ARM based electronic load controller for micro-hydropower stations

Abstract

This paper presents a method for maintaining constant voltage and frequency of synchronous generator using Advanced RISC Machine (ARM) controller based Electronic Load Controller. Constant frequency and voltage can be generated by a Synchronous Generator only when a constant electrical load is maintained. It is achieved by using Electronic Load Controller (ELC).When synchronous generator is connected to a turbine or any sudden changing loads its voltage and frequency also varies. This Electronic Load Controller consist of ARM LPC 1768, ACS712 current sensor, Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT), an auxiliary load and consumer load and is implemented using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) technique. This Electronic Load Controller provides effective and easy way of controlling voltage and frequency for linear loads which obeys the ohm’s law. PWM technique is the fast response method compared to other methods having smooth speed control. So the load will be switched on/off properly and output voltage and frequency will be maintained.