Optimal gravitational search algorithm for automatic generation control of interconnected power systems

An attempt is made for the effective application of Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) to optimize PI/ PIDF controller parameters in Automatic Generation Control (AGC) of interconnected power systems. Initially, comparison of several conventional objective functions reveals that ITAE yields better system performance. Then, the parameters of GSA technique are properly tuned and the GSA control parameters are proposed. The superiority of the proposed approach is demonstrated by comparing the results of some recently published techniques such as Differential Evolution (DE), Bacteria Foraging Optimization Algorithm (BFOA) and Genetic Algorithm (GA). Additionally, sensitivity analysis is carried out that demonstrates the robustness of the optimized controller parameters to wide variations in operating loading condition and time constants of speed governor, turbine, tie-line power. Finally, the proposed approach is extended to a more realistic power system model by considering the physical constraints such as reheat turbine, Generation Rate Constraint (GRC) and Governor Dead Band nonlinearity. (C) 2014 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Ain Shams University.