A hybrid modified differential evolution-pattern search approach for SSSC based damping controller design under communication constraints

Modern power systems depend greatly on their control systems which operate over communication networks to alleviate the effects of disturbances in the power system. However, it introduces vulnerabilities such as constraints of the communication and control systems that relay precarious control signals. In power systems, damping controllers using feedback signals from remote locations are likely to be adversely affected by communication constraints in future. In this study, an approach is employed to construct the remote control input signal from locally measurable quantity so that the control system performs satisfactorily under communication failure. A hybrid of global search (i.e. differential evolution: DE) and local search (i.e. pattern search: PS) technique is employed for static synchronous series compensator-based damping controller design in Single Machine Infinite Bus and multi-machine power systems. Proposed algorithm is first tested using bench mark test functions and compared with other recent state of art algorithms as well as some other recent variants of DE to validate the efficiency of the proposed approach. It is demonstrated that the proposed methodology provides better damping performance compared to some recently published methodologies.