Optimal Design of a Fractional-Order Controller for Stabilization and Control of DC Microgrids in the Presence of Constant Power and Voltage Loads Using a Grey Wolf Optimization Algorithm

Abstract

This paper presents a new optimal design of a fractional order controller for the control and stabilization of DC microgrids, particularly under constant power and voltage loads. The study focuses on a well-designed DC microgrid configuration, including two buck-boost power electronic converters, a constant power load, and a constant voltage load. The proposed microgrid operates with a total power consumption of 2 kW, an input voltage of 100 V for the converters, and a DC bus voltage of 250 V. The fractional order controller parameters are optimized using a robust gray wolf optimization algorithm, chosen for its superior performance in handling complex optimization problems compared to other methods. The functionality of the controller is evaluated under various noise and disturbance conditions to ensure the stability of the DC bus. Additionally, the proposed fractional order controller is benchmarked against a conventional proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller under different operating conditions. The simulation results highlight the enhanced stability and control offered by the fractional order controller, demonstrating its practical applicability in real-world DC microgrids.