Protection Coordination of MV/LV hybrid AC/DC Test Facility: Real-Time Simulations

The research project MISSION (Multivector Integrated Smart Systems and Intelligent microgrids for accelerating the energy transitiON) has recently funded the development of new demonstrator features in RSE’s Distributed Energy Resource Test Facility (DER-TF) to validate a MV/LV hybrid AC/DC smart-energy grid. The enhancement of the infrastructure will allow the development and the testing of an innovative logic for the detection, identification and counterfeeding of MV distribution network faulty feeders exploiting the DC front-end converter. The paper presents three different aspects regarding the ongoing activities on the protection and control systems of the DER-TF: i) preliminary simulations of the DC front-end converter in fault condition and during the resynchronization procedure with the main grid; ii) laboratory relay testing of the protection unit installed in the facility; iii) real-time simulations with one protection unit in the loop to verify the protection coordination system.