ANN Based Adaptive Relaying Scheme for Protection of Active Distribution Networks

This paper presents a new adaptive relaying scheme for the protection of active distribution networks, i.e. protection of distribution networks connected with distributed generation/dispersed generation (DG). The traditionally radial distribution systems may no longer be radial in the presence of DGs, which can hinder the existing co-ordination between the protective relays. This paper addresses the relay co-ordination issues encountered due to the presence of DGs in the network and explores the application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) as a solution for the protection of active distribution networks. The proposed method, based on ANN, shows that the issues regarding relay co-ordination can be overcome and only the faulted section can be isolated precisely.