A maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique plays an important role to ensure maximum photovoltaic (PV) output power is extracted under stochastic weather conditions. The research to date tends to focus on developing a standalone optimization MPPT algorithm rather than looking into a hybrid MPPT algorithm. This paper introduces particle swarm optimization (PSO) to optimize the maximum PV output power and to determine the best design variable for penalising the step size of the conventional methods namely the perturb and observe (PO) and the incremental conductance (IC). With the help of the hybrid MPPT algorithm (PSO+IC and PSO+PO), the step size is no longer fixed, and it is changing according to the solar irradiance. To evaluate the proposed hybrid algorithm, a single-stage grid connected PV system is designed for several different scenarios with various weather conditions. The performance of the hybrid MPPT algorithm and the conventional methods is compared. The results demonstrate that the hybrid MPPT algorithm is remarkably better than the conventional methods in terms of the output power ripple and the settling time.

The application of the phasor measurement units and the wide expansion of the wide area measurement units make the time delay inevitable in power systems. The time delay could result in poor system performance or at worst lead to system instability. Therefore, it is important to determine the maximum time delay margin required for the system stability. In this paper, we present a new method for determining the delay margin in the power system. The method is based on the analysis in the s-domain. The transcendental time delay characteristics equation is transformed to a frequency dependent equation. The spectral radius is used to find the frequencies at which the roots cross the imaginary axis. The crossing frequencies are determined through the sweeping test and the binary iteration algorithm. A single machine infinite bus system equipped with automatic voltage regulator and power system stabilizer is chosen as a case study. The delay margin is calculated for different values of the power system stabilizer (PSS) gain, and it is found that increasing the PSS gain decreases the delay margin. The effectiveness of the proposed method has been proved through comparing it with the most recent published methods. The method shows its merit with less conservativeness and fewer computations.

Open communication is an exigent need for future power systems, where time delay is unavoidable. In order to secure the stability of the grid, the frequency must remain within its limited range which is achieved through the load frequency control. Load frequency control signals are transmitted through communication networks which induce time delays that could destabilize power systems. So, in order to guarantee stability, the delay margin should be computed. In this paper, we present a new method for calculating the delay margin in load frequency control systems. The transcendental time delay characteristics equation is transformed into a frequency dependent equation. The spectral radius was used to find the frequencies at which the root crosses the imaginary axis. The crossing frequencies were determined through the sweeping test and the binary iteration algorithm. A one-area load frequency control system was chosen as a case study. The effectiveness of the proposed method was proven through comparison with the most recent published methods. The method shows its merit with less conservativeness and less computations. The impact of the proportional integral (PI) controller gains on the delay margin was investigated. It was found that increasing the PI controller gains reduces the delay margin.

In classical power systems, frequency measurements are transferred via a specialised communication channel, resulting in time delay. The time delay plays a major role in a power system, which can reduce the dynamic performance of the load–frequency control (LFC) system and can destabilise the system. The research to date has tended to focus on developing a new algorithm to determine the delay margin (DM) rather than looking into a hybrid algorithm which includes a nature-inspired metaheuristic optimisation technique. This paper introduces a novel method for computing the DM based on grey wolf optimisation (GWO), specifically for the constant time delay. In the proposed method, GWO is employed to optimise the minimum error of the spectral radius and to determine the best design variable of the crossing frequency. With the help of the proposed method, the sweeping range is no longer required, which improves the accuracy of the result. To evaluate the proposed method, a two-area network power system is considered as a case study. Furthermore, the effect of the PI controller gains on the DM is taken into account. The proposed method efficacy is demonstrated by comparing it with the most recently published methods. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is remarkably better than the existing methods found in the literature, where the smallest percentage inaccuracy using the simulation-based DM based on GWO is found to be 0.000%.

Transformerless inverters (TIs) are becoming increasingly popular in solar photovoltaic (PV) applications due to their enhanced efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Unlike transformer-based inverters, TIs, which lack transformers and additional components, offer significant advantages in terms of reduced weight, compactness, and lower costs. Research studies have demonstrated that multilevel TIs can achieve lower total harmonic distortion (THD), reduced switching stresses, and higher AC output voltage levels suitable for high voltage applications. However, achieving these outcomes simultaneously with maximum power ratings and the lowest switching frequencies poses a challenge for TI topologies. In light of these challenges, this research proposes the implementation of a 13-level single-source switched-capacitor boost multilevel inverter (SSCBMLI) designed for solar PV systems. The SSCBMLI consists of a single DC power source, switched-capacitor (SC) units, and a full H-bridge. Compared to other existing 13-level multilevel inverter (MLI) configurations, the proposed SSCBMLI utilizes the fewest components to minimize development costs. Moreover, the SSCBMLI offers voltage boosting and can drive high inductive loads, self-voltage-balanced capacitors, an adaptable topology structure, and reliable system performance. Simulations and experimental tests are conducted using PLECS 4.5 and SIMULINK to assess the performance of the proposed SSCBMLI under varying modulation indices, source powers, and loads. A comparative analysis is then conducted to evaluate the SSCBMLI against existing inverter topologies.

The open communication is an exigent need for future power system where the time delay is unavoidable. In order to secure the stability of the grid, the frequency must remain within its limited range which is achieved through the load frequency control. The load frequency control signals are transmitted through communication networks which induces time delay that could destabilize the power systems. So, in order to guarantee the stability the delay margin should be computed. In this paper, we present a new method for calculating the delay margin in load frequency control systems. The transcendental time delay characteristics equation is transformed to frequency dependant equation. The spectral radius is used to find the frequencies at which the roots crosses the imaginary axis. The crossing frequencies are determined through the sweeping test and the binary iteration algorithm. A one-area load frequency control system is chosen as case study. The effectiveness of the proposed method has been proved through comparing with the most recent published methods. The method shows its merit with less conservativeness and less computations. The PI controller gains are preferable to be chosen large to reduce the damping, however, the delay margin decreases with increasing the PI controller gains.