Innovative hierarchical control of multiple microgrids: Cheetah meets PSO

Abstract

The expansion of microgrids (MGs) comes from the increasing integration of renewable energy resources (RES) and energy storage systems (ESs) into distribution networks. However, effective integration, coordination, and control of Multiple Microgrids (MMGs) during energy transition from microgrid to grid, and vice versa presents a formidable challenge. This arises from the necessity to ensure smooth operation, coordination, and control of MMGs for stability and efficiency during transitions. The dynamic operation of MMGs due to intermittent renewable energy in microgrids and load variations presents an additional challenge for hierarchical control techniques. This paper provides an Artificial Intelligent (AI)-based control technique and introduces an innovative hybrid optimization technique, denoted as HYCHOPSO, derived from the fusion of Cheetah Optimization (CHO) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) techniques, and the quantitative findings of extensive benchmark testing, constitute key aspects of novelty. The strategic choice of this novel optimization technique, coupled with a Proportional-Integral (PI) controller, provides key insights. HYCHOPSO is tested within benchmark functions and reaches its optimal score before 50 iterations as compared with optimization algorithms namely CHO, GWO, PSO, Hybrid-GWO-PSO, and SSIA-PSO which reaches after approximately 200 iterations. HYCHOPSO consistently exhibits the lowest mean values, indicating its robust convergence capabilities. The proposed control technique results in a significant reduction of the microgrid's Current Total Demand Distortion to 1.1%, meeting acceptable limits for a 600 V-bus According to IEEE519–2014 standard, even under nonlinear loads. Additionally, precise regulation of voltage and frequency is achieved with0.19%−+ deviations and a frequency overshoot of 1.9%. Furthermore, optimization contributes to seamless energy transition from microgrid to grid, achieving synchronization in less than 5 s. This enhances the real application's reliability, flexibility, scalability, and robustness. Furthermore, HYCHOPSO is introduced as an AI-based technique to facilitate control parameter design under dynamic conditions, with substantial simulation cases demonstrating control feasibility