Optimal coordination of directional overcurrent protection relays using hybrid optimizer

Abstract In order to minimize or maximize an objective function, electrical engineering problems might benefit from optimization methodologies inspired by nature. This study employs a hybrid particle swarm optimizer (HPSO) to get rid of local optimum solutions and find the best global one for directional overcurrent protection relays (DOPR) protection. DOPR coordination is a highly constrained, mixed-integral nonlinear optimization problem. An adaptive defense method has been created to counteract the intentionally challenging design. Therefore, design variables such as time multiplier setting (TMS) and plug setting (PS) are utilized for each relay in the circuit. The goal function is to reduce the amount of time spent to trace the fault by all the relays. Reducing the time required for each relay to trace the fault is the aim of function. After analyzing and comparing two test studies of the IEEE benchmark using various optimization strategies, we found that the results for the IEEE 15-bus system has minimum time of 8.9 sec, which is improved by 22.92% to 82.89%, and those for the IEEE 30-bus system minimum time of 23.66 sec that is improved by 4.41% to 39.6%. In terms of overall DOPR operation and computational time needed to get the global optimum solution, the acquired results are demonstrably superior to those obtained using conventional and state-of-the-art methods.