The Concept of Figure of Merit Applied to Protection System Coordination

Clearly there is a need for further development and discussion of the Figure of Merit concept. This paper has presented three alternative Figures of Merit with numerical examples for a sample power system. The need for these measuring parameters is certainly clear to anyone who has performed a system-wide protection analysis using a digital computer program. The FOMs provide a means of comparison between alternative protective system designs just a system losses provide a means of comparison between different operating strategies. There is little doubt that the definitions of the Figures of Merit presented here will change or be replaced as practical experience is gained in their application. It is the author's intent that this paper will provoke serious consideration of an area requiring further study.