An Optimized Control Scheme for Solar Energy Tracking Systems

Abstract

This paper proposes Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO) algorithm for efficient single-axis solar tracking system. The main tracking system aim is to improve the performance of solar energy conversion system. To achieve this target, the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller that is optimized by using the HHO is employed for controlling the sun position control of the Permanent Magnet DC (PMDC) motor. The Weighted Goal Attainment Function (WGAF) combines various individual performance indices namely Integrated-Squared Error (ISE), Integrated-Time-Weighted Absolut Error (ITAE), and Integrated-Absolute Error (IAE). Its impact on the system performance is employed by using different weighting factors that represent different system priorities. The performance of the proposed control scheme is verified for variable sun positions and load torque. The HHO-PID controller optimized using the WGAF is compared with conventional PID-controller in the overall system performance. The results obtained from HHO-PID using the WGAF are compared to those obtained using ISE, IAE, and ITAE. Analysis results have shown that the lowest fitness function level is obtained (0.14076) using the proposed improved fitness function, compared with other individual fitness functions which are 1.4386, 5.44438, and 0.4214 for ISE, IAE, and ITAE, respectively. Also, results have shown that the proposed improved fitness function has the best rising time (0.085 sec), settling time (0.16 sec), percent steady-state error (0.00061), and percent overshot (0.00227). The simulation findings provide validation of the suggested scheme and the effectiveness of the HHO-PID controller tuned by the WGAF. The results show that the proposed tuned controller has superior performance in terms of robustness and control effects on the setting time, maximum overshoot, and steady-state error.