Improving the AVR Performance of Iraqi Hamrin Hydro Station Using PID Controller Optimized by GWO and WOA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24237/djes.2026.19207Keywords:
Automatic Voltage Regulator , Gray wolf optimization , Whale optimization method, Integral time absolute error , Integral time square errorAbstract
Power grid reliability and voltage stability are important factors for the stable operation of hydropower plants. Automatic Voltage Regulators (AVRs) contribute to maintaining stability by controlling generator excitation and terminal voltage. Achieving the best possible AVR performance is considered an important challenge. This study presents a comparison of two optimization algorithms—the Grey Wolf (GWO) algorithm and the Whale (WOA) algorithm—for selecting the optimal proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller parameters in an AVR system. The optimization process uses two performance index equations, the integral of the time absolute error (ITAE) and the integral of the time square error (ITSE). The performance evaluation and Simulations were conducted using MATLAB/Simulink. The results showed that the ITSE method based on the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) achieves a faster response, while the Gray Wolf Optimization (GWO-ITSE) algorithm was superior in stability performance. By using GWO-ITSE, the maximum deviation was decreased from 1.58 p.u. to 1.03 p.u. with 34.8% approximate enhancement. Moreover, the settling time (sec) was reduced from 18 seconds to 7.5 seconds with 58.3% approximate improvement. As a result, the GWO-ITSE proposed more stability in these hydropower plants and can be more suitable for similar applications. The obtained results further highlight the improved AVR performance using optimized PID parameters
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