Optimal overcurrent relay coordination using genetic algorithms

This paper presents an intelligent approach for overcurrent relaying coordination design. Due to a powerful search scheme of the selected intelligent method, genetic algorithms (GA), digital relays are well coordinated to satisfy a large number of constraints, which are complicated over the ability of the conventional relay setting. The proposed scheme was demonstrated through a 6-bus power system, in which fourteen digital overcurrent relays were situated to be coordinated smartly. Also, the results obtained from GA were compared with those obtained by applying an efficient non-linear quasi-Newton method. It strongly confirms the effectiveness of the proposed method.