Small hydropower plant automation

Nataša Hribar (2010) Small hydropower plant automation. EngD thesis.

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Abstract

The diploma thesis presents the implementation of small hydropower plant automation, to be precise control automation on the turbine guide vanes. The basic purpose of automation is to provide optimum turbine efficiency while significantly reducing or eliminating the need for manual management. At the beginning the composition of small hydropower plants and their mode of action is described. Later on a small hydropower plant "Krajcova žaga" is presented. At this location a saw, which had its own source of electricity supply, operated in the first half of previous century. Since then there are two Francis turbines still built in the complex, which have been reconstructed for the needs of the small hydropower plants. A model was developed to implement automatic control on the turbine guide vanes. For the purpose of automation is necessary to provide sensors for measuring physical quantities, and a controller. Controller will control a lever for opening and closing the guide vanes on each turbine, as response to sensor data. A gauge was added to the existing lever, to measure position of the guide vanes. In addition to improving the transparency of the guide vanes position, the gauge enables switching the security sensors. A flow chart was developed that precisely describes the control of the turbine guide vanes procedures.

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