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In this paper, a new method for optimum coordination of overcurrent relays is proposed. The proposed method is based on only constraints. Minimization is inherently included by setting the time dials to minimum and increasing their values gradually. Configuration changes of the network is taken into account. The method does not need any initial solution. It can consider both linear and nonlinear relay characteristics models. The optimal settings of overcurrent relays for 8-Bus and England Norweb networks are obtained and comparison between the new method and existing methods is made. Index Terms--Linear programming, optimal coordination, overcurrent relay.

Doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) based wind turbines are very sensitive to grid voltage variations. Therefore, low-voltage-ride-through (LVRT) and high-voltage-ride-through (HVRT) capabilities are employed to improve DFIG performance during grid faults and voltage swell events. In this paper, a superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) device with a PWM voltage source converter and a DC-DC chopper is proposed to enhance the DFIG LVRT and HVRT capabilities in an islanded microgrid simultaneously. The simulation results demonstrate that the SMES absorbs or releases energy from/to the microgrid during voltage swell events and fault condition respectively and consequently, improves the DFIG performance and enhances the DFIG LVRT and HVRT capabilities. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through detailed simulations in PSCAD/EMTDC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transmission Expansion Planning (TEP) involves determining if and how transmission lines should be added to the power grid so that the operational and investment costs are minimized. TEP is a major issue in smart grid development, where demand response resources affect short- and long-term power system decisions, and these in turn, affect TEP. First, this paper discusses the effects of demand response programs on reducing the final costs of a system in TEP. Then, the TEP problem is solved using a Teaching Learning Based Optimization (TLBO) algorithm taking into consideration power generation costs, power loss, and line construction costs. Simulation results show the optimal effect of demand response programs on postponing the additional cost of investments for supplying peak load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, total harmonic distortion (THD) minimization of the output voltage of multilevel inverters is discussed. An efficient approach in reducing the harmonic contents of the inverter's output voltage is THD minimization. In multilevel inverters with a fundamental frequency switching strategy (each switch turning on and off once per output cycle), the switching angles can be selected so that the output THD is minimized (such as the so-called optimal-minimization-of-THD strategy). To obtain the optimum switching angles, an optimization algorithm is applied to the output-voltage THD. In three-phase multilevel inverters, the optimization algorithm is commonly applied to the phase voltage of the inverter. This results in the minimum THD in phase voltage but not necessarily in the line-to-line minimum THD, whereas in three-phase applications, the line-voltage harmonics are of the main concern from the load point of view. In this paper, using the genetic algorithm, a THD minimization process is directly applied to the line-to-line voltage of the inverter. This paper is based on a seven-level inverter. To verify the simulation results, a seven-level-cascaded-H-bridge-inverter-based hardware prototype, including an ATMEGA32 AVR microcontroller, has been implemented. Both simulation and experimental results indicate superiority of this approach over the commonly used phase-voltage THD minimization approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]