 1.
When the CB as shown in the figure is closed, in this mode
DG together with local load is connecting to power grids and
power produced by DG is injected. But when the CB is
opened, in this mode, islanding state occurs, and DG along
with a local load form an islanding condition which creates an
independent power grid in which just DG supplies loads
demand power. In these conditions, that should a case be
detected islanding mode and power production is entirely
disconnected from the power grid and after reconnection it
starts to produce power again.
T1

T3

T5

Idref
+
IaDG

Id

abc
to
dq

IbDG
IcDG

PI
Controller
W

Iq

Iqref

SPWM

PI
Controller
Switching
signal

tetha
VaPCC
Three
Phase PLL

VbPCC
VcPCC

Fig. 2 dq-current controller in order to control of active and

reactive power of DGs output

PCC
LC
Filter

T2

T4

T6
Breaker

Transformer

Under the test configuration of Fig. 1, the RLC tank draws

the fundamental current component supplied by the VSC, at
the unity power factor. If a disturbance signal at different
frequency, different from the fundamental frequency, is
injected into the system through the converter current
controllers, the corresponding current disturbance flows into
the low-impedance path offered by the utility, as shown in
Fig. 3.

Grid

RLC Local Load

Fig. 1 studied power system including DG and power grid

TABLE I
CHARACTERISTIC OF STUDIED POWER SYSTEM
Parameters
Value
800V
V dc
Lf
2mH
Cf
0.022mF
Rated Voltage
380V
Grid Voltage
20Kv
RL
1.92 ohm/phase
LL
7.1mH/phase
CL
1.43mF
Transformer Ratio
20/0.38kV
Transformer Power
100KW
Frequency
50HZ

Idref

Id

Plant

Three Phase Voltage

vdc

du/dt

Positive
sequence of voltage

Fig. 3 RoCoPVS injection across Id as a disturbance

To detection the islanding condition, a measurement system

installed at the head of a local load and output of the
mentioned system ended in a central processor in which

The proposed islanding detection method in this paper is

based on injecting an appropriate disturbance signal through
the I d controller, Fig. 3, illustrate the proposed algorithm that
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2nd International Conference on Advances in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (ICAEE'2013) March 17-18, 2013 Dubai (UAE)

inject the derivative of negative voltage sequence of load

voltage into the controller. When DG works in grid connected
mode the value of RoCoNVS is small and doesnt has mostly
influence in output power, but when DG become isolated from
utility and islanding occurred, the amount of RoCoNVS increase
and can affect on output current. This algorithm act such as
positive feedback and finally islanding will be detected.

B. Load condition 2
In second condition, the active and reactive power of
inductance and capacitor considers P=75KW, Q L =65KVAr
and Q c = 55KVAr respectively. At the grid connected mode
CB is closed. At t=1.4 sec, CB is opened and DG together
with local load is separated from power grid and islanding
condition occurred again. Fig 5-b depicted instantaneous three
phase voltage of load in (p.u). As can be seen, after islanding
situation the three phase voltage become unbalanced while,
before islanding condition the three phase voltage of
Distributed Generation was balanced. From of this voltage
that can be detect the island condition. Figure 5-c, shows the
RoCoPVS signal. It is obvious from the figure that after
islanding the amount of RoCoPVS increased.

IV. SIMULATION RESULT

A. Nominal condition
In this case, the active and reactive power of local load is
set to table 1 value. At the first CB is closed and system
utilized in grid connected mode. At t=1.5 sec, CB is opened
and DG together with local load is separated from power grid
and islanding condition occurs. Figure 4-c, shows the
RoCoPVS of DG voltage. It is obvious from the figure that
after islanding the amount of RoCoPVS of voltage increased.
Fig 4-a and Fig 4-b shows instantaneous values of three phase
load voltage and output current of DG in (p.u). Before of
island condition that is obvious the three phase voltage is in
balanced condition but when islanding occurred the voltage
and current of Distributed Generation become unbalanced that
can be detect the island condition. Therefore islanding
condition is detected very fast after islanding happen.

Fig. 5 The output result of load voltage for load condition 2 a) three
phase voltage b) three phase output current (p.u) c)RoCoPVS
signal of DG

C. switch of capacitor bank

In this section, the performance of algorithm is studied for
capacitor bank switching in grid connected mode to be shown
that the proposed algorithm not mistaken in capacitor bank
switching, and detection properly the islanding state from
capacitor bank switching conditions. Initially the system
works in nominal load condition that depicted in table (1). At t
= 1 sec a capacitor bank with 30KVAr reactive power
switching and connect to system. Fig 6-c, illustrate RoCoPVS
of DG. From of this figure can be seen the RoCoPVS of load
voltage doesnt have mostly changing, therefore can be said
that islanding doesnt occurred and system can be work
without any problem.
4T

Fig. 4 The output result of load voltage for nominal load a) three
phase voltage b) three phase output current (p.u) c)RoCoNVS signal
of DG

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2nd International Conference on Advances in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (ICAEE'2013) March 17-18, 2013 Dubai (UAE)

V. CONCLUSION
This paper was proposed a new active technique based on
injection of RoCoPVS signal in order to detection of DGs
islanding conditions. The results indicate that the performance
of the proposed method is desirable because this proposed
technique easily detect islanding conditions from of other
switching situation without any mistake and making
appropriate decision to disconnect the system. Simulation
results are taken in MATLAB software and the results were
shown for various loads were shown and from of results that
is specified that this algorithm works well properly.
REFERENCES
[1]

[2]

Fig. 6 The output result of load voltage for capacitor switching a)

three phase voltage b) three phase output current (p.u) c)RoCoPVS
signal of DG

[3]

D.motor starting
One of the other switching condition that algorithm may be
mistake is motor starting. Initially the system works in a
connecting to the network mode with nominal load situation.
At t = 1 sec an induction motor with P = 50kw and
Q=75kVAr is started to work. Fig (7-a) and Fig 7-b, shows
the three phase load voltage and current respectively. From
Fig (7-c) that shows RoCoPVS, the value of this signal
doesnt have mostly change and system continues to its
working and doesnt mistake.

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

Fig. 7 The output result of load voltage for motor starting a) three
phase voltage b) three phase output current (p.u) c)RoCoPVS signal
of DG

158

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