A new control system design for a small hydro-power plant based on particle swarm optimization-fuzzy sliding mode controller with Kalman estimator

Abstract

One of the main problems in small hydro-power plants that are locally used is their frequency control system. In this paper, a suggested control system based on the fuzzy sliding mode controller is presented for controlling the network frequency. Also, the proposed control strategy is compared with a PI controller and conventional sliding mode controller. In order to regulate the membership functions of fuzzy system more accurately, the particle swarm optimization algorithm is also applied. Moreover, because of unavailability of the control system variables, an estimator is suggested for estimating and identifying the system variables. This estimator will reduce the costs of implementing the control method. The simulation results show the ability of controller system in controlling the local network frequency in the presence of load and parameter's variations. © 2011, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.