# Design and Implementation of an Automatic Synchronizing and Protection Relay through Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL) Simulation

## TL;DR

This paper presents a cost-effective, lab-scale implementation of an automatic synchronizing and protection relay for Distributed Energy Resources, utilizing PHIL simulation, Arduino, and LabVIEW to automate grid synchronization and protection.

## Contribution

It introduces a novel multi-purpose synchronizing relay design using affordable hardware and PHIL simulation, enabling effective DG-grid synchronization and protection.

## Key findings

- Successful synchronization of a Distributed Generator to the grid.
- Validation of the relay's functionality through lab-scale testing.
- Implementation of voltage and frequency control using PHIL simulation.

## Abstract

This paper focuses on the design and implementation of an automatic synchronizing and protection relay to automate the synchronization process of a Distributed Energy Resource (DER) to the Main Grid. The proposed design utilize a cost-effective data acquisition using arduino in combination with LabVIEW software to implement the multi-purpose synchronizing relay. The proposed synchronizing relay is capable of synchronizing a Distributed Generator (DG) to the power grid from black-start and fulfills the requirements imposed by the utility. The synchronizing relay is implemented through voltage and frequency control of an actual lab-scale synchronous generator. In the synchronization process, frequency synchronization is done using speed control of the stepper motor as prime mover and voltage synchronization is accomplished using Excitation Control module through Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL) simulation. In grid-connected mode, active and reactive power controls and protection schemes for the synchronous generator have also been implemented. The proposed multi-function relay has been deployed and tested on a lab-scale test bed to validate the proposed design and functionality.