Fuzzy Logic based user friendly Pico-Hydro Power generation for decentralized rural electrification

摘要

Pico-Hydro Power Plant (PHPP) is becoming one of the most important renewable energy sources in the world for remote or rural locations day by day. It does not encounter the problem of population displacement and is not as expensive as solar or wind energy. However, PHPP units are usually isolated from the grid network; thus, they require user friendly self control to maintain a constant frequency, the scheduled power and the voltage for any working conditions and trouble shooting. In this study, a new user friendly controller based on artificial intelligence (A.I.) or fuzzy logic has been designed for PHPP. The controller is able to maintain a constant the frequency, the scheduled power and the voltage in spite of varying user loads. Further, the controller manages the available water (in order to save it) depending on the users demand by using only the needed quantity of water for electricity generation. Results obtained by simulation show the rapidity and the robustness of the fuzzy logic controller. The used model for simulation was constructed based on the mathematical equations that summarize the behaviour of the PHPP. To the best of the authors knowledge this novel fuzzy logic controller approach of optimized generation in PHPP is absent in renewable energy literatures due to its assessment complexity.