Bacterial foraging-based PI controller of inverter-based distributed generators

This paper introduces a new optimal technique to estimate the PI gains for current regulated inverter control. The PI controller tuning is accomplished using bacterial foraging optimization (BFO) algorithm to reduce voltage and current harmonic distortions and comply with the local grid requirements and interconnection standards. Robust and decoupled active and reactive power control is achieved. The investigation is conducted on a hybrid distributed generation (DG) unit comprising renewable-based generation with a storage unit. This kind of DG is typically is interfaced with utility grids via power electronic converters. The inverter model along with its optimized control parameters is investigated and simulated using Matlab/Simulink. Compared to trial and error tuning, PI controller that is based on BFO gives better current and voltage sinusoidal waveforms with minimum tracking error.