%0 Journal Article %T Load Frequency Control of Small Hydropower Plants Using One-Input Fuzzy PI Controller with Linear and Non-Linear Plant Model %A Derek Ajesam Asoh %A Edwin Nyuysever Mbinkar %A Albert Nouck Moutlen %J Smart Grid and Renewable Energy %P 1-16 %@ 2151-4844 %D 2022 %I Scientific Research Publishing %R 10.4236/sgre.2022.131001 %X This study presents an intelligent approach for load frequency control (LFC) of small hydropower plants (SHPs). The approach which is based on fuzzy logic (FL), takes into account the non-linearity of SHPs¡ªsomething which is not possible using traditional controllers. Most intelligent methods use two- input fuzzy controllers, but because such controllers are expensive, there is economic interest in the relatively cheaper single-input controllers. A non- linear control model based on one-input fuzzy logic PI (FLPI) controller was developed and applied to control the non-linear SHP. Using MATLAB/Si- mulink SimScape, the SHP was simulated with linear and non-linear plant models. The performance of the FLPI controller was investigated and compared with that of the conventional PI/PID controller. Results show that the settling time for the FLPI controller is about 8 times shorter; while the overshoot is about 15 times smaller compared to the conventional PI/PID controller. Therefore, the FLPI controller performs better than the conventional PI/PID controller not only in meeting the LFC control objective but also in ensuring increased dynamic stability of SHPs. %K Small Hydropower Plant %K Linear and Non-Linear Model %K Load Frequency Control %K Non-Linear Control %K Fuzzy Logic Controller %K Renewable Energy %U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=114960