Distributed load control of autonomous renewable energy systems

Author

Pandiaraj, Krishnan ; Taylor, Philip ; Jenkins, Nicholas ; Robb, Charlie

Author_Institution

Centre for Electr. Energy, Univ. of Manchester Inst. of Sci. & Technol., UK

Volume

16

Issue

1

fYear

2001

fDate

3/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

14

Lastpage

19

Abstract

Autonomous renewable energy systems such as wind, solar, and micro-hydro require control methods to maintain stability, due to the real time variation of input energy and load, while maximizing the use of renewable energy. This paper describes the application of load control using a novel frequency and voltage-sensing device. The device uses a low cost microcontroller to monitor the system frequency and voltage. Load switching is carried out based on this information. Software was developed for frequency and voltage measurements and tested on a 18 kW, single phase, 50 Hz, micro-hydro system. A fuzzy control system was then developed which makes intelligent load switching decisions using inputs from the measurement algorithms coupled with expert knowledge expressed in the form of control rules. This load control system was then tested on the same micro-hydro system and on a site powered by a 60 kW, 3 phase, 50 Hz wind turbine only

Keywords

computerised monitoring; distributed control; frequency measurement; fuzzy control; hydroelectric power stations; intelligent control; load regulation; microcontrollers; power system control; power system stability; switching; voltage measurement; wind turbines; 18 kW; 50 Hz; 60 kW; autonomous renewable energy systems; distributed load control; expert knowledge; frequency monitoring; frequency-sensing device; fuzzy control system; input energy variation; intelligent load switching; load switching; micro-hydro power; microcontroller; single phase micro-hydro system; solar power; stability; voltage monitoring; voltage-sensing device; wind power; Application software; Control systems; Costs; Frequency; Load flow control; Microhydro power; Real time systems; Renewable energy resources; Stability; System testing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Energy Conversion, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-8969

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/60.911397

Filename

911397