Optimal Power System Stabilizers design via Cuckoo Search algorithm

• This paper proposes Cuckoo Search algorithm for optimal designing of PSSs.
• The design problem of PSSs is formulated as an optimization problem.
• The superiority of the CS algorithm is compared with GA and conventional one.
• The effectiveness of the proposed controller in damping oscillations is confirmed.

Cuckoo Search (CS) algorithm is introduced in this paper for optimal Power System Stabilizers (PSSs) design in a multimachine power system. The PSSs parameter tuning problem is formulated as an optimization problem which is solved by CS Algorithm. An eigenvalues based objective function involving the damping ratio, and the damping factor of the lightly damped electromechanical modes is considered for the PSSs design problem. The performance of the proposed CS based PSSs (CSPSS) has been compared with Genetic Algorithm (GA) based PSSs (GAPSS) and the Conventional PSSs (CPSS) under different operating conditions and disturbances. The results of the developed CSPSS are verified through time domain analysis, eigenvalues and performance indices. Also, the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in providing good damping characteristics is confirmed.