2009 Pacific-Asia Conference on Circuits,Communications and System

Power Equations and Non-Detection Zone of Passive Islanding Detection and

Protection Method for Grid Connected Photovoltaic Generation System

Zengqiang Mi, Fei Wang

Key Laboratory of Power System Protection and Dynamic Security Monitoring and Control under Ministry of Education
North China Electric Power University
Baoding 071003, China
e-mail: wangfei.ncepu@gmail.com

Abstract—Islanding detection and protection is an important
concern for grid connected photovoltaic (PV) power generation
system due to personnel and equipment safety. Over/Under
Voltage Protection (OVP/UVP) and Over/Under Frequency
Protection (OFP/UFP) are basical inverter resident passive
islanding detection method (IDM) for detecting an islanding
condition by monitor parameters in Point of Common
Coupling (PCC) such as voltage amplitude and frequency and
then cause the inverter to shut down when there is sufficient
transition from normal specified conditions. The real and
reactive power equations and Non-Detection Zone (NDZ) of
OVP/UVP and OFP/UFP methods for grid connected PV
system are derived and analyzed in this paper. Analyses show
that the behavior of the system at the time of disconnection will
depend on the imbalance power at the instant before the switch
opens to form the island, these results also indicate the NDZ of
OVP/UVP and OFP/UFP methods is considerable large and
the reaction times for these protective methodologies may be
variable or unpredictable.
condition by monitor parameters in Point of Common
Coupling (PCC) such as voltage amplitude and frequency
and then cause the inverter to shut down when there is
sufficient transition from normal specified conditions. Once
the voltage level or frequency at the PCC exceeds the preset
normal range, the situation is regarded as utility malfunction.
The inverter is forced to be shut down to prevent lasting
islanding operation.
II. GRID CONNECTED PV SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
Grid connected PV inverters are required to have passive
islanding detection and protection methods that cause the PV
inverter to stop supplying power to the utility grid if the
voltage amplitude or the frequency of the point of common
coupling (PCC) between the local customer load and the
utility grid strays outside of prescribed limits.

Keywords-Photovoltaic system; grid connected; islanding

detection method; power equations; non-detection zone.

I. INTRODUCTION
Grid connected photovoltaic (PV) power generation
system becoms the popular type of distributed generation
(DG) due to the advantage of immediate and efficient
utilization. Clarifying the technical requirements for grid
connected and solving the problems such as anti-islanding
protection are very important issues for widespread
Figure 1. Grid connected PV power generation System
application of PV system.
Islanding is a condition in which a portion of the utility
These protection methods not only protect consumers
system, which contains both load and generation, is isolated
equipment but also serve as anti-islanding detection methods
from the remainder of the utility system and continues to
and generally implemented in the inverter program software.
operate. Generally, islanding is undesirable because it poses
It is usually assumed that the local load can be modeled as a
a safety hazard to utility service personnel and also it can
parallel RLC circuit because for most IDM some type of
lead to asynchronous reclosure which will damage the
RLC load that causes the most difficulty in detection[2]. The
equipments[1]. The isolation point is generally on the low-
grid connected PV power generation system is shown in
voltage distribution line when an islanding condition exists,
Figure 1.
but islanding may also occur on the higher voltage
PV system consisting of a PV array and a inverter, is
distribution or transmission lines when large numbers of PV
connected to the local utility system at Node “a”. Power
and other DG sources are present[2]. Over/Under Voltage
flows show in figure 1, node “a” is the PCC between the
Protection (OVP/UVP) and Over/Under Frequency
utility grid and PV inverter. The utility grid voltage source at
Protection (OFP/UFP) are basical inverter resident passive
the right can be disconnected from node “a” by the switch S2
islanding detection method (IDM) for detecting an islanding
(breaker/recloser). A local load is also connected at the PCC.

978-0-7695-3614-9/09 $25.00 © 2009 IEEE 360

DOI 10.1109/PACCS.2009.167
When the the utility grid is connected (breaker is closed), the When grid is disconnected, the voltage and frequency
real and reactive power P + jQ flows from the PV inverter to will be forced to new values Vi , fi , if the inverter is
node “a”, and Pload + jQload flows from node “a” to the local controlled as constant power mode, it was shown in Figure 2.
load. The power flows from utility grid to node “a” are Passive islanding detection methods are based on the
∆P+j∆Q. These power equations are shown in formula (1). power mismatch ∆P+j∆Q and the thresholds of OVP/UVP
(Vmax, Vmin) and OFP/UFP (fmax, fmin). Once the change of the
Pload = ΔP + P voltage frequency of PCC exceeds outside of the prescribed
limits, the OFP/UFP, OVP/UVP are triggered the switch S1
Qload = ΔQ + Q (1) to prevent islanding. If the change doesn’t exceeds outside of
prescribed limits, the islanding will occur and the
The amplitude and phase angle of RLC parallel load corresponding scope of ∆P and ∆Q is defined as the Non-
impedance, resonant frequency f0, quality factor Qf are Detection Zone (NDZ). The relationship between the power
defined in formula (2). mismatch and the thresholds of OVP/UVP, OFP/UFP (Vmax,
Vmin , fmax, fmin) can be derived as formula (3).
1 R
Z = =
2 2 1 1
1 ⎛ 1 ⎞
− ωC ⎟
⎛ f f ⎞ −
f i − f 2π (L + ΔL )(C + ΔC ) 2π LC
+⎜ 1 + Q 2f ⎜⎜ 0 − ⎟⎟
⎝ ωL
2
R ⎠ ⎝ f f 0 ⎠
=
⎡ ⎛ 1 ⎡ ⎛ f0 f ⎞⎤ f 1
⎞⎤
ϕ load = tan −1
⎢ R ⎜ ω L − ω C ⎟ ⎥ = tan
−1
⎢Q f ⎜⎜ − ⎟⎥
⎣ ⎝ ⎠⎦ ⎣ ⎝ f f 0 ⎟⎠ ⎦ 2π LC
1 C LC
where f0 = ， Qf = R (2) = −1 (3)
2π LC L (L + ΔL )(C + ΔC )
According to formula (2), the load phase angle versus
frequency characteristic curves of loads with different
quality factors Qf and different resonant frequencies f0. For a According to the thresholds of OFP/UFP (fmax, fmin), if
larger Qf , there is a larger variation of load phase angle for a fi within the thresholds , formula (4) must be met.
variation of the system frequency around f0.
Inaddition, the intersection in the load phase angle versus
frequency curves of zero phase angles always takes place at
f0. Also we can see that a load with f0<fg (fg=50Hz) is f min − f LC f max − f
≤ −1≤
capacitive at the grid rated frequency because the current
leads the voltage. Conversely, a load with f0 >fg is inductive
f (L + ΔL)(C + ΔC) f
at the grid rated frequency.
f min LC f max
−1≤ −1≤ −1
III. POWER EQUATIONS AND NDZ
Usually there is always some power mismatch ∆P+j∆Q
f (L + ΔL)(C + ΔC) f
between the PV inverter output and the RLC load. This f min LC f max
mismatched load can be represented by ∆R, ∆L, ∆C. Before ≤ ≤
the grid is disconnected, this power mismatch ∆P+j∆Q are f (L + ΔL)(C + ΔC) f
supplied by the grid like it shoown in Figure.1.
2 2
⎛ f min ⎞ LC ⎛f ⎞
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ≤ ≤ ⎜⎜ max ⎟⎟
⎝ f ⎠ (L + ΔL)(C + ΔC) ⎝ f ⎠
2 2
⎛ f min ⎞ LC ⎛f ⎞
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ≤ ≤ ⎜⎜ max ⎟⎟ (4)
⎝ f ⎠ LC + LΔC + ΔLC + ΔLΔC ⎝ f ⎠

Formula (4) can be simplified with the condition

∆L·∆C=0.

Figure 2. PV System disconnected

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 Approximatively, ∆L·∆C=0, ∆L/L=0,
∵ ΔL ⋅ ΔC = 0
⎛ f ⎞
2
LC ⎛ f ⎞
2
∵ Δ L ⋅ Δ C = 0, Δ L / L = 0
∴ ⎜⎜ min ⎟⎟ ≤ ≤ ⎜⎜ max ⎟⎟
f LC + L Δ C + Δ LC ΔQ ⎛ ΔC ΔL ⎞
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ f ⎠ ∴ = −Q f ⎜ + ⎟ (8 )
2 2 P ⎝ C L ⎠
⎛ f ⎞ LC + L Δ C + Δ LC ⎛ f ⎞
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ≤ ≤ ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ f max ⎠ LC ⎝ f min ⎠
2 2 Therefore, form formula (5) and formula (8), the NDZ of
⎛ f ⎞ ΔC ΔL ⎛ f ⎞ reactive power is
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ≤ 1 + + ≤ ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ f max ⎠ C L ⎝ f min ⎠
2 2 ⎛ ⎛ f ⎞
2
⎞ ΔQ ⎛ ⎛ f ⎞
2
⎞
⎛ f ⎞ ΔC ΔL ⎛ f ⎞ Q f ⎜1 − ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ⎟≤ ≤ Q f ⎜1 − ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ⎟ (9 )
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ − 1 ≤ + ≤ ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ − 1 (5) ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
⎝ f max ⎠ C L ⎝ f min ⎠ ⎝ ⎝ f max ⎠ ⎠
P
⎝ ⎝ f min ⎠ ⎠
From the reactive power mismatch ∆Q, the relationship
Analogously the NDZ of active power is
between ∆L, ∆C and ∆Q is shown in formula (6).
2 2
⎛ V ⎞ ΔP ⎛ V ⎞
⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ − 1 ≤ ≤ ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ − 1 (10 )
Δ Q = V 2 ⎜⎜ − 2 π (C + Δ C )⎟⎟
⎝ 2 π f (L + Δ L ) ⎠ ⎝ V max ⎠ P ⎝ V min ⎠
⎛ ⎞ So the NDZ of OVP/UVP and OFP/UFP methods are
⎜ ⎟
1 ⎛ Δ C ⎞⎟ shown in figure 3.
= V 2⎜ − 2π C ⎜ 1 + ⎟
⎜ ⎛ ΔL ⎞ ⎝ C ⎠⎟
⎜ 2 π fL ⎜ 1 + ⎟ ⎟
⎝ ⎝ L ⎠ ⎠
QL ⎛ Δ C ⎞
= − Q C ⎜1 + ⎟ (6)
ΔL ⎝ C ⎠
1+
L

According to the definition of quality factor Qf

Q L QC
Qf = = (7 )
P P

the normalized ∆Q is Figure 3. The NDZ of OVP/UVP and OFP/UFP methods

In figure 3, it has been shown that the larger the power

ΔQ Q f ⎛ ΔC ⎞ imbalance, ∆P and ∆Q, in local generation and power
= − Q f ⎜1 + ⎟ consumption in the islanded system prior to grid
P ΔL ⎝ C ⎠
1 + disconnection, the larger are the variations in the voltage and
L
frequency of the voltage at the PCC.
⎛ ⎞ There will be insufficient change in the amplitude or
⎜ Δ ⎟
⎜ 1 ⎛ C ⎞
= Q − ⎜1 + ⎟⎟ frequency of voltage to activate any of the OVP/UVP or
⎜1 + ΔL
f
⎝ C ⎠⎟ OFP/UFP devices if ∆P=∆Q=0 when the utility disconnects.
⎜ ⎟
⎝ L ⎠ This is the case that the PV inverter output power is matched
⎛ Δ L ⎞⎛ ΔC ⎞ to the load power requirement, and the load has a unity
1 − ⎜1 + ⎟⎜1 + ⎟
= Q ⎝ L ⎠⎝ C ⎠ power factor at the line frequency.
f
ΔL Further more, ∆P and ∆Q do not have to be exactly equal
1 +
L to zero in this case because the magnitude of the utility
voltage can deviate slightly from rating values. Therefore the
thresholds for the four over/under protection devices cannot
⎛ ΔC ΔL ΔC ΔL ⎞
− ⎜ + + ⋅ ⎟ be set too small or the PV inverter will be subject to false
= Q ⎝ C L C L ⎠
actions.
f
ΔL
1 +
L

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 IV. CONCLUSIONS [12] G. Kern, “SunSine300: Utility interactive AC module anti-islanding
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connected PV system are derived and analyzed in this paper.
Analyses show that the behavior of the system at the time of BIOGRAPHIES
disconnection will depend on the imbalance power at the Zengqiang Mi received the B.S. degree and the M.S. degree in Electronic
instant before the switch opens to form the island, these Engineering from North China Electric Power University, China, in 1983
results also indicate the NDZ of OVP/UVP and OFP/UFP and 1989 respectively. He is a professor in North China Electric Power
University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China. His special fields of interest
methods is considerable large and the reaction times for included power system automation and protection.
these protective methodologies may be variable or Fei Wang received the B.S. degree from Hebei University, China, in 1993
unpredictable. and the M.S. degree from North China Electric Power University, China, in
These inverter resident passive methods are cost- 2005. Now he is studying for the Ph.D. degree in the Key Laboratory of
effective but their non-detection zone includes balanced Power System Protection and Dynamic Security Monitoring and Control
islands, which limits dependability. Inverter resident active under Ministry of Education, North China Electric Power University,
Baoding, Hebei Province, China. His present research interests are in
methods are effective and can detect balanced islands, but it power system automation, reactive power theory and DG.
will make the power quality worse. External methods are not
commonly used, but may be a solution of the future.
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