Abstract
The increasing penetration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) presents new challenges for powersystem protection, particularly due to the dynamic and non-conventional characteristics of IBR fault
currents during short-circuit events. These challenges cause modern protection to misoperate, which may
lead to reduced system reliability. This thesis provides a structured framework for training students to
understand, analyze, and address protection challenges in modern inverter-dominated power systems.
This work contributes to power system protection education by developing laboratory-ready IBRmodels that accurately replicate fault current behavior under transmission line fault conditions. The
developed converter models, control schemes, and IBR options to meet or not to meet grid code
implementations form the foundation of advanced laboratory exercises focused on fault ride-through
(FRT) performance, relay response, and system behavior during abnormal operating conditions. Through
this laboratory set up, students gain direct exposure to modern grid requirements and the evolving
requirements of protection systems in networks with high IBR penetration.
The laboratory methodology emphasizes hands-on learning through electromagnetic transient (EMT)simulation environments combined with real-time hardware-in-the-loop (RT-HIL) testing. Students
interact with detailed IBR models based on voltage source converters. By interfacing a physical relay with
the Real Time Simulator (RTDS) for hardware-in-the-loop simulation, students are able to observe relay
decision-making processes, analyze event reports, and evaluate relay performance under a wide range of
fault types and operating scenarios. These laboratory exercises closely replicate real-world protection
studies, bridging the gap between theoretical coursework and practical industry applications.
The developed case studies are designed to support instructional objectives by demonstrating howcompliance or non-compliance with modern grid codes impacts key protection concepts such as fault type
detection, directional supervision, single-pole tripping, and auto-reclosing in IBR-dominated systems.
Through systematic experimentation, students explore the impact of different control strategies, including
negative sequence current controllers, on fault response and protective relay operation. This approach
enables learners to critically assess why conventional protection assumptions may fail and how to modify
protection strategies to improve modern power system protection performance.
Key educational outcomes of this work include improved student understanding of IBR fault behavior,enhanced intuition regarding relay misoperation mechanisms, and practical insight into the role of IBR
controller design and phase-locked loop (PLL) stability in maintaining reliable protection performance.
By analyzing waveform distortions, sequence component behavior, and relay reach variations, students
develop advanced diagnostic and analytical skills that are essential for modern protection engineers.