A Q-f Droop Curve for Facilitating Islanding Detection of Inverter-Based Distributed Generation

This paper presents a new method for islanding detection of distributed generation (DG) inverter that relies on analyzing the reactive power versus frequency (Q-f) characteristic of the DG and the islanded load. The proposed method is based on equipping the DG interface with a Q-f droop curve that forces the DG to lose its stable operation once an islanding condition occurs. A simple passive islanding detection scheme that relies on frequency relays can then be used to detect the moment of islanding. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated under the IEEE 1547 and UL 1741 antiislanding test configuration. The studies reported in this paper are based on time-domain simulations in the power systems computer-aided design (PSCAD)/EMTDC environment. The results show that the proposed technique has negligible nondetection zone and is capable of accurately detecting islanding within the standard permissible detection times. In addition, the technique proves to be robust under multiple-DG operation.