Islanding

Megha Dwivedi
15MEE004

Islanding
Islandingrefers to the condition in which
adistributedgenerator(DG) continues to
power a location even though
electricalgridpower
from
the
electricutilityisnolongerpresent.

DR

Utility
network

By using small-scale generation, there is a

possibility of providing supply to the
distribution line.

Issues with islanding

1) Powerquality:
-) The power system operator is responsible for the quality of
powerprovidedtoallcustomers.
-) Voltageandfrequencylevels.
-) This situation presents high risk to the customers equipment
yettheutilityhasnocontroloverthem

(ii)

Personnel Safety

- The most severe safety hazard caused by

islanding
- Conventional power system.
- DG installation
- Utility personnel sent out for maintenance
work may get in contact with the live part of
equipment

(iii)

Out of Synchronism Recloser

- 85%-90% of
temporary.

overhead

line

faults

are

- An auto re-closer is commonly employed in

a distribution network to restore service
after fault events.
- Unsynchronized DGs
- Mal operation and risk of failure of rotating
machines

- Increased use of DGs, leads to their

increasing impact on the power system
voltage and frequency stability.
- Avoidance of nuisance
system disturbance.

tripping

during

- Necessity of anti islanding algorithm, to

differentiate
between
true
islanding
situations & other system disturbances.

Characteristics of Island detection

method
An islanding situation should be detected soon after the island is
formed,hencebasicfeaturesofdetectionmethodareasunder:
1) Dependabilityofprotection
2) Securityofprotection
3)Quickresponse-Anauto-reclosertypicallyreclosesafteratime
delayofabout3to30s.
Thetypicalislandingdetectiontimerecommendedis0.5s.

Methods of Islanding
Detection
Monitoringtheparametersofutilityandsmall-scalesources

Islanding
detection

Remotedetection
technique

Localdetection
technique

Passivedetection
technique

Activedetection
technique

Hybriddetection
technique

Remote Technique
Remotetechniqueisbasedonthecommunicationbetween
utilitiesandothersmall-scalesources.
(i)Powerlinesignallingscheme
In this scheme, carrier signal is used along with power
frequencysignal.
In the sub-station, a signal generator is used ,coupled to
networktocontinuouslybroadcastasignal.
DRs are equipped with signal detector to receive the
transimittedsignal.

Remote Technique
- Distributed resources (DR) are equipped with a signal
detectorinordertoreceivethetransmittedsignal.
-Duringnormalcondition,DRreceivessignal
andhence,thesystemisconnected.

Advantages:
(i) It is simple in control.
(ii)It has higher reliability.
Disadvantages:
- Not viable economically for non-radial
system.

(ii) Transfer trip scheme

Carrier signal from remote end is accessed at local end
withthehelpofanycommunicationmedia.
Thisschememonitorsthestatusofallthecircuitbreakers,
isolatorsandre-closersifany.
-SendsasignaltotheDRs,incaseoftrippingofCB.

Advantages:
1. Itisthecommonestschemeusedforislanding
detection.
2.Implementationofthisschemeiseasy,andcost
effective.
Disadvantages:
1. Slightlycomplextooperate&controlofschemeis
difficult.

Local Technique
Based on the measurement of system parameters of the
small-scalesources,suchasvoltageandfrequency.
Itisclassifiedasfollows:

(i) Passive detection technique

(ii)Active Detection Technique

Local Technique
(I) Passive Detection Technique
Worksonthemeasurementofsystemparameterssuchasvariations
involtage,frequency.
(-) Thedifferencebetweenanislandingandnon-islandingsituationis
basedonthethresholdssetfortheseparameters.
(-) Large non-detectable zone.
- Passive detection techniques such as rate of change of output
power,rateofchangeoffrequency,rateofchangeoffrequency
overpower,voltageunbalance.

Advantages:
This technique is very fast and does not introduce
disturbancesinthesystem.
-Ithasashortdetectiontime.
- Highlyaccuratewhenitslargemismatchbetween
generationandload.
Disadvantages
1. Nuisancetripping.
2. Difficulttodetectwhenloadandgenerationmatches.

(ii) ActiveDetectionTechnique
Basedon,smalldisturbanceleadstosignificantchangein
systemparameters,whenislanded.Changeisnegligible
whensourcesareconnectedtogrid.
Advantages
(-) Works fine for perfect match between
generation and load
(-) Small non-detection zone.

Disadvantages
-Ithasaslowdetectiontime.
-Thereisapossibilityofdegradationofpowerqualityand
systemstability.

(iii) Hybrid Detection Technique

Hybriddetectiontechniqueusestheconceptofbothactive
andpassivedetectionmethods.
Someofthehybriddetectiontechniquesareasfollows:
1.Techniquebasedonpositivefeedback&voltage
imbalance
2.Techniquebasedonvoltageandreactivepowershift.

Local Technique
(iii) Hybrid Detection Technique
Advantages
1.Perturbationisintroducedonlywhenislandingis
suspected.
2.Thistechniquehassmallnon-detectionzone.
Disadvantage
1.Ithaslongislandingdetectiontimeowing tothe
implementationofbothactiveandpassivetechniques.

Islanding is considered undesirable.

The proper use and setting of anti- islanding
controls is one of the more important issues for
DG installations.
IEEE 1547-2003 standards recommend a
maximum delay of 2 s for the detection of an
unintentional islanding.
IEEE has a new standard IEEE 1547 which will
address all DG sizes and technologies.
Most

utilities

and

many

state

energy

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