Faulted phase selection multicriteria algorithm implemented in generic hardware for centralized P&C in smart grids

•Digital substation.•Centralized protection and control (CPC).•Protection functions implemented in a generic hardware platform.•Multicriteria Faulted Phase Selection algorithm.•Improved protection algorithm operation under renewables and conventional scenarios. The integration of devices based on renewable energies and power electronics makes it necessary to rethink some of the methods used for protection and control in distribution and transmission grids. The difference between short circuit current contributions from renewable and conventional generators may affect protection system operation. Fault phase selection is one of the elements to be analyzed under renewable generation scenarios due to its importance in protection functions such as distance protection. The digitization of substations presents new opportunities in control and protection systems, such as functionality increase, reliability improvement, cost reduction of the installation and capacity for remote maintenance. This paper proposes a multi-criteria fault phase selection algorithm developed to be implemented in digital substations. The proposed faulted phase algorithm combines the results provided by four independent protection algorithms and has been designed to be applied in transmission power systems. Depending on the electrical variables measured in each event, quality criteria are defined to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each independent algorithm. The proposed algorithm has been implemented and tested on the centralized protection and control platform called EPICS, obtaining very satisfactory results.