A new optimization approach for multi-machine power system stabilizer design using a smart bacteria foraging algorithm

This paper presents a new optimization method for designing the parameters of a power system stabilizer (PSS) using a smart bacteria foraging algorithm (SBFA). The proposed technique, which is a modification of the bacteria foraging method (BFA), can direct bacteria by performing a tumble with a smart unit of length, decreasing the cost function better than the conventional BFA method. This algorithm not only considers social intelligence, but also emphasizes the individual intelligence of bacteria for finding a better nutritional path. A new cost function in the proposed SBFA has been used for specifying the direction of movement after a tumble. This approach led to a higher convergence speed and also better performance than the BFA. The effectiveness of the proposed method has been tested on a multi-machine power system while considering a frequency error-based objective function to enhance damping of the electromechanical oscillation modes. Simulation results for the proposed method are compared with conventional PSS, BFA- and fuzzy-based PSS methods. The results show the superior performance of the proposed SBFA-based PSS in comparison with other techniques for damping power system oscillations.