Voltage Quality Enhancement of Low-Voltage Smart Distribution System Using Robust and Optimized DVR Controllers: Application of the Harris Hawks Algorithm

Abstract

The voltage quality (VQ) index has become a significant measure of recent power system stability. The integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems plus smart home loads (SHLs) at low voltage levels (LVLs) has resulted in various issues such as harmonics rise and voltage instabilities as a result of faults and systems nonlinearity. In this work, a dynamic voltage resistor (DVR) is implemented to enhance VQ, and its dynamic performance hinges on its control system ability. To enhance the DVR’s control system, for surpassing nonstandard voltage with a quick response and harmonics reduction at LVL under harsh operating events, an optimal controller design using the Harris Hawks algorithm (HHA) is proposed. To verify the value of the suggested solution, the hard operating events (voltage sag, voltage swell, fluctuating voltage, and imbalanced voltage) are examined and assessed. To show the effectiveness of the HHA technique, a comparison of the % total harmonic distortion (THD) reductions achieved by the suggested and conventional controllers of DVR is conducted for the scenarios under study. Moreover, the suggested controller stability is analyzed and assessed using Lyapunov’s function. The benefits of the optimized controller system are inferred from the results, including their robustness, simplicity, efficient harmonic rejection, minimal tracking error, quick response, and sinusoidal reference track. The results of the simulation show that the DVR’s optimized controller is efficient and effective in maintaining a voltage at the needed level with low THD, safeguarding the sensitive load as expected, and showing a noticeable improvement in voltage waveforms. The mathematical modeling of HHA, PV system, DVR, and SHLs are all verified using MATLAB\Simulink.