Pareto design of Load Frequency Control for interconnected power systems based on multi-objective uniform diversity genetic algorithm (MUGA)

• LFC is considered for multi-area interconnected power systems.
• MUGA is employed for Pareto optimization of PI/PID controllers in LFC.
• The proposed designs outperform proposed designs by other methods.
• Linear and non-linear power systems with GRC effects are considered.

In this study, it is tried to employ a state-of-the-art multi-objective uniform-diversity genetic algorithm (MUGA) for Pareto optimization of PI/PID controllers in Load Frequency Control (LFC) of power systems. At first, multi objective optimization of a linear non-reheat two-area interconnected power system is conducted with respect to three conflicting objective functions. Gains of PI and PID controllers are considered as design variables while the objective functions are Integral Time multiply Absolute Error (ITAE), minimum damping ratio of dominant eigenvalues, and settling times in frequency and tie-line power deviations. To illustrate superiority of MUGA in finding optimum values of the deign variables, the proposed designs by MUGA are compared with those proposed by single and multi-objective optimization methods such as BFOA, hBFOA-PSO, and NSGA-II; the results indicate there is a noticeable improvement in response of the system. Further, robustness of the proposed designs is demonstrated by varying the system parameters from their nominal values and monitoring sensitivity of the system response to the variations. At the end, to take nonlinearities and physical constraints into account and to evaluate performance of MUGA in more complex system, a three unequal area hydro thermal system with generation rate constraints is considered.