Application of microcomputers to the protection and control of power system substations

The use of digital computers for power system protection and control has been studied for the past decade. However, economic considerations, reliability problems, and system constraints have prohibited the actual use of computers in substation protection schemes. Recent advances in microcomputer technology have provided power system protection engineers with a new tool. A distributed microcomputer protection scheme is introduced and compared to present substation protection techniques. Speed, reliability, and operating advantages as well as the adaptive control possibilities of the proposed system are pursued.