Tuning of a PI-MR Controller Based on Differential Evolution Metaheuristic Applied to the Current Control Loop of a Shunt-APF

This paper aims to present an alternative methodology to improve the tuning of proportional-integral multiresonant (PI-MR) controller applied to the current control loop of a shunt active power filter (SAPF) by using a differential evolution (DE) metaheuristic method. For computing the PI-MR controller gains, the methodology based on Naslin polynomial (NP) can be employed, although its performance is limited. On the other hand, tuning procedures accomplished by trial-and-error methods have been largely used. In order to fill the lack of methodological procedures to determine the PI-MR controller gains, the use of DE metaheuristic optimization algorithm is proposed to perform an optimal adjustment. The DE algorithm operates minimizing an appropriate cost function, taking into account the total harmonic distortion of the source current, the error of the compensation current control loop, and the saturation limit of the control action. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is compared to the NP-based method, applied to a single-phase SAPF. The proposed methodology is validated by means of both simulation and experimental results. The evaluation of the static and dynamic performances is obtained from experimental tests performed based on a digital signal processor.