Publication

Abstract : This paper focuses on controlling the hydrothermal plant using Variable Structure System (VSS) controller and Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) unit. The Automatic Generation Control (AGC) of hydrothermal plants is conventionally done by Proportional-Integral (PI) controller, which yields desired response too. For, further improvement of transient and steady state response, the conventional PI controller is replaced by Variable Structure System (VSS) controller. Ziegler Nichols’ (ZN) method is used in tuning the gains of conventional PI controller and VSS controller. The system response in terms of transient and steady state is much improved while using VSS controller than conventional PI controller. The Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) unit being a frequency stabilizer which helps to damp out frequency oscillations much faster, is used along with the Variable Structure System (VSS) controller for controlling the hydrothermal power plant. The simulation response shows that the hydrothermal system with Variable Structure System (VSS) controller and Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) unit exhibits better frequency and tie line power performance.