Enhancing Microgrid Protection: Wavelet Response Analysis for Islanded and Grid-Connected Modes

Microgrid systems have emerged as a viable solution to address the challenges associated with conventional power grids, such as reliability, resiliency, and sustainability. The protection of microgrids plays a crucial role in ensuring their safe and efficient operation. This paper presents a novel approach to enhance microgrid protection by applying wavelet response analysis for current measurements. The proposed technique utilizes a differential technique for fault identification in both islanded and grid-connected modes. The proposed enhanced microgrid protection scheme provides an innovative and robust solution for ensuring the reliable fault detection of microgrids in both islanded and grid-connected modes of operation. Simulation results highlight the application of wavelet response analysis offering a comprehensive and efficient approach to detect and mitigate power system abnormalities, contributing to microgrid systems' overall stability and resilience. The proposed technique can effectively identify abnormal conditions by implementing wavelet transform to analyze current waveforms through differential relaying techniques distinguishing between short circuit faults, external disturbances, and tap loads. Simulation studies were conducted on a representative 4-Bus benchmark microgrid model to evaluate the performance of the protection scheme. Results demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed scheme in accurately identifying symmetrical and asymmetrical faults, effectively segregating tap loads, and contributing to the reliability and resilience of microgrid systems.