Development of a novel Harris Hawks-based optimization algorithm for power quality enhancement in distribution systems using a dynamic voltage restorer

Industries using electrical power have a critical and pressing need for improved power quality (PQ). Several important problems have already been identified, such as voltage swell, sag, and harmonics. However, PQ fluctuation issues remain unresolved. A series of active power filters are used to shield delicate loads from PQ related problems. This paper present a low-complexity control technique for voltage compensation using a type of custom power device used with different inverter topologies called Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR). In this study, a three-phase Z-Source Inverter-based DVR is employed to reduce voltage disruption, including voltage fluctuation, sag, swell, and harmonics. Error-driven Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller provides higher PQ performance in terms of voltage augmentation, stabilization, and reduction in harmonic distortion in the distribution system. This strategy keeps the load voltage near or close to the nominal value and addresses many other voltage issues. The gain parameter of a PID controller is tuned using Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO) method. The proposed work is compared with traditional controllers as well as Genetic Algorithm-based PID controllers, and the distortion of total harmonics comparisons are also conducted to show the accuracy of the proposed Z-DVR. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the suggested methodology, it is implemented in MATLAB/Simulink R2020a tool and the results of the mitigated sag, swell fluctuation, and total harmonic distortion (THD) are studied.