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AbstractIn this study, we analyze the coordination of
protective relays between a primary feeder and an
interconnecting transformer grounded by using a
superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) of a wind farm.
Most wind farms and utility systems are interconnected by a
transformer. The winding configuration of most interconnecting
transformers is wye groundeddelta. Therefore, the utility-side
grounding of the interconnecting transformer can support a new
single line-to-ground fault current path. Because the coordination
plan of a protective relay in a power distribution system does not
consider the new fault path, an unintended relay operation can
occur. To overcome this problem, an SFCL is applied to the
ground connection of the interconnecting transformer. We
analyze the effect of the resistive SFCLs on the coordination of the
ground faults using time-domain transient simulation software
(PSCAD/EMTDC).

Index TermsInterconnecting transformers, line-to-ground
fault, protective relay coordination, superconducting fault
current limiter (SFCL)
I. INTRODUCTION
NTEREST in renewable energy has increased because of the
concerns related to climate change and the exhaustion of fuel
resources. Most utility systems follow a guide, such as IEEE std.
1547, for a stable interconnection between renewable energy
generators and power distribution systems [1]. Because a power
distribution system is designed without any consideration of
renewable energy generators, some problems such as those
related to power quality, voltage regulation, and protective
relay coordination can occur. Recently, the application of
superconducting fault current limiters (SFCLs) for a stable
operation using a wind farm was presented in [2] and [3].
Because the installation of a wind farm can increase the
short-circuit current, the application of SFCLs can prevent the
existing circuit breakers from an increased short-circuit current.
A fault-current limiting method based on the application of an
SFCL to the neutral line of a power system is suggested in [4].
However, most wind farms are interconnected by a transformer
whose winding configuration is normally wye grounded (utility
side)delta (wind farm side). This interconnecting transformer
supports a new ground source, which becomes a zero-sequence

Manuscript received 12 September 2011. This work was supported by the
Soongsil University Research Fund of 2011.
S.-M. Cho, H.-S. Shin, and J.-C. Kim are with the School of Electrical
Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul, Korea (e-mail: dannyone@ssu.ac.kr;
shs8828@ssu.ac.kr; jckim@ssu.ac.kr).
current path [5]. Therefore, the path of the single line-to-ground
fault current becomes relatively complex. The application of
SFCLs to a neutral line also increases the complexity of the
protective relay coordination for a single line-to-ground fault.
The SFCL can used for decreasing the short-circuit current,
which is increased by the wind farm, and for coordinating the
protective relays for a single line-to-ground fault.
In this study, the effect of an interconnecting transformer
grounded by SFCL is analyzed by time-domain simulation
software (PSCAD/EMTDC). Section II briefly describes the
modeling of the resistive SFCL and the power distribution
system interconnected with a wind farm by a transformer. In
Section III, the effect of the SFCL and the wind farm on the
protective relay coordination is analyzed. Finally, the
conclusions are presented in Section IV.
II. MODELING OF SFCL AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WITH
WIND FARM
A. Modeling of Resistive SFCL

The SFCL prevents the short-circuit current from increasing
in magnitude by its rapid current limiting ability. In this paper,
we have used a mathematical expressive equation, which was
previously verified through the experiments, in
PSCAD/EMTDC modeling, as given by (1), (2), and (3).

( )
( )
1
2
0
0 1
1 exp
SFCL n
F
t t
R t R t t t
T
( | |
= <
( |
( \
(1)
( ) ( )
1 1 1 2 SFCL n
R t a t t R t t t = + < (2)
( ) ( )
2 2 2 2 SFCL
R t a t t b t t = + (3)

where R
n
and T
F
indicate the convergence resistance and the
time constant, respectively. t
0
, t
1
, and t
2
denote the starting time
of the quench, starting time of the first recovery, and starting
time of the second recovery, respectively. a
1
, a
2
, b
1
, and b
2
are
the coefficients of the first-order linear function used for
representing the experimentally obtained recovery
characteristics of the SFCL [6].

B. Modeling of Power Distribution System with Wind Farm

Fig. 1 shows a power distribution system with a wind farm.
Study on Coordination of Protective Relays
between Primary Feeder and Interconnecting
Transformer Grounded by SFCL of Wind Farm
Sung-Min Cho, Hee-Sang Shin, and Jae-Chul Kim
I
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[335] 1EP3-2

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The nominal voltage of this system is 22.9 kV. The active
power output of the wind farm is 8 MW. The model of the wind
farm is a fully rated converter-based model and is developed on
the basis of [7]. Three circuit breakers (CBs) are installed in
feeder-1 and feeder-2. The main purpose of CB1 and CB2 is to
clear the feeder faults denoted as fault-1 and fault-2 in Fig. 1.
CB3 is used for clearing the fault in the wind farm. The
timecurrent curve (TCC) characteristic of all CBs is based on
[8], [9]. Detailed data of the power distribution system shown
in Fig. 1 are summarized in Table I.


Fig. 1. Power distribution system with a wind farm.

TABLE I POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM DATA
Data
Source 154 kV, j1.75%
M. Tr.
154/22.9 kV, 45 MVA, j20%
NGR: j5%
Interconnecting Tr. 22.9/0.44 kV, 20 MVA, j6%
Wind farm
8 MW, Power factor: 1.0
Fully rated converter-based system
Line impedance
(ACSR 160 [mm
2
])
Z
1
= 3.86 + j7.42%/km
Z
0
= 9.87 + j22.68%/km
Feeder length
Feeder-1: 5 km
Feeder-2: 4 km
Fault location
Fault-1: 5 km from CB1
Fault-2: 2 km from CB2
System base 100 MVA, 22.9 kV

The effect of the wind farm on the single line-to-ground fault
current caused by fault-1 is shown in Fig. 2.


Fig. 2. Feeder-1 current due to single line-to-ground fault at fault-1.

If CB2 is opened, the ground source is only the neutral point
of the main transformer (Mtr.). However, because the
interconnecting transformer supports the new ground source,
the path of the single line-to-ground fault current is added in
parallel. Therefore, the interconnecting transformer increases
the single line-to-ground fault current by decreasing the
impedance of the zero-sequence circuit [10]. The increase in
the single line-to-ground fault current depends on the
impedance of feeder-2 and that of the interconnecting
transformer.

III. CASE STUDY RESULTS
A. Case 1: Effect of SFCL on Fault Current due to Fault-1

The effect of the SFCL applied to the ground point of the
interconnecting transformer is analyzed by using the
PSCAD/EMTDC model of the SFCL and a power distribution
system. Fig. 3 shows the feeder currents due to the single
line-to-ground fault without the SFCL application. The single
line-to-ground fault is simulated at 1.0 s in feeder-1. If the
interconnecting transformer is not used, the single
line-to-ground fault current does not flow through feeder-2.
However, because the interconnecting transformer supports the
ground source, CB3 as well as CB1 is tripped by the fault
current in feeder-2. The power output of the wind farm is
unnecessarily interrupted by the feeder fault. If the impedance
of feeder-2 and that of the interconnecting transformer decrease
further, the fault current in feeder-2 increases. On the other
hand, if the impedance is sufficiently high to reduce the
feeder-2 fault current to a value less than the pick-up current of
CB3, the wind farm can be operated continuously.


Fig. 3. Feeder currents due to the single line-to-ground fault at fault-1 without
SFCL. (a) Feeder-1 current. (b) Feeder-2 current.

Fig. 4 shows the feeder current due to the single
line-to-ground fault at feeder-1when a 6 SFCL is applied to
the ground point of the interconnecting transformer. Because
the fault current at feeder-2 is reduced by the SFCL, CB3 is not
tripped. CBs are tripped upon the detection of a zero-sequence
current, which is the vector summation of three phase currents
[9], [10]. The zero-sequence current variance due to the
application of the SFCL is shown in Fig. 5. The application of
the 6 SFCL reduces the zero-sequence current in feeder-2
and ensures that this current does not exceed the pick-up
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[335] 1EP3-2

3
current of CB3. Therefore, the wind farm can operate
continuously during the fault period. By applying the SFCL to
the ground line of the interconnecting transformer, we can
prevent the unintended tripping of CBs. Fig. 6 shows the active
power output of the wind farm.


Fig. 4. Feeder currents due to the single line-to-ground fault at fault-1 when a 6
SFCL is applied to the ground point of the interconnecting transformer. (a)
Feeder-1 current. (b) Feeder-2 current.


Fig. 5. Zero-sequence currents due to the single line-to-ground fault at fault-1.
(a) Feeder-1 zero-sequence currents. (b) Feeder-2 zero-sequence currents.


Fig. 6. Active power output of the wind farm.

B. Case 2: Effect of SFCL on Fault Current due to Fault-2

In this case, the protective relay coordination for the fault
current by fault-2 shown in Fig. 1 is studied. CB2 must be
tripped by the detection of the zero-sequence current through
the ground point of the Mtr. CB3 also must be tripped by the
detection of the single line-to-ground fault current or the
anti-island. If CB2 is opened, the wind farm is operated in the
island mode. The unintended island operation should be
stopped by detecting the abnormal voltage magnitude or
frequency [1].
Fig. 7 shows the currents through CB2 and CB3 and the
travel signal of the over-current ground relay (OCGR) of CB2
and CB3 in the case that the SFCL is not applied to the ground
point of the interconnecting transformer. Because of the TCC
characteristic of each OCGR, CB3 is tripped earlier than CB2.
Because the single line-to-ground fault current is continued
after the CB3 trip, the fact that CB3 is tripped earlier than CB2
does not cause any problems with respect to the protection
coordination. On the other hand, if CB2 is tripped earlier than
CB3, the wind farm is operated in the island mode, in which the
over/under voltage or frequency relays generate a trip signal to
CB3. Therefore, the sequence of the tripping of CBs is not
important with respect to protective relay coordination.


Fig. 7. Feeder currents and travel signals of OCGR without SFCL. (a) Feeder-2
current through CB2 and travel signal of CB2. (b) Wind farm output current
through CB3 and travel signal of CB3.


Fig. 8. Feeder currents and travel signals of OCGR with a 6 resistive SFCL.
(a) Feeder-2 current through CB2 and travel signal of CB2. (b) Wind farm
output current through CB3 and travel signal of CB3.
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[335] 1EP3-2

4

Fig. 8 shows the currents measured in CB2 and CB3 and the
travel signal of OCGRs. The single line-to-ground fault current
through CB3 is decreased by the application of the SFCL.
Hence, CB3 is tripped at a later time, as compared to the CB3
trip operation shown in Fig. 7(b). If the impedance of the SFCL
is sufficiently high to decrease the fault current to a value less
than the pick-up current of OCGR, the OCGR is not operated.
However, the protection element of the anti-island such as the
over/under voltage and frequency will detect an island
operation after the CB2 trip. Therefore, the application of SFCL
to the ground point of the interconnecting transformer does not
cause any problems with respect to the protective relay
coordination between the CBs
From the abovementioned case studies, we conclude that the
application of an SFCL to the ground point of an
interconnecting transformer can control the single
line-to-ground fault current for stable protective relay
coordination. Fig. 9 shows the zero-sequence component of the
equivalent circuit of the model power distribution system
shown in Fig. 1. Because of the impedance of the SFCL (Z
SFCL
),
the feeder-2 current decreases; further, the unnecessary tripping
of CB2 and CB3 can be prevented. If the impedance of the main
transformer (Z
MTR
) or the ground impedance of the main
transformer (Z
n
) is higher than the impedance of feeder-2 (Z
F2
)
or that of the interconnecting transformer (Z
Itr
), an increase in
the impedance of the SFCL can help achieve effective
protective relay coordination.


Fig. 9. Zero-sequence component of equivalent circuit of the model power
distribution system.

IV. CONCLUSIONS
In this study, we analyzed the effect of the application of an
SFCL to the ground point of the interconnecting transformer of
the wind farm on protective relay coordination. Because the
interconnecting transformer supports the new ground source,
the complexity of the single line-to-ground fault current path
increases. Hence, an unintended trip of CB can occur. This CB
operation interrupts the power generation of the wind farm.
Therefore, the application of an SFCL to the neutral point of an
interconnecting transformer is presented to solve the protective
relay coordination problem and is simulated by time-domain
software (PSCAD/EMTDC).
Through two case studies, we confirmed that the application
of an SFCL to the neutral point of the interconnecting
transformer was an effective solution for protective relay
coordination.

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