Experimental Study of Islanding‐Prevention Method by Harmonic Injection Synchronized with Exciting Current Harmonics of Pole Transformer

As distributed generators (DGs) such as photovoltaic (PV) systems are increasingly used in distribution systems, quick prevention of islanding caused by power system failure is essential to assure electrical safety. Various islanding protection methods have been used practically, but the conventional active systems tend to increase the detection time, because mutual interference occurs between active signals due to asynchronous states. A new active islanding detection method, the frequency feedback method with step reactive power injection, also has the possibility of extending the detection time in the so‐called perfect balance area (PBA). Thus we propose a novel method of islanding‐prevention by harmonic injection synchronized with the exciting current harmonics of the pole transformer. We performed an experimental study using prototype inverters equipped with the proposed method. We have shown the feasibility of detecting islanding quickly and reliably, even if the islanding state is in the PBA. The experimental results demonstrate that mutual interference does not occur due to asynchronous states between active signals, and also that the proposed method is applicable to islanding detection system in clustered installation of PV systems.