Dual-Stage Disturbance Rejection Control Strategy for Improved LFC Performance of Interconnected Microgrid with Realistic Communication Delay

Interconnected microgrids provide a variety of advantages, such as improved system reliability, security, and optimized operation. For interconnected microgrids with lowinertia components, maintaining system stability critically relies on efficient load frequency control (LFC) operation. Owing to the substantial size of interconnected microgrids, communication delays are inevitable during the exchange of control and measurement signals. These time delays in communication make the LFC operation a cumbersome problem, as these delays can lead to inappropriate control action and, eventually, system instability. As such, addressing the challenges posed by communication delays becomes imperative to ensure the smooth operation of the LFC system. This study presents an optimal control strategy utilizing a dual-stage controller optimized through the Magnetotatic Bacteria Optimization (MBO) technique for managing the LFC operation in a two-area microgrid while considering realistic communication delays. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed controller in the LFC operation of a two-area interconnected microgrid, demonstrating its robust performance and reliability in enhancing the LFC performance in the presence of communication delays.