Assessing SMS and PJD Schemes of Anti-Islanding with Varying Quality Factor

When a particular zone of the distribution network containing an embedded generator is disconnected from the main supply grid, yet the generator continues to operate with normal voltage and frequency to feed power to the isolated section, islanding is said to occur. In a distributed power system, islanding may occur at different possible zones consisting of distribution feeders, substations and voltage levels as long as the isolated zone is found to operate independently of the main grid but remained energized by the distributed generation unit. To ensure safety and reliability, it is necessary to detect islanding condition as quickly as possible by using anti-islanding algorithms. Among the available islanding prevention methods, slip mode frequency shift (SMS) and phase jump detection (PJD) schemes are very common and have numerous advantages over others. This paper presents detailed discussion and comparison of the characteristics of the various anti-islanding schemes. Both SMS and PJD techniques are examined in detail through design and simulation. In the islanding situation with quality factor range (0.1les Q
_f
les10), load voltage waveforms are analyzed and plotted. Both the methods are assessed in terms of detection times with different Q
_f
's. The results are complying with IEEE standard specifications and show that the two developed algorithms could prevent islanding more consistently.