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Implementation of an Educational Laboratory for Electrical Protections Based on Low-Cost Electronic Devices

Abstract:

In the field of power electrical protections, educational environments often face challenges in providing accessible equipment to undergraduate engineering students. Current transformers and relays, although vital for understanding protection systems, may be cost-prohibitive and limited in their application. Fortunately, the rapid advancement of technology offers a solution, as modern electronic boards can faithfully simulate the functionalities and responses of a protection relay during fault currents. This paper introduces a novel approach utilizing the Arduino UNO board in conjunction with MATLAB-Simulink software to enable students to input critical parameters of an overcurrent protection relay, such as pickup current, curve type, and time delay. Through this innovative setup, students can effectively simulate a photovoltaic power system under protection and further program the corresponding algorithm to govern the overcurrent protection process. By bridging theoretical concepts with hands-on experimentation, this educational laboratory fosters practical learning experiences, empowering students to grasp the complexities of protection relay systems and better prepare them for real-world challenges in electrical engineering.