Prototyping of virtualized central adaptive protection and control: performance analysis and resiliency

Abstract

This study addresses the limitations of conventional protection relays in microgrids (MG) by presenting the development and testing of Virtualized Central Adaptive Protection and Control (VPC) systems. VPC systems were chosen because they help to reduce physical size, complexity, and costs while increasing flexibility and scalability, effectively managing protection applications within the electrical grid. The research compares two VPC solutions to a commercial relay, all implementing the IEC 61850 standard. Using a simulated MG model in a real-time simulator, the performance was analysed under various scenarios, including islanding, load and DG connections/disconnections, and cyber-attacks. Preliminary results show that VPC solutions perform identically to commercial relays, confirming their feasibility as alternatives. The study also proposes moving target (MT) defense techniques to enhance power system resiliency. Our solution provides a more adaptable and resilient solution for power grid protection and control, highlighting the need for VPC systems to meet various security, safety, and time-critical requirements thanks to virtualized technologies. This research underscores the importance of VPC systems in addressing the evolving demands of power system protection and control.