Custom innovations for fault detection in renewable power grids

Custom innovations for fault detection in renewable power grids
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 01, 2024

As renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind generators become more integral to tomorrow's power grids, new innovations in fault detection are essential. NJIT Associate Professor Joshua Taylor and his team are leading the charge to adapt these technologies for the evolving landscape.

Traditional power grids rely on fault detection methods suited for synchronous generation, such as gas power plants. These methods, however, fall short when applied to inverter-based renewable energy systems. In synchronous grids, faults are easily detectable due to abrupt changes in voltage, allowing industrial relays to act like circuit breakers, stopping power flow swiftly.

"In the event of a fault, like a lightning strike, switches open to de-energize the fault and then close again, restoring normal operation," explained Taylor from NJIT's electrical and computer engineering department. "That brief flicker of lights during a storm is often the result of these switches working to clear faults."

However, inverter-based renewable energy sources present unique challenges. Fault currents in these systems can be minimal, complicating detection. Moreover, the diverse programming of inverters from different manufacturers means they may behave differently under fault conditions.

"If a significant portion of the grid is powered by inverters, the fault currents can become unpredictable, leading to potential errors in fault detection," Taylor noted.

To address this, Taylor, alongside Alejandro Dominguez-Garcia from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, are spearheading research funded by the National Science Foundation, with each receiving $275,000. Their approach involves adding a perturbation or asymmetry to the line, creating a signal that circuits can reliably recognize.

"This problem involves applying mathematical principles to create new detection schemes," Taylor and Dominguez-Garcia wrote in their proposal. Taylor added, "While this isn't pure mathematics, it incorporates theoretical elements that could offer new insights into fault detection across various systems."

The research team plans to have a doctoral student at NJIT work on formulating the design problem, while a counterpart in Illinois will focus on software modeling for three-phase power grids. Illinois will also provide access to a testing laboratory that simulates the grid. Taylor is optimistic that both students will commence their work in the spring 2025 semester.