Performance evaluation of an isolated small hydro power plant using conventional controllers

Abstract

This paper compares the performance of an isolated small hydro power plant using conventional control algorithms like Proportional, Proportional Integral & Proportional Integral Derivative control. Worldwide, hydropower plants produce about 24 percent of the world's electricity demand and supply more than 1 billion people with power. An estimated potential of about 15,000 MW of small hydro power projects exists in India. The flow of water through the penstock is controlled by an on/off valve and a servo valve. The on/off control linearly raises or lowers the generation by 50% and the servo motor controls the generation to the required demand. Based on the load demand the valves are controlled by the controllers so as to control the flow of water to the turbine. The transient responses for various disturbances in load are simulated and the responses with different control algorithms are compared. The effective control of the inlet flow of water can be used to reduce or completely eliminate the use of dump load. The real time values of Kallar Micro Hydel project, Kerala, India are also taken and the transient responses are plotted for the same.