Abstract
Micro-hydro power plants (μHPPs) are a major energy source in grid-isolated zones because they do not require reservoirs and dams to be built. μHPPs operate in a standalone mode, but a continuously varying load generates voltage unbalances and frequency fluctuations which can cause long-term damage to plant components. One method of frequency regulation is the use of alternating current-alternating current (AC-AC) converters as an electronic load controller (ELC). The disadvantage of AC-AC converters is reactive power consumption with the associated decrease in both the power factor and the capacity of the alternator to deliver current. To avoid this disadvantage, we proposed two rectifier topologies combined with symmetrical switching. However, the performance of the frequency regulation loop with each topology remains unknown. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of the frequency regulation loop when each topology, with a symmetrical switching form, was inserted. A MATLAB® model was implemented to simulate the frequency loop. The results from a μHPP case study in a small Cuban rural community called ‘Los Gallegos’ showed that the performance of the frequency regulation loop using the proposed topologies satisfied the standard frequency regulation and increased both the power factor and current delivery capabilities of the alternator.
Highlights
Over 170 small-scale hydro power plants (HPPs) supply 1% of electrical power inCuba, mainly in the Oriental Province of the island which operates as an autonomous system, isolated from the main electrical grid
The signal plotted shows that the settling time was less than 5 s, while the maximum error was 0.075 Hz, which corresponds to 7.5% of the MP allowed by the Cuban standard
For the steady state corresponding to the time from t = 5.0 s to t = 6.5 s, PAC-AC = 6 kW, to compensate the reduction of power consumed by users (PU), that is accomplished for α = 1.57 rad with the signal sent by the frequency regulator M = 2.50 V obtained from (14)
Summary
Over 170 small-scale hydro power plants (HPPs) supply 1% of electrical power inCuba, mainly in the Oriental Province of the island which operates as an autonomous system, isolated from the main electrical grid. Over 170 small-scale hydro power plants (HPPs) supply 1% of electrical power in. Association, the Cuban government has aspirations to significantly increase its share of renewables over the two decades, aiming to generate some 24% of the country’s electricity by 2030. The technical potential of small hydro power is estimated at 135 MW. The government has drawn up plans to develop 74 HPPs with a capacity of over 56 MW (274 GWh). This would nearly double the country’s current hydropower capacity, generating an estimated 274 GWh of renewable energy annually and offsetting up to 230,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions [1]
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