Robust coordinated design of multiple and multi-type damping controller using differential evolution algorithm

► PSS and SSSC-based controllers help in improving power system stability. ► These controllers are to be optimally and coordinately designed. ► Local signals can be used to make the system reliable and cost effective. ► Differential evolution optimization technique can be employed tune the controller parameters. A robust coordination scheme to improve the stability of a power system by optimal design of multiple and multi-type damping controllers is presented in this paper. The controllers considered are power system stabilizer (PSS) and static synchronous series compensator (SSSC)-based controller. Local measurements are provided as input signals to all the controllers. The coordinated design problem is formulated as an optimization problem and differential evolution (DE) algorithm is employed to search for the optimal controller parameters. The performance of the proposed controllers is evaluated for both single-machine infinite-bus power system and multi-machine power system. Nonlinear simulation results are presented over a wide range of loading conditions and system configurations to show the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed coordinated design approach. It is observed that the proposed controllers provide efficient damping to power system oscillations under a wide range of operating conditions and under various disturbances. Further, simulation results show that, in a multi-machine power system, the modal oscillations are effectively damped by the proposed approach.