The proposition of a multiagent system for adaptive protection of a distribution system

The increasing consumption demand, the usual structures of the Distribution Systems (DSs) have experienced an expressive insertion of Distributed Generators (DGs). Depending on the resulting topology, these new DSs form microgrids in order to supply the demand demanded by certain loads against specific situations. However, the inclusion of DGs may cause adverse effects to DS, such as in the associated conventional protection system. In this context, this research brings the proposition of a Multiagent System (MAS) applied to the adaptive protection of a microgrid. This proposition was validated via simulations in the Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) using RSCAD software. For the research, the 13-bar distribution system of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) was simulated in the presence of photovoltaic generation connected in one of its bars. On this modified system, several different short-circuit situations have been applied. The results of the simulation and the resulting analyzes indicate that the use of a MAS will be quite effective in the proposed adaptive protection.