Paper
Application of a Stepper Motor tothe Frequency Control of a Mini Hydropower Plant
- Authors:
- Ayele Nigussie Legesse; Mengesha Mamo
- Abstract
- This paper describes the application of a stepper motor in controlling the frequency of a standalone mini hydropower plant. In Ethiopia, the frequencies of the existing mini hydropower plants are controlled by mechanical governors. Unfortunately, these governors are expensive, complex and slow in response. Furthermore, the governors do not act fast enough during big load changes; consequently, frequency spikes are created. In this research, a stepper motor which is cheap, fast, easy to control and less complexis used to control the frequency of a mini hydropower plant.Thestepper motor is used to rotate aspear valve which in turn controls the flow of water into the turbine of a mini hydropower plant. The position of the stepper motor is controlled by a controller. Thus,a frequency control system usinga stepper motor is modeled, designed and simulated. Simulation results for mini hydropower plants with different capacities demonstrate that transient and steady state performances are enhanced by replacing mechanical governors with stepper motors. Moreover, frequency spikes are reduced.
- Keywords
- Stepper Motor; Mini Hydropower Plant; Frequency Control System; Spear Valve
- StartPage
- 59
- EndPage
- 63
- Doi