Design of an Output Feedback Controller for STATCOM in view of Low Frequency Oscillation Damping Using HBMO and PSO

Nowadays since the speed of reaching to response is getting more important، the random searching algorithms are mostly used instead of the overall search of the problem space. This paper presents the application and the performance comparison of HBMO and PSO optimization techniques for designing an output feedback damping controller for STATCOM in order to enhance the damping of power system. The problem of the damping controller design is considered as an optimization problem with a multi-purpose criterion function and it is solved by HBMO and PSO algorithms. This controller is designed in order to transmit unstable electromechanical modes to the specific area of the complex plane. The proposed controller performance is confirmed by the analysis of the eigenvalue and nonlinear time-domain simulation under various disturbances with both control parameters of STATCOM (capacitor voltage control and terminal voltage control). Simulation results illustrate that the designed controller by HBMO performs better than PSO in finding the solution. Moreover، the design of the controller based on the capacitor voltage control in comparison with terminal voltage control has better low frequency oscillation damping and it increases the dynamical stability of the power system.