Experimental investigation of Harris Hawk optimization-based maximum power point tracking algorithm for photovoltaic system under partial shading conditions

An integrated quasi Z-source DC–DC converter (qZSC) along with Harris Hawk Optimization (HHO)-based maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm is proposed in this paper to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) system. The qZSC-based PV system experiences more voltage and current stress during partial shading conditions (PSCs), which causes overheat on qZSC components hence, degrade the efficiency and reliability of the system. Conventional swarm intelligence-based MPPT algorithms track the G_MPP during PSC, but these take longer convergence time and fail to settle at G_MPP. This uncertainty of finding the G_MPP leads to fluctuations at output of qZSC, hence more stress on the converter components. HHO in tracking the G_mpp eliminates premature local MPPs, enhances convergence speed by expanding the search space for finding the G_MPP. The proposed system is developed in MATLAB/Simulink environment and verified the results by developing prototype model in the laboratory by using C2000™ Piccolo™ Launch Pad™, LAUNCHXL-F28027 controller. The tracking performance of the proposed HHO-based MPPT algorithm is tested under fast changing and PSCs in comparison with perturb & observe (P&O), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and artificial bee colony (ABC)-based MPPT algorithms. The simulation and experimental results show that the proposed HHO-based MPPT algorithm is robust, tracks maximum power point in minimum convergence time in comparison with P&O, PSO and ABC-based MPPT algorithms. Hence, voltage and current fluctuations at the output of qZSC are reduced. Therefore, voltages and current stress on qZSC components are reduced and the efficiency of the system is improved.     

An elite hybrid strategy for solar photovoltaic system based optimized cascade controller under uniform and partial shading conditions

A hybrid technique for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for a photovoltaic (PV) system is proposed in this paper. The proposed hybrid system is combination of Wing suit Flying Search (WFS) and modified Transient search optimization (MTSO), therefore it is called WFS-MTSO method. The proposed controller has three processes: (i) to identify the operating level of photovoltaic (uniform or in PSC), (ii) to estimate the maximal power point using WFS technique, and (iii) to ensure the photovoltaic system runs on the estimated maximum power point (MPP) by MTSO optimized cascade controller. This method begins with a sense of irradiance and temperature. The proposed photovoltaic system has two components. The first one is WFS maximal power point tracking algorithm attain maximal power point. The second one is MTSO optimized cascade controller to force the photovoltaic system to activate at maximal power point. Here, the proposed hybrid technique is utilized at MPPT to diminish tracking error and oscillation across MPP for optimizing power output. The proposed optimized cascade control improves the system efficiency by averting interruptions previously they propagate to the system. Finally, the performance of proposed hybrid system is executed on MATLAB/Simulink working platform and the performances are compared with various existing approaches. The statistical matrices, like mean, median, and standard deviation is analyzed the tracking efficiency of the proposed WFS-MTSO approach.     

Optimal control of a wind energy conversion system and a wind turbine

Currently, a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) unit implemented in a wind energy conversion system (WECS) extracts the maximum mechanical power from the wind turbine used in the WECS. Therefore, the MPPT unit acts as a maximum mechanical power tracker (MMPT) that performs optimal control of the wind turbine to extract the maximum mechanical power from the wind turbine. In this paper, the basic concept of a maximum electrical power tracker (MEPT) is presented both theoretically and technically. It is demonstrated that an MEPT implemented in a WECS maximizes the output electrical power of the WECS. Thus, in contrast with an MMPT, the proposed MEPT optimally controls the whole of the WECS, rather than the wind turbine, to extract the maximum electrical power from the WECS. Since, in the WECS, the power efficiency of the whole of the WECS, not the wind turbine, should be maximized to extract the maximum output electrical power from the WECS, the conventional MPPT unit acting as an MMPT should be replaced with the proposed MEPT, and this is the superiority of the proposed MEPT to an MMPT or a conventional MPPT unit. To provide experimental verifications, 2 novel MEPT and MMPT with simple structures and better performance compared to the MPPT techniques commonly used in WECSs have been constructed, which are presented in detail.     

Renewable energy management of an hybrid water pumping system (photovoltaic/wind/battery) based on Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy model

This research work presents an optimal energy management for a hybrid water pumping system driven by a photovoltaic generator (PVG) and a wind turbine. These two renewable energies are used as power generation sources, whereas a battery is added as an energy-storing system, for the purpose of controlling the power flow and providing a constant load supply. The proposed management system, serve to guarantee the pumping system autonomy in a rural region where's no access to the electrical network. As a result, a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller is created based on the fuzzy Takagi–Sugeno (TS) model, ensuring maximum power transfer to the moto-pump in spite of wind speed and insolation changes. The synthesis of MPPT control law involves TS fuzzy reference models which generate the desired trajectories to track. A supervisor has been developed for energy management and its major purpose is to effectively use the battery to satisfy the power load requirements, and that is by maintaining the state of charge (SOC) to extend the battery's life. Finally, simulation results have been done based on Matlab/Simulink with the aim of validating the efficiency of the proposed energy management supervisor.     

A hybrid modified grey wolf optimization-sine cosine algorithm-based power system stabilizer parameter tuning in a multimachine power system

Damping of low-frequency oscillations due to the unpredictable perturbations of a power network has always been a challenging task. In an interconnected power network, power system stabilizers (PSSs) are in practice to damp out these low-frequency oscillations by providing a necessary control signal to the automatic voltage regulator unit based on the deviation in generator speed/power output. This article proposes a novel approach of hybrid modified grey wolf optimization-sine cosine algorithm for tuning the parameters of PSS of an interconnected multimachine power system. The optimal parameter tuning of PSS with the proposed algorithm is achieved by considering a multiobjective function comprises of improving the damping and eigenvalue characteristics of the consolidated multimachine system. A benchmark model of two area four machine system is adopted to investigate the performance achieved with the proposed algorithm in the simultaneous damping of the local and interarea mode of oscillations in a multimachine power system. The system study has been carried out under a self-clearing fault condition, and the detailed analysis is presented by analyzing the eigenvalues, and their corresponding natural frequencies, damping ratios. The damping nature achieved for the system states under system uncertainties with the proposed algorithm is also presented. The performance obtained from the proposed hybrid algorithm has been compared with the standalone and state-of-the-art optimization methods.     

H∞ output tracking control over networked control systems with Markovian jumping parameters

The problem of H_∞ output tracking control over networked control systems (NCSs) with communication limits and environmental disturbances is studied in this paper. A wide range of time‐varying stochastic problem arising in networked tracking control system is reduced to a standard convex optimization problem involving linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). The closed‐loop hybrid NCS is modeled as a Markov jump linear system in which random time delays and packet dropouts are described as two stochastic Markov chains. Gridding approach is introduced to guarantee the finite value of the sequences of transmission delays from sensor to actuator. Sufficient conditions for the stochastic stabilization of the hybrid NCS tracking system are derived by the LMI‐based approach through the computation of the optimal H_∞ performance. The mode‐dependent robust H_∞ output tracking controller is obtained by the optimal iteration method. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed robust output tracking controller for NCS. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hybrid BOA-GWO-PSO algorithm for mitigation of congestion by optimal reactive power management

The generation of power with load optimization, particularly in the current deregulated electricity market conditions, is a very important process for improved planning and operation of the grid. In addition, it is very important for the system not to experience problems due to congestion, have tensile stability, and protection to increase the share of electricity from renewable sources with the current supply system. This article presents load balancing with the butterfly optimization algorithm (BOA) in a hybridized form to minimize and maximize loads when used in pool and hybrid markets. The methods have been designed to prevent the drawbacks of BOA and generate a better trade-off between exploration and exploitation abilities by hybridizing it with particle swarm optimization (PSO) and gray wolf optimizer (GWO). Empirical research on other algorithms shows that proposed hybrid BOA-GWO-PSO algorithm performs better and shows potential in diverse problems. These studies give it a significant advantage over BOA in general, and when it is employed to solve complex optimization problems validated on benchmark IEEE 30 bus system. A comparative analysis has been conducted to validate the potency of the hybrid BOA-GWO-PSO approach with some conventional meta-heuristic algorithms. Analysis of results by mathematical validation on 23 benchmark functions and application in congestion management by optimal reactive power management (RPM) reveal that the proposed technique has the potent to solve real world optimization problems and is competitive with recent methods reported in state-of- art literature.     

PI control based on parameter space approach supported metaheuristic optimization algorithms and ANFIS in a natural gas combined cycle power plant

In this article, proportional-integral (PI) control to ensure stable operation of a steam turbine in a natural gas combined cycle power plant is investigated, since active power control is very important due to the constantly changing power flow differences between supply and demand in power systems. For this purpose, an approach combining stability and optimization in PI control of a steam turbine in a natural gas combined cycle power plant is proposed. First, the regions of the PI controller, which will stabilize this power plant system in closed loop, are obtained by parameter space approach method. In the next step of this article, it is aimed to find the best parameter values of the PI controller, which stabilizes the system in the parameter space, with artificial intelligence-based control and metaheuristic optimization. Through parameter space approach, the proposed optimization algorithms limit the search space to a stable region. The controller parameters are examined with Particle Swarm Optimization based PI, artificial bee colony based PI, genetic algorithm based PI, gray wolf optimization based PI, equilibrium optimization based PI, atom search optimization based PI, coronavirus herd immunity optimization based PI, and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system based PI (ANFIS-PI) algorithms. The optimized PI controller parameters are applied to the system model, and the transient responses performances of the system output signals are compared. Comparison results of all these methods based on parameter space approach that guarantee stability for this power plant system are presented. According to the results, ANFIS- PI controller is better than other methods.     

Hybrid cross entropy—cuckoo search algorithm for solving optimal power flow with renewable generators and controllable loads

The demand of energy is increasing due to the growing population of the world and improvements of technology. One of the best significant solution techniques to fulfill this energy demand is utilization of renewable energy sources (RESs). Modern power systems, which integrate RESs, such as wind, small hydro or solar energy sources need to carry out the uncertainty by the accessibility of demanded or injected power. Therefore, it is necessary to consider uncertainty costs in optimal power flow (OPF) problems. This paper proposed a novel hybrid meta-heuristic algorithm entitled cross entropy—cuckoo search algorithm (CE-CSA). The application of levy flights in the cuckoo search algorithm (CSA) improves the local exploitation capability while the CE method is used in the initial stage for global exploration due to its fast convergence. The effectiveness of the proposed hybrid algorithm has been demonstrated in solving the OPF problem, considering RESs and controllable loads for different stochastic scenarios in a benchmark system to minimize the total operation cost. To verify its effectiveness, its performance is compared with the most advanced and recently proposed hybrid meta-heuristic techniques. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can solve the OPF problems with RESs and controllable loads efficiently and can give better solutions compared to different techniques. The conventional statistical method called analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, T ukey honestly significant difference test, and Wilcoxon sign rank test are performed for comparative analysis of different techniques. The results of this test show the validation of CE-CSA compared to different optimization techniques.     

Modified whale optimization algorithm for fractional‐order multi‐input SSSC‐based controller design

In this paper, the design of a fractional‐order (FO) multi‐input–single‐output (MISO)–type static synchronous series compensator (SSSC) is proposed with a goal to improve the power system stability using modified whale optimization algorithm (MWOA). The proposed MWOA achieves an appropriate balance between exploitation and exploration stages of the original whale optimization algorithm. The performance of MWOA is validated by employing the benchmark test functions and further contrasted with whale optimization algorithm and other heuristic algorithms like gravitational search algorithm, particle swarm optimization, differential evolution, and fast evolutionary programming algorithms to demonstrate its strength. The proposed FO MISO SSSC controller is optimized by the MWOA technique and tested under single‐machine infinite bus system and further extended to a multi‐machine framework. To demonstrate the superiority of MISO‐type SSSC controller, the results obtained from it are compared with particle swarm optimization and differential evolution–based conventional single‐input–single‐output structured SSSC controllers. The comparison of results of MWOA with that of other methods validates its superiority in the present context.     

Reference output tracking control for a flexible air‐breathing hypersonic vehicle via output feedback

This paper addresses the problem of reference output tracking control for the longitudinal model of a flexible air‐breathing hypersonic vehicle (FAHV) by utilizing the output feedback control approach. The dynamic characteristics of the FAHV along with the aerodynamic effects of hypersonic flight make the flight control of such systems highly challenging. Moreover, there exist some intricate couplings between the engine and flight dynamics as well as complex interaction between rigid and flexible modes in the longitudinal model. These couplings bring difficulty to the flight control design for the intractable hypersonic vehicle systems. This paper deals with the problem of reference output tracking control for the longitudinal model of the FAHV. By utilizing the trim condition information including the state of altitude, velocity, angle of attack, pitch angle, pitch rate and so on, the linearized model is established for the control design objective. Then, the reference output velocity and altitude tracking control design problem is proposed for the linearized model. The flexible models of the FAHV system are hardly measured because of the complex dynamics and the strong couplings of the FAHV. Thus, by using only limited flexible model information, the reference output tracking performance analysis criteria are obtained via Lyapunov stability theory. Then, based on linear matrix inequality optimization algorithm, the static output feedback controller is designed to stabilize the closed‐loop systems, guarantee a certain bound for the closed‐loop value of the cost function, and can make the control output achieve the reference velocity and altitude tracking performance. Subsequently, the condition of dynamic output feedback controller synthesis is given in terms of linear matrix inequalities and a numerical algorithm is developed to search for a desired dynamic output feedback controller which minimizes the cost bound and obtains the excellent reference altitude and velocity tracking performance simultaneously. The effectiveness of the proposed reference output tracking control method is demonstrated in simulation part. Furthermore, the superior reference velocity and altitude performance commands could be achieved via using static and dynamic output feedback controllers under lacking some unmeasured flexible states information in the measurement output vector. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Switched optimization control of power allocation of hybrid energy storage systems

In this paper, we present a switched optimization control method for power allocation of hybrid energy storage systems (HESSs) subject to constraints on the state of charge and power split. By the energy conservation principle, a continuous‐time switching model is established to describe changes of charge quantities of the HESS during its charging‐or‐discharging process. Then an analytic switched state feedback law with some free parameters is constructed by the concept of common control Lyapunov functions, which is used to allocate the power of storage units during the charging‐or‐discharging process. To cope with the constraints and performance functions formulating the power allocation requirements of storage units, the receding horizon control principle is used to compute the parameters of the analytic switched control law by online solving a constrained optimization problem. The results on asymptotical stability and common section region (0.5, ∞) of the switched optimization controller are established in the presence of constraints by using the properties of common control Lyapunov functions. By comparing to linear‐quadratic regulator control of the HESS, an example is used to illustrate the effectiveness and performance of the switched optimization controller presented here.     

Optimal control of electrical vehicle incorporated hybrid power system with second order fractional-active disturbance rejection controller

This article proposes a novel control methodology employing a fractional-active-disturbance-rejection-controller for the combined operation of load frequency control and automatic voltage regulator of a hybrid power system. A two area hybrid power system with diverse energy sources like solar-thermal, conventional-thermal and wind sources equipped with appropriate system nonlinearities is investigated. In order to ascertain the role of modern-day electric-vehicle (EV), the hybrid power system is incorporated with EVs in both the areas. To establish an effective frequency, voltage and tie line power control of the hybrid power system, a second order fractional-active-disturbance-rejection-controller with fractional-extended state observer is modeled as secondary controller. Magnetotactic-bacteria-optimization (MBO) technique is applied to obtain optimal values of the controller gains and the hybrid system parameters. The robustness of the controller gains is tested under different system parameter changes from their nominal values. In addition, the effect of incorporating a power system stabilizer on the hybrid power system is evaluated. Further, the impact of integrating renewable sources and EVs in the hybrid power system is explored. Moreover, the stability of the hybrid power system is monitored with the inclusion of FACTS device. The developed controller operates encouragingly with reference to system stability, rapidity and accuracy in comparison to testified control strategies available in the literature. The robustness test under load-perturbation, solar-insolation, wind input variations also proves the efficiency of MBO optimized second order fractional-active-disturbance-rejection-controller gains.     

Analysis of moth flame optimization optimized cascade proportional-integral-proportional-derivative controller with filter for automatic generation control system incorporating solar thermal power plant

In the fast developing electric power system network, ancillary services like automatic generation control (AGC) plays a vital and significant role to ensure good quality of power supply in the system. To distribute good quality of power, a hybrid AGC system along with an efficient and intelligent controller is compelled. So, in this article, a cascaded proportional-integral (PI)-proportional-derivative (PD) controller with filter (PI-PDF) is proposed as secondary controller for AGC system. A nature inspired optimization algorithm named as moth flame optimization (MFO) algorithm is employed for simultaneous optimization of controller gains. Initially, a two-area interconnected nonreheat thermal power system is investigated. Analysis revealed that MFO-tuned PI controller performs better than the different optimization techniques tuned PI controller for the same system and PI-PDF controller performs better than PI controller does. Then, the study is extended to a three-area interconnected hybrid system with proper generation rate constraint. Area-1 consists of solar thermal-thermal unit; area-2 consists of thermal-hydro unit and area-3 thermal-gas unit as generating sources. Performance of PI-PDF controller is compared with classical controllers such as PI, PID, PIDF, and PI-PD controller without filter. Result analysis divulges that MFO-tuned PI-PDF controller performs better than all other controllers considered in this article. Robustness of the PI-PDF controller is evaluated using parameter variations and random load variation.     

Design and performance analysis of elephant herding optimization based controller for load frequency control in thermal interconnected power system

In this present contribution, an attempt has been taken to design and analyze the performance of elephant herding optimization (EHO) based controller for load frequency control (LFC) applications of interconnected power system. The studied system is a two‐area nonreheat thermal interconnected system which is widely used in literature. A proportional‐integral‐differential controller is utilized for LFC of the studied system. EHO technique is applied to obtain the tuned set of controller parameters. The objectives considered for design of the controller are the minimization of settling times and integral‐time‐multiplied‐absolute‐error of frequency deviations (FDs) and tie‐line power deviation (TPD). The design objectives are integrated together to form a function with single objective by assigning equal weights after normalization. Several test cases of diverse set of disturbances are taken into account to test the performance of the proposed controller and the obtained results are compared with other controllers designed with differential evolution, gray wolf optimization, particle swarm optimization, teacher‐learner‐based optimization, and whale optimization algorithm. Furthermore, the time‐domain simulations of FDs and TPD are illustrated to support the tabulated results. In addition, comparative statistical analysis is presented to validate the robust behavior of the proposed controller.     

Optimal feedback control of power systems governed by non-linear dynamics

Linear-quadratic regulator theory is commonly used in feedback optimization problems for power system stabilization. In this paper an extension of Gamkrelidze's maximum principle, which applies directly to non-linear systems, is used to find an optimal feedback control law from a given practically implementable class of parametrized control structures. An algorithm for finding the optimal set of parameters is presented. The results obtained, using the optimal feedback control law determined by the given algorithm, indicate a substantial improvement of the transient performance of the system.     

Optimal control strategy–based AGC of electrical power systems: A comparative performance analysis

This study extensively addresses the application of optimal control approach to the automatic generation control (AGC) of electrical power systems. Proportional‐integral structured optimal controllers are designed using full‐state feedback control strategy employing performance index minimization criterion. Some traditional single/multiarea and restructured multiarea power system models from the literature are explored deliberately in the present study. The dynamic performance of optimal controllers is observed superior in comparison to integral/proportional‐integral controllers tuned using some recently published modern heuristic optimization techniques. It is observed that optimal controllers show better system results in terms of minimum value of settling time, peak overshoot/undershoot, various performance indices, and oscillations corresponding to change in area frequencies and tie‐line powers along with maximum value of minimum damping ratio in comparison to other controllers. The results are displayed in the form of tables for ease of comparison. Sensitivity analysis affirms the robustness of the optimal feedback controller gains to wide variations in some system parameters from their nominal values.     

Chaotic state of matter search with elite opposition based learning: A new hybrid metaheuristic algorithm

In this article, the exploration and stochastic property of elite opposition-based learning and chaotic maps are utilized to introduce a hybridized metaheuristic optimization technique. Both the techniques are combined with state of matter search optimization to enhance its capability of locating global minima. The proposed hybrid algorithm is tested on various benchmark functions and compared with the state of mater search optimization to verify its efficiency. The results show that the proposed hybrid algorithm gives better convergence for various benchmark functions.     

Performance evaluation of GRNN and ANFIS controlled DVR using machine learning in distribution network

A machine learning based generalized neural network estimator (GRNNE) and Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy control system is implemented to accelerate the functional performance indices of dynamic voltage restorer (DVR). The GRNNE predictive model is recommended for the fast estimation of the reference load voltage under the distorted power supply. The fruit fly optimization learning strategy is employed to optimize the weights and smoothing parameters for the extraction of the reference voltage signals as well as unit vectors, resulting in the required sinusoidal load component. The dynamics in the DC-link voltage are optimized by the metaheuristic-based gray wolf optimization algorithm. The coefficients of the adaptive controller are updated automatically to achieve the best fitted adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system predictive model with the least tracking voltage deviation error even in the presence of voltage disturbances. In comparison to classical techniques, the recommended neural-based approach offers a faster convergence speed with fewer parameters to tune, shorter training time, and lower risks of local entrapment. The performance metrics such as mean square error, root mean square error, mean absolute error, mean absolute percent error, coefficients of correlational and determination (R and R²) are used to evaluate the efficacy of the proposed controller and hence enhance the DVR performance. Finally, the simulation results of the hybrid approach confirm that the NN-based DVR estimator has proven its ability to alleviate voltage sensible issues at critical loads and outperform others in reducing power quality issues.     

An optimized fuzzy continuous sliding mode controller combined with an adaptive proportional-integral-derivative control for uncertain systems

This article discusses the design of a hybrid fuzzy variable structure control algorithm combined with genetic algorithm (GA) optimization technique to improve the adaptive proportional-integral-derivative (PID) continuous second-order sliding mode control approach (APID2SMC), recently published in our previous article in the literature. In this article, first, as an improved extension to APID2SMC published recently in the literature, an adaptive proportional-integral-derivative fuzzy sliding mode scheme (APIDFSMC) is presented in which a fuzzy logic controller is added. Second, a GA-based adaptive PID fuzzy sliding mode control approach (APIDFSMC-GA) is introduced to obtain the optimal control parameters of the fuzzy controller in APIDFSMC. The proposed control algorithms are derived based on Lyapunov stability criterion. Simulations results show that the proposed approaches provide robustness for trajectory tracking performance under the occurrence of uncertainties. These simulation results, compared with the results of conventional sliding mode controller, APID2SMC, and standalone classical PID controller, indicate that the proposed control methods yield superior and favorable tracking control performance over the other conventional controllers.