The widespread presence of distributed generators (DGs) and storage systems (DSSs) in electricity grids has increased the risk of islanding occurrence. This phenomenon must be suitably managed by Distribution System Operators (DSO), in order to avoid adverse situations, in terms of grid-protection problems, equipment damage, safety hazards, power quality problems and so on. Currently anti-islanding protection functions are handled by interface protection systems (IPSs), which are built in accordance with relevant standards for DGs and DSSs connection to power systems. However, some problems may occur in case of operation within the so-called non detection zone (NDZ). This paper presents an analysis of main standard requirements for IPSs and anti-islanding protection. Starting from this, the possibility is investigated of improving the islanding detection effectiveness, by adopting an hybrid solution, based on both local measurements and communication between DGs/DSSs and DSO. The analysis is supported by some simulation results reproducing a real case study for the distribution network of Ustica Island (Mediterranean Sea).

This paper aims at characterizing and improving the metrological performances of current and voltage instrument transformers (CTs and VTs) in harmonic measurements in the power system. A theoretical analysis is carried out to demonstrate that, due to the iron core nonlinearity, CT and VT output signal is distorted even when the input signal is a pure sine wave. Starting from this analysis, a new method for CT and VT characterization and compensation is proposed. In a first step, they are characterized in sinusoidal conditions and the harmonic phasors of the distorted output are measured; in the second step, these phasors are used to compensate the harmonic phasors measured in normal operating conditions, which are typically distorted. The proposed characterization and compensation techniques are called SINusoidal characterization for DIstortion COMPensation (SINDICOMP). Several experimental tests, using high-accuracy calibration setups, have been performed to verify the proposed methods. The experimental results showed that the SINDICOMP technique assures a significant improvement of CT and VT metrological performances in harmonic measurements.

Measurement in power systems and, particularly, in smart grids and smart microgrids is often concerned with harmonic analysis of voltage and current waveforms. The use of Fourier-based algorithms is widespread, and the limits following from the fundamental time-versus-frequency tradeoff that relates observation time to frequency resolution are well understood. This paper presents the application of an algorithm based on the principles of compressive sensing that can achieve an order-of-magnitude resolution improvement without significantly extending total observation time. For harmonic analysis in power systems, this means that accurate results can be obtained using shorter observation intervals, which allow to effectively track changes and reduce the effect of transients on measurements. The application of the algorithm to harmonics and interharmonics, as well as to phasor measurement, is considered and analyzed.

The aim of this paper is to present a new approach for the medium voltage (MV) distribution network load flow analysis, mainly based on power measurement at the low voltage (LV) level of MV/LV distribution substations. This allows to use measurement instruments, usually already installed in the secondary substations, thus achieving an equally reliable measurement system with a lower cost compared to measurements at the MV side. The new approach can be applied using a proper communication system to collect the nodal measurements and an iterative algorithm based on ladder iterative technique (LIT) to compute the load flow. The validity of this method is presented and discussed on the basis of the simulation results of Ustica island's distribution network.