Honey Badger Algorithm Based PI Controller for DC Link Voltage Control of Solar Photovoltaic System Connected to Grid for Enhanced Power Quality

Abstract

The parameters of the proportional integral (PI) controller used for DC link voltage control play a vital role in regulating the DC link voltage of grid-connected solar photovoltaic system that experiences heavy DC voltage fluctuation and various power quality issues due to integration of non-linear loads, varying irradiance and loading conditions. The existing strategies might fail to respond to the above complications due to fixed PI gains which restrict their scope of controlling domain. Therefore, adaptive PI gain values should be selected to quickly adjust to the varying conditions and dynamically obtain the optimal control settings. This article employs the honey badger algorithm (HBA), developed in Matlab to adaptively tune the PI controller gains value by minimizing the DC link voltage deviation. The advantages of using this technique over conventional PI controllers are its quick response, adaptability, stability, and optimal self-tuning process.  The proposed algorithm has been tested under steady-state and dynamic conditions for different irradiation and loading conditions. Further, results of the proposed algorithm have been compared with PI controller and particle swarm optimization-PI controller to validate the efficacy of the proposed algorithm for grid-connected solar photovoltaic systems. It has been observed that the proposed algorithm maintains THD <3% in all the tested conditions.

Keywords:

• solar photovoltaic
• honey badger algorithm
• maximum power point tracking
• synchronous reference frame theory

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shruti Prajapati

Shruti Prajapati received B.E. degree in 2018 from MS Engineering College, Bangalore, India, in electrical and electronics engineering and M.Tech. degree in power system in 2021 from Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Ranchi, India. Presently, she is pursuing her PhD in Electrical Engineering Department at Delhi Technological University, Delhi. Her research interests are in renewable energy sources, power quality, control system, and microgrid.

Rachana Garg

Rachana Garg received the B.E. and M.E. degrees in 1986 and 1989, respectively, from National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, India. She obtained her Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Delhi University, India in 2009. Presently, she is professor and head of Department of Electrical Engineering Department at Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India. Her areas of interests are modeling of transmission lines, power system operation and control, smart grid, and renewable energy.

Priya Mahajan

Priya Mahajan received B.E. from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology in 1996 and M.E. from Punjab Engineering College in 1998, Punjab, India. She has obtained her Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Delhi University, India, in 2015. Presently, she is working as a professor at Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India. Her areas of interests are railway electric traction system and power system.