Power systems evolve towards more renewable and less conventional electricity supply. This, however, brings significant technical challenges, as conventional sources naturally provide system resilience. One of the key dimensions of this resilience is system strength, which is rapidly depleted with the phase-out of fossil-based synchronous generation. This paper commences by exploring the intricate steady- and dynamic-state aspects of system strength, and consequently elevated risks of voltage instability. A new holistic definition of system strength is further proposed. Considering the stability challenges of modern power systems, grid operators need to be aware of any vulnerable grid sections and dangerous operating scenarios to always ensure system security and stability. Nevertheless, the rising complexity of modelling and analysis of dynamics in modern power systems makes this task increasingly challenging. The large number of grid locations with complex inverter-based generation and load, paired with parameter uncertainty, make deterministic analytical analyses of voltage stability and system strength increasingly challenging and time-consuming. A novel data-driven voltage stability and system strength assessment method, termed Voltage Vulnerability Curves (VVCs), is hereby proposed to address these challenges. The method is designed to cut through the complexity of modern power systems’ dynamics and provide advanced system strength and voltage vulnerability insights.

The performance of existing protection methods for multi-terminal direct current systems depends on the availability and sizes of boundary components. To overcome the limitation, this paper proposes a non-unit DC line protection method based on the normalized backward traveling waves (BTWs) of the 1-mode voltage. Firstly, traveling wave propagation characteristics are analyzed, and a rationalization approach based on vector fitting is proposed. Next, the analytical expressions of normalized BTWs are derived, with the negative correlation between them and fault distance proved. Then, the derivative-free conjugate gradient algorithm is utilized for amplitude fitting and normalization calculation. Finally, a non-unit protection method using the normalized BTWs is developed. The performance is validated for both electromagnetic transient PSCAD/EMTDC and real-time digital RSCAD/RTDS simulation. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately identify faults with various fault resistances and locations without requiring boundary components and high sampling frequencies, and it is robust against noise disturbances.

Integrating renewable energy resources such as wind farms is an increasingly prominent trend for future power grids. However, the wind generator tower is consistently at risk of lightning strikes, putting the wind farms’ transformer at risk of damage by lightning transients traveling through the system. Various harmonic contents of the lightning transient can excite the transformer’s resonance frequencies, resulting in both terminal and internal overvoltages (OVs). To effectively safeguard transformers against resonance OVs, it is imperative to first identify the resonance points of the transformer. Following this, a protective method must be implemented to mitigate harmonic content magnitudes that contribute to resonance. This paper introduces a series-protection device comprising an air core reactor and suppressor resistance designed to protect the transformer. The research aims to provide solutions to safeguard wind farm transformers from both terminal and internal resonance OVs caused by lightning transients. The effectiveness of the protection device is assessed through analysis, simulation, and experiments conducted in a high-voltage laboratory setup.

This paper presents a comprehensive model for power transformers, by considering eddy current losses in both the core and conductors. This is achieved through a meticulous analytical approach that ensures high fidelity in representing the transformer's electromagnetic properties. The consideration of magnetic flux effects on inductance and resistance values significantly enhances the model's accuracy and validity. Traditional analytical methods often resort to simplified approaches due to the complexity of these calculations. The paper addresses these limitations by evaluating the eddy current losses in the core and conductors, and by providing a detailed understanding of each component's impact on transformer behavior. Furthermore, by considering the core and conductor effects on the magnetic field distribution, the model handles a wide range of frequencies, making it suitable for conducting comprehensive transient analysis. To validate the model, comparisons with the finite element method and empirical measurements are conducted. Additionally, a reduced-order transformer model is developed using admittance matrix reduction. This approach focuses on the nodes of interest, effectively eliminating not-observed nodes and reducing computational complexity without compromising accuracy. In this way, voltages at specific points of interest are computed efficiently, maintaining the accuracy of the original model.

HVDC cable systems are vital for long-distance power transmission, especially for offshore wind energy. The point-to-point HVDC transmission links are already in use. For enhanced system reliability, interconnected DC network with fault separation devices like DC circuit breakers are envisaged. This requires the evaluation of the interface between DC cables and circuit breakers for different contingency scenarios. Electromagnetic transient simulations are commonly employed for HVDC network analysis. This paper proposes a practice-based approach to accurately model cable systems, which are crucial for reliable HVDC network analysis. It emphasizes considering real-world implications of cable manufacturing and installation conditions. By enhancing existing knowledge of cable parameter determination, this study proposes practical models using EMT simulations. The aim is to provide engineers with a systematic method to convert DC cable data into EMT-compatible parameters, facilitating representative modelling for thorough HVDC network performance assessment. This is vital for de ning speci cations of complex HVDC systems, particularly multi-terminal networks.

Unlike synchronous generators, the fault response of grid-forming (GFM) inverter-interfaced distributed generators (IIDGs) is notably governed by the selection of control and current limiting strategies rather than inherent physical traits. While recent research has focused on the sequence domain fault model of GFM IIDGs, a research gap exists in elucidating the influence of control and current limiting schemes on this model's characteristics. This article aims to fill this void by examining how different control and current limiting schemes influence the positive and negative sequence impedances in the phasor-domain fault model of GFM IIDGs. This investigation encompasses droop-based, virtual synchronous machine-based, and virtual oscillator-based reference generation controls alongside rotating and stationary reference-frame-based voltage controls. Furthermore, saturation-based, latching-based, circular and virtual impedance-based current limiting schemes are analyzed. To achieve this goal, a thorough numerical simulation study is conducted. Findings indicate that outer reference generation controls exhibit minimal impact. Conversely, the choice of voltage control and various current limiting schemes emerge as the predominant factors shaping the sequence models of GFM IIDGs. These analyses and results are instrumental in devising reliable protection strategies within inverter-based grids, as a comprehensive understanding of electrical elements in the sequence domain is imperative for effective protective measures.

Inrush current refers to the high-magnitude excitation current drawn by a transformer upon energization. The intensity of inrush current is a function of the residual flux of the transformer's core and the voltage magnitude at the energization instant. This paper proposes a method to effectively mitigate the inrush current of single-phase transformers. The proposed method overcomes the shortcomings of the well-established pre-fluxing method, and thus, is referred to as the modified pre-fluxing method. The method operates without requiring any prior knowledge regarding the transformer's design information or parameters. Accounting for uncertainties in circuit breaker closing operation, the core's residual flux is modified to an appropriate reference value, minimizing the corresponding adverse impact. The flux adjustment is accomplished by a power electronic circuitry that applies suitable voltage across the transformer's low-voltage winding. The core's residual flux is estimated after removing the DC offset present in the measured open-circuit voltage. The energization process is then initiated at an appropriate instant ensuring the core's steady-state flux matches its adjusted residual flux. The efficiency of the modified pre-fluxing method is demonstrated by conducting 12,000 simulations in PSCAD/EMTDC. A hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) setup composed of a transformer and pre-fluxing device is used for extensive experimental validation and comparison with recent energization methods under more realistic conditions.

The increased use of High-Voltage Direct Current transmission networks requires appropriate control strategies for the converter stations, which are crucial to ensure uninterrupted energy supply. In this paper, a Polytopic Lyapunov Function-based Hybrid switching control strategy is implemented to combine the merits of Grid Following and Grid Forming control strategies by switching alternatively from one to another at the polytopes’ hyperplanes to ensure good system response even for faulty conditions. The state space equations of the control strategies are used to form the state hyperplanes for the switching rule. Since the hybrid switching control is based on the Polytopic Lyapunov Function, the system is inherently Large Signal Stable. The results obtained by real-time-based simulations using RTDS verify the designed control for various transient phenomena.

The effective prediction of dynamic cable ratings (DCR) in the HVDC cable is pivotal for enhancing transmission efficiency and maximizing electricity sales in offshore wind farms. Due to complex wind conditions, traditional machine learning methods, such as support vector machines, struggle to provide accurate long-term DCR predictions and express prediction uncertainties. To address these challenges, this article proposes a novel deep learning framework for dynamic cable rating prediction based on encoder–decoder networks, in which the encoder utilizes Bidirectional extended-long Short-Term Memory networks to encode contextual information from the input data. The decoder introduces an additive attention mechanism, which allows the network to focus on relevant features in the input sequence. In addition, to capture the uncertainty for DCR prediction, a Bayesian neural network approximation method based on the Monte Carlo dropout method is introduced. Finally, this paper introduces a thermal risk estimation method by considering both the maximum conductor temperature limit and the temperature gradient limit. Results demonstrate that the proposed method not only improves electric field distribution but also achieves superior economic benefits.

There is a lack of knowledge on the development of a controller model into a black box dynamically-linked library (DLL) file which can be flexibly tested with a power system model through a real-time co-simulation platform. Developing a test bed to demonstrate the performance and compliance analysis enhances the approval of novel control and protection strategies. This paper presents the development of a controller DLL and a test bench that integrates this DLL with a real-time simulator. The DLL contains a previously developed grid-forming controller for the type‑3 wind turbine and works in co-simulation with the power system model on Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) in real-time.

DC fault location technology is crucial for estimating the fault location and developing multi-terminal direct current (MTDC) systems. This article presents a novel fault location method using the parameter fitting approach. The propagation of traveling waves (TWs) in the decoupled line-mode fault network is first discussed, resulting in analytical expressions for the backward line-mode current TWs containing fault location information. Then, the adaptive multi-step Levenberg–Marquardt (AMLM) algorithm is applied for parameter fitting owing to its fast processing speed and precision. The exact fault location is estimated using the fitted coefficient. Different testing MTDC systems modeled in PSCAD/EMTDC and a real-time digital simulator (RTDS) validate the proposed fault location method. Based on numerous simulation tests, the AMLM-based parameter fitting and the proposed method are accurate, with errors smaller than 0.5%. Compared to the existing methods, the proposed method has desired performance under close-in faults, can withstand 35 dB noise interference, and obviates the need for an extremely high sampling frequency, estimation of tws velocity, and communication devices.

The stability of an HVDC transmission network is very important for the reliable transfer of power from renewable energy resources. Therefore, this paper proposes a region of attraction stability analysis method for grid-forming-based modular multilevel converters. The grid forming control uses a model predictive control-based controller for the inner current loop. The stability analysis is carried out using the direct Lyapunov method. For the model predictive control, the modified version of the cost function is used; the same function is also used as the cost function for the direct Lyapunov method. Furthermore, the boundaries formed by the limiters and Lyapunov function entirely explain transient event behavior.

The protection of DC systems in mobility applications, such as land transport, aircraft, and shipping, presents significant challenges due to the need for high power density equipment in confined spaces. This paper focuses on DC systems on board ships, for which diverse applications require different power levels, architectures, and protection strategies. Existing protection frameworks and regulations are often inadequate or outdated for the field, leading to certification issues and insufficient fault analysis. This research proposes a use case-based categorization of short circuit currents for primary systems. A reference scenario is created using a simulation model of a 5 MW system in a superyacht to provide a short circuit inventory. The study proposes three contributions. A comprehensive fault inventory, a qualitative categorization, and relevant recommendations for power converter design. The research highlights the importance of fault categorization in understanding the impact of various short circuits on shipboard DC systems. The study emphasizes the importance of the evolution of materials and power converters in developing efficient protection technologies for ships. This work addresses some fundamental gaps in shipboard DC systems, providing a foundation for improved protection strategies and regulations, ultimately contributing to the advancement of protection of shipboard DC systems.

This paper investigates the influence of dynamic voltage support on Positive Sequence Memory-Polarized (PSMP) mho relays in the presence of Grid Following Photovoltaic (PV) generators. The widespread integration of Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs) has significantly altered power system dynamics. Traditionally, memory polarization in mho elements has ensured reliable operation during close-in faults. A dynamic expansion of mho characteristics results from the use of memory voltage for polarizing the mho elements, enhancing the resistive reach in systems dominated by Synchronous Generators (SGs). However, the fault current characteristics of IBRs differ from SGs, potentially compromising the dynamic mho expansion behavior. This work explores how dynamic voltage support employed by large-scale PV generators affects the expansion of PSMP mho characteristics. The PV generators used in this study have reactive power priority and Low Voltage Ride-Through /High Voltage Ride-Through capabilities and are compliant with the IEEE Standard 2800-2022.

The integration of renewable energy sources has significantly impacted power system protection schemes, primarily by increasing short-circuit fault currents, which, in turn, raises the possibility of current transformer (CT) saturation, and by introducing bidirectional fault current flow, which interferes with the directional selectivity of relays in detecting downstream faults. This study presents a novel fault direction identification algorithm aimed at immunization against CT saturation effects, especially in medium voltage (MV) distribution grids integrated with renewable sources. To achieve this, two distinct computational frameworks have been developed and proposed. The first framework utilizes the modified least squares (MLSs) method, while the second employs a modified Kalman filter (MKF). Both algorithms calculate the fundamental current phase angle using a sub-cycle window of current samples, ensuring resilience to heavily distorted waveforms caused by CT saturation, even under conditions of deep saturation. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through numerous tests conducted on fault currents recorded via simulation scenarios and field measurements, considering various fault inception times, resistances, and locations, together with different neutral grounding arrangements. Comparative assessments of the two developed frameworks across different scenarios indicate that both methods exhibit promising performances, although the least square-based method demonstrates superior efficiency compared to the Kalman filter-based method.

Wavelet transform has proven to be a capable tool for protection purposes in high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines due to its desired speed and accuracy. However, the need to enhance the WT-based protection methods in terms of sensitivity and selectivity is of interest. This paper proposes a new non-unit WT-based protection method with adaptive threshold setting. According to the improved time-domain analytical approach, line-mode fault-generated voltage traveling wave is adopted to identify the internal faults. The simulation results for a multi-terminal modular multilevel converter-based HVDC grid in PSCAD/EMTDC corroborate accurate and fast internal faults detection of the proposed method, up to 850 Ω, i.e., almost three times larger than conventional schemes. In addition, the reliable performance of the presented method in a noisy environment, using relatively low sampling frequencies, and different sizes of current limiting inductors is demonstrated in the presented analysis. The generality of the presented analytical approach ensures that the proposed protection method can be extended to more complex HVDC grids.

Cross-country faults can adversely affect the operation of protection devices. Relays whose pickup is based on overcurrent or impedance elements are more likely to fail during cross-country faults. The failure can be expressed as an unnecessary trip of all phases during a single-phase fault or even blocked relay functions. Relays may also fail to operate due to low fault currents, which is the case when power grids make use of many inverter-based resources (IBR) or when two simultaneous faults occur in the same phase and in different locations. This paper proposes a Recursive Discrete Stockwell Transform (RDST) method for addressing the mentioned challenges. The energy content computed by the RDST is used for fault detection and faulty phase selection. A robust distance relay model is proposed to ensure correct relay performance and is combined with a directional and an impedance trajectory module. The proposed method performance is thoroughly evaluated by applying real-time simulations for 6480 different cross-country faults, including three repetitions, four different generators (Synchronous generators, Wind turbine type-III, Wind turbine type-IV), two rating powers, three different fault distances, five different types of faults, and six grid codes. Ninety cases are also tested with real devices in hardware in the loop. Simulation results confirm the method's ability to detect different fault types, even during low fault currents, and to ensure high accuracy in phase selection.

The evolution of electrical power systems demands an increasing reliance on unpredictable renewable energy resources (RES). However, integrating these resources poses challenges, as their intermittent nature introduces transient events that can significantly impact power transformers. These transient phenomena may initiate energy oscillations in the form of weakly-damped resonances between system elements, i.e., transmission lines and cables, transformers, and the grounding system. Such conditions may impose stresses beyond the tolerance of insulating materials, leading to fast lifetime degradation and, eventually, the failure of critical components in the network, such as the costly power transformers. The impedance of the grounding system can limit the dissipation of surges, hence, causing severe overvoltages upon transient phenomena. By employing detailed transient models of crucial system components, this research puts forward a comprehensive analytical study of the transient interactions. In this regard, an analytical high-frequency transformer winding model based on lumped elements, and wideband frequency-dependent models for cables and the grounding system derived by applying electromagnetic theory are presented. These models, integrated into electromagnetic transient software, enable the identification of vulnerabilities and examination of case studies involving lightning strikes and switching events. Furthermore, the details of a novel protection method applied to safeguard the transformer are discussed in this paper. The presented protection method consists of a ring toroid core and a resistive suppressor on the secondary side of the core. This protection component is connected in series with the transformer to decrease the harmonic content and magnitude of the transient signals. The design procedure of the series protection device against voltage transient signals is presented and elaborated.

Dealing with the fast-rising current of high voltage direct current (HVdc) systems during fault conditions, is one of the most challenging aspects of HVdc system protection. Fast dc circuit breakers (DCCB) have recently been employed as a promising technology and are the subject of many research studies. HVdc circuit breakers (CBs) must meet various requirements to satisfy practical and functional needs, among which fast operation, low voltage stress, and economic issues are the key factors. This article presents the procedure for designing a superconductive reactor-based DCCB (SSR-DCCB) for HVdc applications. In the proposed structure, a full-bridge power electronic configuration controls the superconducting reactor to limit the dc fault current and create a dc zero-crossing; it is connected to the HVdc line by a series transformer. After successfully suppressing the line fault current (current zero current), an ultrafast disconnector isolates the faulty line. The main advantage of the proposed HVdc CB is its ability to interrupt the dc fault current without using the solid-state main breaker and limit the magnitude of the fault current and voltage stress. The proposed SSR-DCCB is investigated in MATLAB/Simulink, and an experimental prototype setup validates the results.