Implementation of automated relay protection calculation and coordination system at the facilities of renewable energy generating company

Customer

Renewable energy production company with the following characteristics: 

• More than 60 hydro-power plants
• 19 solar power plants
• Another alternative energy plants: pumped-storage, geothermal, wind, tidal
• Installed electricity generation capacity about 40 GW

Task

Goals and figures achieved

• High automation level for relay settings calculations (more than 80% operations are automated)
  
• Reducing the number of accidents due to wrong relay settings calculation and configuration
• Elimination human error due to data transfer between separate programs
• 60 % growth in personnel’s productivity.

Implementation

As a result of the project: 

• Compilation of relay setting guidelines for HPP/PSPP.
• Development of new setting calculations modules:
  • Operating AC DC Voltage Systems protection devices and cable lines calculating and validation module
  • Protection calculations, coordination and cable verifications module for MV auxiliaries’ grid
  • Generators relay setting calculations module
  • Predictive relay operation analysis for the entire system
• Development of digital twins for Generators relays and MV, LV protection devices
• Verification of relay digital twins based on the oscillographs of the real emergency process

End-to-end digital technologies used in the project:

• Mathematical modeling of normal and emergency operation modes of relay protection and automation devices, including electromagnetic transition process 
  
• Development of digital twins for primary and secondary power equipment for HPP/PSPP. 

Result