Evaluation of Distance Protection Responses in AC Power System With Converter Interface

Converter interface is essential for asynchronous interconnection and renewable energy integration to the power grid. The deployment of power electronics converters in the AC power system raises some significant technical challenges. One of these challenges is the potential impact of converters on the performance of AC distance protection relays during abnormal conditions. This paper evaluates the distance protection relays' performance on an AC network where the converter is interfaced. A case study based on AL-FADHLI substation (back-to-back converters) with three different scenarios is examined. The converter model is developed using MATLAB Simulink in order to investigate its effect on the distance protection relays. The outcomes of the paper emphasize that when the converters at the interfacing point were the dominant source of power, the distance relay operation will be affected during fault conditions. Other than that, there was no technical problem noticed on the performance of the distance protection relays.