Impact of ABT based control strategies on ALFC and AVR in DFIG-integrated interconnected power systems

To maintain a stable electricity supply in interconnected power grids, effective frequency and voltage regulation are required. Interconnected power systems use Automatic Load Frequency Control (ALFC) and Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) for this purpose. The integration of renewable sources, such as Doubly Fed Induction Generators (DFIGs), creates challenges for such control loops. This study investigates the impact of using various Frequency-Linked Pricing (FLP)-based operating strategies under Availability-Based Tariff (ABT) on combined ALFC and AVR in a two-area interconnected power system with DFIGs. FLP-based operating strategies under ABT react to frequency changes through price signals, which can act faster compared to traditional AGC methods that rely on communication between control centers. This quicker response helps maintain frequency and voltage during load disturbances. Most of the earlier research focused mostly on using only a single type of FLP-based operating strategy under ABT within the ALFC loop, neglecting the combined ALFC-AVR interaction. This work addresses this gap by evaluating three FLP-based operating strategies under ABT along with the traditional approach for their impact on frequency and voltage under step load disturbance. Simulation studies conducted in MATLAB 2022a demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategies, providing valuable insights for improving frequency and voltage control in modern power systems. The investigation reveals that the strategy that considers the difference between the actual and reference values of the unscheduled interchange (UI) charge and the marginal cost of generation to produce the control command outperforms the other strategies and restores the frequency and voltage to their nominal values.