An integrated approach for modeling three-phase micro hydropower plants

Abstract

Micro hydropower plants (MHPPs) are often adopted to provide electricity to remote areas. To ensure the generation performance and power quality, the operators must have enough knowledge about the MHPP, especially its physical model. This paper proposes an integrated approach for modelling three-phase MHPPs in off-grid sites. The differential equations about the electrical operations and mechanical behaviors of the generator were fully integrated into our approach. The physical model thus established considers the behavior of different components of the target MHPP, such as the turbine and the generators, and helps to obtain the time-variation of all physical parameters of the MHPP. The validity of the integrated approach was verified through a simulation under three scenarios. Our research makes it possible to develop a physical model suitable for single and/or three-phase loads. The model can be easily adapted to any real configuration of hydropower plant.