Design and performance analysis of quantitative feedback theory based automated robust controller: An application to uncertain autonomous wind power system

Abstract

Use of a robust controller for handling the operational uncertainties has become imperative in real time. This paper presents a modified fitness function based automated robust controller with the aid of quantitative feedback theory (QFT) using Genetic algorithm (GA). A controller exhibiting the desired decreasing modular plot and descending phase response is devised. The addition of arctangent function as one of the fitness function term is the proposed modification that facilitates in capturing the ideal controller characteristics. The proposed controller is applied to extract maximum power from a permanent magnet synchronous generator based autonomous wind power system. The step by step design guidelines for the automated QFT robust controller is deliberated in detail. The performance evaluation is carried out for step change and stochastically varying wind speed. Finally, benchmarking of the proposed controller against those available in the literature is accomplished through extensive simulations and it will be shown that the maximum power extraction along with least electromagnetic torque oscillations are achieved with the proposed fitness function based automated QFT controller. © 2018 the Author(s).