Abstract:Determination of minimum break point set ( MBPS) is the first step during setting and calculation of direction protection in a complex multi - loop network. A new model for directly obtaining MBPS is established through the coordination dependency relationship of primary and backup relay. The setting process is expressed through a series of matrix operation which becomes the constraint. The relay protection importance is introduced into the objective function,and artificial bee colony algorithm is used for solving the model and obtaining the optimal MBPS. At last,it verifies the validity of the proposed algorithm and model by an example.