Power System Protection response under Geomagnetically Induced Currents
Moazzam Nazir, J.H.R. Enslin, Mohammad Babakmehr
Abstract
Geomagnetic Disturbances (GMDs) can cause the flow of Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs) in a power system. The GICs can affect the power systems reliability through maloperations of associated protection equipment. This can lead to a wide area system blackout, thus, augmenting the chances of a catastrophe. This paper analyses the influence of GICs on the most commonly utilized transmission system protection equipment that includes Current Transformers (CTs) and protection relays i.e. distance, differential, inverse-time over-current (ITOC) and undervoltage (UV) relays. The simulation is performed in PSCAD/EMTDC for a 230kV test transmission system to show the variation in performance of the associated protection equipment under influence of GICs. Some recommendations are also provided to avoid the chances of protection equipment maloperation due to GICs for enhanced grid reliability.