I. INTRODUCTION
Power systems infrastructure development has recently
been accelerated by Smart Grid funding initiatives in many
countries around the globe. However, the basic principles of
power system component design and operation have remained
unchanged for several decades with the most significant
progress being made on adopting new materials and creating
applications of information/communication technologies for
power grids operation and control. Power system protection
plays a crucial role in preventing major blackouts by isolating
the faulted part of the grid in a timely manner, and therefore is
a key component that ensures the system reliability.