Data Mining and Neural Networks Based Self-Adaptive Protection Strategies for Distribution Systems with DGs and FCLs

In light of the development of renewable energy and concerns over environmental protection, distributed generations (DGs) have become a trend in distribution systems. In addition, fault current limiters (FCLs) may be installed in such systems to prevent the short-circuit current from exceeding the capacity of the power apparatus. However, DGs and FCLs can lead to problems, the most critical of which is miscoordination in protection system. This paper proposes overcurrent protection strategies for distribution systems with DGs and FCLs. Through the proposed approach, relays with communication ability can determine their own operating states with the help of an operation setting decision tree and topology-adaptive neural network model based on data processed through continuous wavelet transform. The performance and effectiveness of the proposed protection strategies are verified by the simulation results obtained from various system topologies with or without DGs, FCLs, and load variations.