Automatic Gate System Based on Water Flow Within the Intake of a Micro-Hydro Power Plant

Abstract

The micro-hydro power plant is an alternative to provide electricity especially in regions that are far from the PLN network. The micro-hydro power plant uses water flow to generate electricity. The micro-hydro power plant uses a gate that is utilised to distribute water to the turbine. However, the watergate is commonly controlled manually which results in drawbacks such as unfavourable stabilization and the need for direct monitoring that requires lots of constant expense as well as labour. The objective of this research is to make equipment that can work automatically in substituting a labourer’s role in opening and closing the watergate according to the required water flow. A water flow sensor is used to measure the water flow, the result of the sensor reading is carried on to microcontroller (set up as Fuzzy Logic Control) and Controler sends the control signal to the actuator (DC motor). The Fuzzy Logic method as the watergate controller is used as the research’s prototype system. Based on the data acquired by the research that has been done, the system is oscillated towards the change of the water flow. However, it’s capable to approach the set value point. It can be seen from the water flow trial with a set point of 3 L/min the steady-state response of system undergoes at range of 2,92 L/min–2,95 L/min and with a set point of 3,5 L/min, the steady-state response of system undergoes at range of 3,44 L/min - 3,47 L/min.