TLBO optimized sliding mode controller for multi-area multi-source nonlinear interconnected AGC system

•Optimal design of output feedback of SMC is proposed for LFC of multi-area power system.•TLBO algorithm is employed to tune whole of SMC parameters.•Proposed approach exhibit better performance than PSO, DE and GA technique.•Sensitivity analysis is performed to show the robustness of the proposed controller.•The study is extended to multi area multi-source nonlinear AGC system with HVDC link.

This paper represents design of output feedback sliding mode controller (SMC) for multi area multi-source interconnected power system. After designing output feedback SMC, teaching and learning based optimization (TLBO) technique is utilized to optimize feedback gain and switching vector of the controller. The superiority of the proposed approach is shown by comparing the result with output feedback tuned SMC with differential evolution and particle swarm optimization and state feedback SMC tuned with genetic algorithm for a two area thermal interconnected power system. Further, the proposed approach is extended to multi-area multi-source non linear automatic generation control (AGC) system with/without HVDC link. First area consists up thermal, hydro and gas; second area consists up thermal, hydro and nuclear as generating unit. Additionally, the superiority of proposed approach is shown by sensitivity analysis, which is carried out with wide changes in system parameters.