Towards Fast Fault Detection in Power Systems with High Level of Renewable Generation: a Differential Geometry Approach

Integrating renewable energy in distribution or transmission power systems poses a challenge to traditional protection methods. Photovoltaic and wind energy generation is connected to the grid through power electronic converters. The converters do not respond to faults in the same way as traditional generation units based on synchronous generators. It is known that distance protection has issues detecting different faults when converter-based generation is presented in the grid. Therefore, this paper analyses the problem using a new geometric interpretation of unbalanced faults in power systems with converter-based resources. Simulation results of a grid with 100% wind farm generation have been used. The paper shows characteristics based on geometric algebra and differential geometry for an unbalanced fault.