Application of Black Hole Algorithm for Optimal Coordination of Overcurrent Relays in Power Systems

Protection of power systems is one of the most important issues in the performance of various industries. Precise adjustment and coordination of over current relays are also factors affecting the security and reliability of power networks. In this paper, a meta-heuristic optimization algorithm inspired by the black hole phenomenon is used to optimally coordinate overcurrent relays in the network. Considering the coordination limitations of the relays, the objective function is to summarize the total operating time of the main relays for the fault current close to each relay, which should have the lowest value, and for this purpose both time and current adjustment parameters to minimize the sum. Relay operation times are optimized. This method is tested on the standard network of IEEE 33-bus sample radial distribution system and its results clearly show the accuracy and efficiency of the method. Also, to further guarantee, the results are compared with the results of the particle swarm optimization algorithm. The simulation results showed that the black hole algorithm is faster and more accurate than the particle swarm optimization algorithm.