An Optimal Tuning of PI Controller for Shunt Active Power Filter Based on PI-PSO Approach

This paper presents an optimal tuning of a Proportional-Integral (PI) controller for a shunt active power filter (SAPF) using the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) approach for nonlinear load applications. The widespread use of power electronics in home, commercial, and industrial sectors introduces significant harmonic distortion, which degrades power quality and causes inefficiencies in electrical systems. Conventional PI controllers are commonly used for harmonic mitigation in SAPFs but suffer from suboptimal performance under varying load conditions due to difficulty in parameter tuning. This research is motivated by the need to enhance the performance of SAPFs and improve power quality by reducing harmonic distortion. By leveraging the PSO algorithm, the PI controller parameters are optimally tuned to improve SAPF performance. The proposed PI-PSO approach is evaluated through MATLAB/Simulink simulations, demonstrating a significant reduction in Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) from 22.06% without a filter to 3.66%, compared to 4.87% using conventional methods. These results highlight the effectiveness of the PI-PSO technique in achieving superior power quality, making it a promising solution for mitigating harmonics in systems with nonlinear loads.