Multi-agent dual strategy based adaptive protection for microgrids

Abstract This paper presents an adaptive protection dual strategy based on Relay Agents distributed along strategic locations of a microgrid. The architecture is based on the application of Relay Agents and three additional agents named Selectivity, Configurator, and Coordinator, executed in a microgrid central controller. The multi-agent strategy is divided in two complementary approaches, named online and offline. The online approach operates on fast protection, centralizing key information and selecting actions based on expert systems, thus requiring a communication infrastructure to eventually operate circuit breakers. The offline approach works as a backup protection in case of communication failures and delays, operating by adjusting relay settings in real time. The dual multi-agent protection strategy has been simulated to verify the performance of microgrid protection both in connected and isolated modes.