Setting directional overcurrent protection parameters using hybrid GA optimizer

- Customized Hybrid Genetic Algorithm for Directional Overcurrent Protection Parameter Adjustment.
- Algorithm for primary/backup relay allocation.
- A case study with the proposed HGA in comparison with GAMS optimization solvers (BONMIN, DICOPT, KNITRO, AlphaECP, BARON, and SBB).
- Usage of fault current angle to improve the solution quality.
- Tests with real 138 kV transmission power and validation with CAPE software.

A Hybrid Genetic Algorithm (HGA) is proposed to solve the optimal coordination of Directional Overcurrent Relays (DORs) in meshed power transmission systems. In this research, the short circuit current direction os taken into account by the optimization model. By developing the problem oriented HGA, high-quality feasible coordination solutions for DORs have been obtained with good performance. The solutions provided by the HGA are compared with a selected set of classical mathematical programming solvers namely, AlphaECP, BARON 14, BONMIN, DICOPT, KNITRO and SBB which have been modeled with the General Algebraic Modelling System (GAMS). In order to validate the proposed DORs coordination method, a real meshed power system is considered. The proposed HGA provided high-quality coordination solutions, which represents 12.10% to 27.31% reduction on the average value of the performance function for all test cases when compared with the solutions provided by commercial solvers.