Multi-machine power system stabilizer design by using cultural algorithms

Conventional power system stabilizer (CPSS) has been widely used as a supplementary controller to damp out the low frequency oscillations. The tuning of CPSS parameters for nonlinear power systems in a robust way in order that the overall system stability can be improved is a major drawback of CPSS. Several meta-heuristic optimization techniques have been tried out to overcome this shortcoming. This paper presents a new technique named cultural algorithms (CAs) to tune the PSS parameters. This technique is robust and computationally efficient as compared with other meta-heuristic algorithms. Simulations are carried out on two typical multi-machine electric power systems. The results clearly verify that the proposed method improves the dynamic stability of the system, especially when the operating point changes.

► A new PSS design to increase the power system damping is derived. ► Power system stabilizer design is based on cultural algorithms. ► Two multi-machine power systems with system parametric uncertainties are considered. ► Different faults and loading conditions are considered to test the proposed method. ► The proposed method has better dynamic performance in comparison with other methods.