Compatibility study of fuel-cell protective relaying and the local distribution system

• Published in: IEEE transactions on power delivery Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 1825 - 1829
• Main Authors: Staunton, R.H., Berry, J.B., Dunn, C.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.07.2005; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Commercialization; Construction; Device 32; distribution; Dynamical systems; Dynamics; Electric power generation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; fuel cell; Fuel cells; Hardware; harmonics; Loads (forces); Miscellaneous; Power engineering and energy; Power generation; Power grids; Power networks and lines; Power system dynamics; Power systems; Protective; Protective relaying; Reactive power; Relaying; Protective device; Power system harmonics; Power system stability; Instrumentation; Relay protection; Distributed power generation; distribution; Power system faults; Damage prevention; harmonics; protective relaying; Electrical network; Device 32; Energy quality; Harmonic distortion; Power factor; Electric power production; Compatibility; Distribution network; Fuel cell; Dynamic load
• ISSN: 0885-8977; 1937-4208
• DOI: 10.1109/TPWRD.2005.848651

The goal of this study was to characterize the compatibility between the protective relaying system of a fully commercialized, 200-kW fuel cell and the local electric power system. This study was motivated by the fact that for several reasons, distribution utility engineers are uncomfortable with the "synthesized" protective relaying and hardware that is generally provided in distributed-generation (DG) systems. This study collected power grid disturbance electrical data and event-related, building-load electrical data over a period of six months. The study dealt with a larger-than-expected number of interruptions to grid-connect power generation. Problems relating primarily to load tracking and also to low power factor, complex load balance dynamics, and possible harmonic-distortion-induced instrumentation error produced some valuable conclusions and several recommendations that would be useful for companies interested in installing a grid-connected DG system.