Design of biogeography optimization based dual mode gain scheduling of fractional order PI load frequency controllers for multi source interconnected power systems

•Load frequency control is vital in electrical power system design and operation.•Operating level of the realistic power system changes severely during daily cycle.•Fixed gain controllers are not suitable for load frequency control applications.•Biogeography optimization based dual mode fractional order controller is proposed.•Simulation results show that the proposed controller is robust.

This paper presents the effect on application of biogeography optimization (BBODMFOPI) based dual mode gain scheduling of fractional order proportional integral controllers for load frequency control (LFC) of a multi source multi area interconnected power systems. This controller has three parameters to be tuned. Thus, it provided one more degree of freedom in comparison with the conventional proportional integral (PI) controller. For proper tuning of the controller parameters, Biogeography-Based Optimization (BBO) was applied. BBO is a novel evolutionary algorithm which involves the methodology of making the system effectively by using mathematical techniques. The dual mode concept is also incorporated in this work, because it can improve the system performance. In this work, simulation investigations were taken out on a two-area power system with different generating units. The simulation results show that the proposed biogeography optimization based dual mode gain scheduling of fractional order PI controllers, provide better transient as well as steady state response. It is also found that the proposed controller is less sensitive to the changes in system parameters and robust under different operating condition of the power systems.