Advanced load frequency control of microgrid using a bat algorithm supported by a balloon effect identifier in the presence of photovoltaic power source

Due to the unpredictability of the majority of green energy sources (GESs), particularly in microgrids (μGs), frequency deviations are unavoidable. These factors include solar irradiance, wind disturbances, and parametric uncertainty, all of which have a substantial impact on the system’s frequency. An adaptive load frequency control (LFC) method for power systems is suggested in this paper to mitigate the aforementioned issues. For engineering challenges, soft computing methods like the bat algorithm (BA), where it proves its effectiveness in different applications, consistently produce positive outcomes, so it is used to address the LFC issue. For online gain tuning, an integral controller using an artificial BA is utilized, and this control method is supported by a modification known as the balloon effect (BE) identifier. Stability and robustness of analysis of the suggested BA+BE scheme is investigated. The system with the proposed adaptive frequency controller is evaluated in the case of step/random load demand. In addition, high penetrations of photovoltaic (PV) sources are considered. The standard integral controller and Jaya+BE, two more optimization techniques, have been compared with the suggested BA+BE strategy. According to the results of the MATLAB simulation, the suggested technique (BA+BE) has a significant advantage over other techniques in terms of maintaining frequency stability in the presence of step/random disturbances and PV source. The suggested method successfully keeps the frequency steady over I and Jaya+BE by 61.5% and 31.25%, respectively. In order to validate the MATLAB simulation results, real-time simulation tests are given utilizing a PC and a QUARC pid_e data acquisition card.