Load frequency control of a multi-area system incorporating realistic high-voltage direct current and dish-Stirling solar thermal system models under deregulated scenario

A maiden attempt was made to demonstrate the impact of realistic high-voltage direct current (RHVDC) tie-line along with realistic dish-Stirling solar thermal system (RDSTS) models in multi-area load frequency control studies under a deregulated scenario. Area-1, area-2 and area-3 comprise thermal-RDSTS systems with relevant generation rate constraints. Each area includes two generation and two distribution companies. A new secondary controller with a cascaded combination of fractional order (FO) proportional derivative with filter coefficient (N) and FO-proportional-integral-derivative with filter coefficient (N) (FOPDN-FOPIDN) is proposed for the first time. The performance indices (peak magnitude, settling time and oscillations magnitude) of the proposed controller shows the dominance in comparison with the existing FOPI, PIDN and FOPIDN controllers in the policy schemes like poolco, bilateral and contract violation. A recent metaheuristic algorithm named the crow-search algorithm is successfully applied for simultaneous optimisation of the proposed FOPDN-FOPIDN controller gains and RDSTS parameters under the deregulated environment for the first time. Under the above policy schemes, the effect of RDSTS and RHVDC tie-line using FOPDN-FOPIDN controller is investigated, and the use of RHVDC tie-line with AC tie-line is explored. System dynamic response comparison with parallel AC-RHVDC tie-lines reveals better performance over AC tie-line and RHVDC tie-line when used alone.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the impact of realistic high-voltage direct current tie-line and realistic dish-Stirling solar thermal system models in multi-area load frequency control studies under a deregulated scenario. A new secondary controller with superior performance is proposed and optimized using a metaheuristic algorithm.