Overcurrent Relay Coordination Using Improved Hyper-Spherical Search Algorithm Considering Different Relay Characteristics and Pickup Current

Minimization of the discrimination time between the backup and main overcurrent relay is one of the most critical issue in relay coordination of power system. Determination of time setting multipliers (TSMs) using evolutionary algorithms has been studied in previous papers. In this paper, TSM, various characteristics of the overcurrent relays and pickup currents are simultaneously considered to improve coordination of main and backup overcurrent relays. Furthermore, the coordination problem can also be considered as an optimization problem which can be solved using artificial intelligent methods. Recently, a novel optimization algorithm, called hyper-sphere search (HSS) algorithm, has been introduced. In this paper, Improved HSS (IHSS) is introduced. Based on the problems mentioned in this paper, the IHSS algorithm is more appropriate for obtaining the characteristics of the overcurrent relays, pickup currents and their TSMs. The result of IHSS is compared with HSS algorithm which has been used in previous studies. The simulation results on the test network show the efficiency of using IHSS and considering pickup currents in term of better relays coordination.