A comprehensive method for break points finding based on expert system for protection coordination in power systems

Interconnected power systems are multi-loop structured. In such networks, the determination of settings for all overcurrent relays can be carried out in different forms and may be quite complicated. The main problem for coordination is the determination of starting points, i.e. the location of starting relays in the procedure for settings, which is referred to as break points. In this paper. a powerful approach based on expert system is applied. The rules of the expert system include network configuration, protection systems, fault levels. etc. The method is applied to two networks with different configurations, pilot protection and other protection systems. From the obtained results. it is reviled that the new method is efficient, accurate, comprehensive and more optimal than the previously used graph theory. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.