The Optics Inspired Optimization (OIO) algorithm is a new metaheuristic optimization method. In this paper, the OIO algorithm was proposed for automatic production control parameters in electrical power systems. The performance of the proposed algorithm was realized on two power systems that have different structures. The first structure is a two-area interconnected thermal reheat power system and the other one is a two-area interconnected multi-unit hydro-thermal power system. The results obtained with the proposed algorithm were compared with an artificial bee colony and particle swarm optimization, initial values are randomly defined that are commonly used in literature. The results were examined using four different cost functions based on area control error. Considering the obtained results, the proposed algorithm reached to the global minimum value with less number of iterations and is more suitable for online optimization. According to the results obtained with this novel method, it has a better performance for maximum overshoot and settling time values when the test systems are implemented.

This study aims to determine the improvement effect on the delay margin if fractional-order proportional integral (PI) controller is used in the control of a single-area delayed load frequency control (LFC) system. The delay margin of the system with fractional-order PI control has been obtained for various fractional integral orders and the effect of them has been shown on the delay margin as a third controller parameter. Furthermore, the stability of the system that is either under or over the delay margin is examined by generalized modified Mikhailov criterion. The stability results obtained have been confirmed numerically in time domain. It is demonstrated that the proposed controller for delayed LFC system provides more flexibility on delay margin according to integer-order PI controller.