Implementation of an ant colony optimization - based PID controller for a microhydroelectric power plant

The goal of this study is to apply a newly developed algorithm known as the Ant-Colony Optimization Technique for PID controllers to a Microhydroelectric Power plant. Ant Colony Optimization is a new nature-inspired optimization technique used especially in combinatorial optimization problems (Bingul & Varol, 2004). A successful study conducted by Bingul and Varol showed that when the PID controllers were optimized with ant algorithm, desired response could be achieved. It also provides a global optimum solution for PID controller design problems. Presented with these advantages the realization of the identified method in the control system of the micro hydroelectric power plant has now become more appealing. Basically, this is a pioneering study in controlling the output of a Micro hydroelectric power plant. The system interfaces the generator output to the control system which contains the ACO, PID controller and the motor that will direct the valve according to the received control signal. The program is performed using the software MATLAB and the actual simulations and test runs is applied on a sample Microhydoelectric powerplant located at 1st floor Miguel Building of De La Salle University-Manila. Load application for most microhydroelectric power plant varies its output voltage causing an insufficient supply or overloading to most electronic equipment. These occurrences can damage the devices that utilize the power plant especially when not maintained. The implementation of Ant Colony Optimization technique will be able manipulates the valve of the micro hydro system to obtain the desired output in whatever loading condition it might encounter. To measure the efficiency of the system, a cost function was utilized, in this case, the Suyama, to compare with output and simulations done in the experiments using the Ant Colony optimization technique and eventually yielded favorable result