Journal of Control, Automation and Electrical Systems 

About: Journal of Control, Automation and Electrical Systems is an academic journal published by Springer Science+Business Media. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Control theory & Electric power system. It has an ISSN identifier of 2195-3899. Over the lifetime, 1007 publications have been published receiving 6382 citations.

A New Meta-Heuristic Optimization Algorithm Inspired by FIFA World Cup Competitions: Theory and Its Application in PID Designing for AVR System

Abstract: This paper presents a new optimization algorithm based on human society’s intelligent contests. FIFA World Cup is an international association football competition competed by the senior men’s national teams. This contest is one of the most significant competitions among the humans in which people/teams try hard to overcome the others to earn the victory. In this competition there is only one winner which has the best position rather than the others. This paper introduces a new technique for optimization of mathematic functions based on FIFA World Cup competitions. The main difficulty of the optimization problems is that each type of them can be interpreted in a specific manner. World Cup Optimization (WCO) algorithm has a number of parameters to solve any type of problems due to defined parameters. For analyzing the system performance, it is applied on some benchmark functions. It is also applied on an optimal control problem as a practical case study to find the optimal parameters of PID controller with considering to the nominal operating points $$(K_{g}$$ , $$T_{g})$$ changes of the AVR system. The main objective of the proposed system is to minimize the steady-state error and also to improve the transient response of the AVR system by optimal PID controller. Optimal values of the PID controller which are achieved by WCO algorithm are then compared with particle swarm optimization and imperialist competitive algorithm in different situations. Finally for illustrating the system capability against the disturbance, it is applied on a generator with disturbance on it and the results are compared by the other algorithms. The simulation results show the excellence of WCO algorithm performance into the nature base and other competitive algorithms.

A Single-Phase Transformer-Less Grid-Tied Inverter Based on Switched Capacitor for PV Application

Abstract: In this paper, a transformer-less grid-tied single-phase inverter is proposed which is directly connected to the topology. The voltage across the leakage capacitor has the base frequency, which decreases the leakage current under the defined value in the standards. This inverter’s active switches are high- and low-frequency types. High-frequency switches control the inductor’s current. In addition, the low-frequency switches are synchronous with the grid and operate in the base frequency. Since no power electrolytic decoupled capacitor is utilized between the high- and low-frequency switches, the system’s total efficiency and lifespan are improved. The proposed inverter has the capability of stepping up/down the output voltage, making it suitable for operating in a wide range of voltages and also providing large range of powers to the grid. This topology is directly connected to the grid, without any output filter, leading to elimination of the losses caused by the filter and increased efficiency. In the proposed inverter, a digital current controller is employed to control the injected current to the grid. Furthermore, P&O algorithm is adapted to extract the maximum power from the input source. For proving the proposed converter’s performance, a 770-W prototype has been implemented and comprehensive experimental results are presented.

Design of Optimal Fractional-Order PID Controllers Using Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) System

Abstract: In practical applications, the pure derivative action is never used, due to the “derivative kick” produced in the control signal for a step input, and to the undesirable noise amplification. It is usually replaced by a first-order low-pass filter. In this paper, we use a $$\mu $$ -order fractional low-pass filter and define a practical fractional-order controller. The proposed approach with new defined fitness function has very easy implementation and the most control performance. We present a method for optimum tuning of practical fractional PID controllers for automatic voltage regulator system using particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. PSO is a robust stochastic optimization technique based on the movement and intelligence of swarm, applies the concept of social interaction to problem solving. From the comparison this technique with the other methods, its influence and efficiency are illustrated. Simulations and comparisons with other FOPID/PID controllers illustrate that the proposed PSO-FOPID controller can provide good control performance with respect to reference input and also improve the system robustness with respect to model uncertainties.

Optimization of Fractional Order PID Controller Using Grey Wolf Optimizer

Abstract: This paper presents a novel evolutionary technique to optimize the parameters of fractional order controller for controlling two classes of systems: time-delay and higher-order system. The evolutionary technique known as grey wolf optimizer is used to tune both integer and fractional order controllers. The grey wolf optimizer searches for the optimum solution in the following manner, i.e. encircling, hunting, attacking the prey and finally search for the new prey consecutively if exists. To certify these various procedure, the performance indices like integral square error, integral absolute error, integral time-weighted square error, and integral time-weighted absolute error are minimized for the authenticity. Moreover, the proposed algorithm is validated and compared with well-established techniques.

New PI-PD Controller Design Strategy for Industrial Unstable and Integrating Processes with Dead Time and Inverse Response

Abstract: Industrial processes of unstable/integrating nature having a dead time and inverse response characteristics are challenging to control. For controlling such processes, double-loop control structures have proven to be more efficient than conventional PID controllers in a unity feedback configuration. Therefore, a new design method to obtain PI-PD controller settings is proposed for a set of unstable/integrating plant models with dead time and inverse response. The stabilizing proportional–derivative (PD) controller is designed using maximum sensitivity considerations and Routh–Hurwitz stability criteria. The PI controller settings are obtained by comparing the first and second derivatives of expected and actual closed-loop transfer functions about the origin of the s-plane. Adjustable parameters of the inner and outer loops are selected such that the desired value of maximum sensitivity is achieved. Simulation studies are conducted on some benchmark linear and nonlinear plant models used in literature. Robustness of the proposed design is analyzed with perturbed plant models, and quantitative performance measures are computed. It is found that the proposed design yields enhanced and robust closed-loop response than some contemporary works.