Sunflower optimization algorithm-based optimal PI control for enhancing the performance of an autonomous operation of a microgrid

Abstract This paper presents a novel application of the sunflower optimization (SFO) algorithm to enhance the performance of the inverter based microgrid. The vector cascaded control method is used to control the inverter which relies on the proportional-integral (PI) controller. The main goal is to select the parameters of the PI controller using the SFO algorithm. The multi-objective function for this research is deduced from the response surface methodology (RSM). The simulation results are tested under three different operating states which are: 1) the system conversion from grid-connected to stand-alone mode, 2) changing the load during stand-alone mode, and 3) symmetrical fault during stand-alone mode. The results verify the flexibility, justification, and applicability of the presented SFO algorithm versus the particle swarm optimization (PSO).