An Optimal Controller for Load Frequency Control in Multi-Area Deregulated power system

In this paper, an optimal controller for load frequency control in multi area power system in deregulated environment is suggested. The controller is designed and analyzed for LFC in multi-area power system while each area consists of different multi-sources such as hydro, thermal reheat and non-reheat. To solve LFC problem, a PID controller is designed while its parameters are timed using nature inspired Social Spider Optimization algorithm. For each area, local PID controller is designed which minimize the frequency deviation of that area and tie line power exchange while various contracts commitments are taken care. It is also observed that load change, disturbance and uncertainty in system parameters have no effect on the performance of the designed controller. The performance of suggested controller is studied and analyzed in all possible contracts in deregulated power market. The controller is simulated in MATLAB/SIMULINK. The superiority of proposed approach has been shown by comparing dynamic performance of designed PID using SSO with PSO and DE. The results are compared for various performance measures like overshoot, undershoot, settling time, frequency deviation and deviation in tie line power. The designed controller is also compared with existing fractional PID and ANFIS controller. On comparison it is found that designed controller is robust and gives better results in all aspects.