IEEE International Conference on Power, Control, Signals and Instrumentation Engineering (ICPCSI-2017)
Load Frequency Control of Micro Hydro
Power Plant using Fuzzy Logic Controller
Suhas Vilas Kamble (Student IEEE member)
PG Student (MECS): Electrical Engineering
K.K. Wagh I.E.E. & R.,
Nashik, India
suhaskamble1988@gmail.com
Abstract— Micro-hydro power plants (MHPP) are usually
built on mountains to provide electricity for rural areas. Most of
MHPP are isolated from national electrical grid network, which
requires a good control system to keep the MHPP frequency and
voltage outputs constant in spite of changing user loads. This
paper addresses a comprehensive literature survey on load
frequency control in micro hydro power plant and aimed to
present a design of fuzzy logic based controller that would
manage almost the whole operation of the generating unit. The
presented fuzzy logic based controller has three main tasks. First,
it regulates the frequency output of the plant in spite of changing
user loads. Second, it limits the waste of the available water.
Finally, it manages the electricity distribution by dividing the
mini network on different departures connected in order of
priority.
Keywords— Automatic generation control, Load frequency
control, micro hydro power plant, linear and nonlinear turbine
model, fuzzy controller.
I. INTRODUCTION
Climate change, global warming, population growth and
the continuous demand for energy and electricity have made
Renewable Energy the most appropriate and fitting to answer
all these changes in our environment. The scientific
community is widely interested in modelling and control of
renewable energy plants as the number of published papers do
not cease increasing since the last decade, specifically on
hydro and micro-hydro power plant. Micro-hydro power
plants (MHPP) are of big interest in their easiest installation
and their affordability. They are located in mountainous areas
where hydropower resources are available. A typical MHPP
includes a mountain reservoir, a penstock, a powerhouse and
an electrical power substation. The reservoir stores water and
creates the head; the penstock carries water from the reservoir
to a turbine inside the powerhouse. The water rotates the
turbine, which drive a generator that produces electricity. A
hydraulic turbine is a hydropower machine that directly
converts the hydraulic power in moving water into mechanical
power at the machine shaft.
978-1-5386-0814-2/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE
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Asst. Prof. S.M. Akolkar
Assist Prof.: Electrical Engineering
K.K. Wagh I.E.E. & R.,
Nashik, India
smakolkar@kkwagh.edu.in
Further, MHPP are often isolated, inaccessible and are not
connected to the national grid. So, when a MHPP stop
working for any reason, it deprives the local population from
electricity. An intervention to make it operational takes a long
time, and might be impossible in case of inclement weather.
This requires the control system to be autonomous, robust and
capable of managing all operational situations.
Due to alterations of the grid load, deviations are caused
between turbine power output and the load. The frequency
output of MHPP and the voltage may drastically vary from
their nominal value. Thus, MHPP needs control to maintain an
uninterrupted power at rated frequency and voltage. It should
keep the rotational speed of the turbine generator unit stable
around its nominal value for any grid load and prevailing
conditions in the water conduit.
Turbine governors are systems for the control and
adjustment of the turbine power output and for evening out
deviations between the power and the grid load as quickly as
possible. Two main governors are used to automatically
control the frequency of the generating unit). First, it could
remain constant by action on the gate opening position to
produce just the necessary power according to the connected\
load. Second, electronic load controllers (ELC) govern the
frequency by adjusting the electrical load connected to the
alternator. Therefore, they maintain a constant electrical load
on the generator in spite of changing users' load. In this case,
the turbine gate opening is kept in a specific position that
guarantees a nominal mechanical power at the generator shaft.
It permits to use turbine with no flow regulating devices. The
former governor takes a long time to stabilize the output and it
becomes insufficient in case of large load variations where the
stability of the system could be completely lost. ELC is used
in order to simplify the MHPP control. The stabilizing time is
short even for large load variations.
However, ELC waste precious energy that can be used
gainfully. Also they do not carry out flow control, implying
that the mineral rich water is made to spill away, which could
have been diverted at high heat for irrigation purposes. We
have presented a TS fuzzy controller to maintain the MHPP
 IEEE International Conference on Power, Control, Signals and Instrumentation Engineering (ICPCSI-2017)
frequency constant using an ELC governor and to adjust the
water flow to limit the dissipated power on the ballast load.
In the other hand, there are other effects that cause
fluctuations of the frequency on a grid load. For example, the
level of water in the reservoir might change significantly
depending on the season, which would directly affect the
MHPP output frequency. Even for a certain level of water, the
users might connect machines that require high levels of
power causing a large drop of frequency. Thus, an effective
control scheme has to take into account those operation cases
in order to insure a good level of control.
The fuzzy logic is an important technology and a
successful branch of automation and control theory, which
provides good results in control of power systems. This paper
aims to use fuzzy control to insure good control of isolated
MHPP. The proposed control scheme is suitable for turbine
systems with both guide vane governors and synchronous
generators, especially permanent magnet machines which have
no automatic voltage regulator.
The rest of this paper is structured as follows: section II
presents both the problem formulation of frequency
fluctuation by that of random power fluctuation at generation
and load sides, and the proposed control scheme to overcome
frequency fluctuation for any working condition. Dynamic
model of the MHPP and design methodology of the proposed
fuzzy control system that consists of a Matlab model of fuzzy
controller based controlling scheme for MHPP described in
Section III. In Section IV simulation results are provided
lastly to valid the new control scheme. And followed by a
conclusion and future scope in section V.
II. PROBLEM FORMULATION
A. Problem Statement
To observe the frequency response and to test the
performance of fuzzy controller system under different
conditions like generating unit feeding variable consumer
loads, management of electrical production between the
various departures, and also reducing the wastage of water in
the reservoir, and to test the robustness, stability and accuracy
of the proposed control system.
The main objectives and contributions of this research are:
a. To observe the frequency response of the system with
help of Matlab simulation results of system.
b. To observe the performance of the fuzzy controller
and under various conditions.
c. To test the effect of various loads and conditions on
operational performance of proposed system.
B. Research Methodology
To propose a novel fuzzy controller based on mamdani
inference system for micro hydro power plant. This efficiently
performs the following tasks:
First, regulate the frequency of MHPP with the
consideration that MHPP operate on several operating points.
This, by selecting the appropriate linear controller via a fuzzy
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inference switching system, depending on the position of the
gate opening. Further the fuzzy logic controller make sure to
open or to close the turbine inlet gates. Whenever the
frequency goes away from its desired value.
Second, manage the available water on the forebay. The
proposed fuzzy controller (open/close) the turbine inlet gates.
As per load demand to optimize the available water in the
reservoir. This will economize and reduce its waste.
Finally, manage the produced electrical energy
distribution. In which we consider that the mini grid is divided
into departures classified by order of priority. When the
electrical demand exceeds the nominal value, the fuzzy
controller disconnects the departure that has less priority and
so on. Which also reduce dispelling the excess produced
power on the ballast load.
To achieve above mentioned tasks, the fuzzy logic has
been developed to be used for its ability to easily incorporate
human expertise, the proposed scheme as shown in below
Figure 1
Figure 1: Proposed Control Scheme for MHPP
III. DESIGN OF FUZZY LOGIC BASED MICRO HYDRO POWER
PLANT MODEL
A. Micro hydro power plant model
MHPP is a non-linear, non-stationary multivariable system
whose characteristics vary significantly with the unpredictable
load on it and this presents a difficulty in designing efficient
and reliable controllers. However, the majority of the
proposed hydro power models is linear. A linear model
representation of the turbine system is valid only for small
signal performance study (load disturbance <±10%). This
makes model an oversimplified and realistic issue not being
discussed. Such a linearized model is inadequate for large
variations in power output (>±25% rated load).
This model is based on the mathematical equations
resuming the whole operation of MHPP. It incorporates
nonlinear equations of the mechanical power; the electrical
consumed power and the relationship between the turbine
flow, the turbine head and the frequency of the voltage
waveform. The two equations that summarize MHPP
operation are:
 IEEE International Conference on Power, Control, Signals and Instrumentation Engineering (ICPCSI-2017)

to Vf Simulink input to the synchronous machine

block
• Servomotor governor block
(1) Servomotor and Governor both are transfer function
blocks having [1] as numerator coefficient and [0.01]
as denominator coefficient.
• Three phase loads
Five loads are connected to the output of the
(2)
synchronous machine Load 1 implements parallel
RLC load and load 2,3,4,5 implements series RLC
B. Fuzzy control based matlab model for MHPP
load
• Grid
Micro grid system is shown by the block grid having
three phase voltage source in series with RL branch
• Three phase circuit breakers
There are total five circuit breaker blocks which
connected in series with three phase loads for
switching the load as per set parameters.
• Synchronous generator
This block implements 3 phase synchronous machine
modelled in the dq rotor reference frame Stator
windings are connected in wye to an internal neutral
point.
• Turbine
This blocks represents a transfer function block of
turbine having [-4 1] as numerator coefficient and [2,
1] as denominator coefficient.
• Fuzzy controller
This blocks represents the fuzzy controller link which
implements the pre-loaded fuzzy inference system to
the workspace.
• Discrete 3 phase PLL
This blocks represents the Phase locked loop system
which can be used to synchronize on a set variable
frequency, three phase sinusoidal signals. The input
of PLL regulator is scaled according to the input
signals magnitude.
• S and H block
This S and H block hold the input signal. If latch
(buffer) input selected, then this block produces the
value from the input to the previous time step.
C. Aberivations

MHPP Micro Hydroelectric Power Plant

Figure 2: Complete Matlab model for MHPP using fuzzy
controller LFC Load Frequency Control
The simulation model of micro hydropower plant was AGC Automatic Generation Control
developed by utilizing the blocks available in MATLAB ELC Electronic Load Controller
SIMPOWER Tool. The micro hydropower plant model made
up of following component [18], [6-21]. The MATLAB FIS Fuzzy Inference System
simulation model is depicted in Figure 2 & following main
parameter of proposed system:
• Excitation system link
Implements IEEE type 1 Synchronous machine
voltage regulator combined to an exciter. The output
of the block id field voltage vfd in pu, to be applied

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 IEEE International Conference on Power, Control, Signals and Instrumentation Engineering (ICPCSI-2017)
IV. OPTIMIZED CONTROLLED RESULTS AND DISSCUSSIONS
Figure 3: Load fluctuations
Figure 4: Change in current
Figure5: Evolution of MHPP frequency
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A. Case (a)
Firstly due to increase in load on the plant affects the
generated frequency, the fuzzy controller at input side, sense
the variations of frequency and sends command signal to
servomotor governor system to vary the wicket gate position
to maximize the ow rate of water so as to meet the required
increase in load demand and also to maintain the frequency at
nominal value as shown in above frequency curve.
Frequency dip normalized after gate opening action taken
by fuzzy controller at input side also due to the corrective
action taken by proposed controller, plant is able to meet the
increased load demand, which clearly reflects in load curve
and current waveforms
B. Case (b)
Due to furthermore increase in the load on the plant, the
fuzzy controller at output side, sense the variations of
frequency and power fluctuations and generate command
signal to disconnect the less preferred departure immediately
so as to maintain the frequency and current at nominal values
as shown in above frequency and current waveforms.
Frequency dip and increase in load as well as current is
normalized after disconnecting less preferred load, this action
taken by proposed controller at output side is clearly reflects
in frequency, load curve and current waveforms.
C. Case (c)
Due to sudden rejection in load on the plant, affects the
generated frequency, the fuzzy controller at input side, sense
the variations in frequency and sends command signal to
servomotor governor system to vary the wicket gate position
to minimize the ow rate of water so as to meet the required
decrease in load demand and also to maintain the frequency at
nominal value as shown in above frequency curve.
Raise in frequency is normalized after gate closing action
taken by fuzzy controller at input side. Due to this corrective
action taken by proposed controller, plant is able to meet the
decreased load demand, which clearly reflects in load curve
and current waveforms.
Also, by closing wicket gates as per load demand. The ow
rate of water is reduced henceforth, the proposed fuzzy
controller manages the available water depending on the user
demand by using only needed quantity of water for electricity
generation, and the proposed controller also achieved the
target of managing and reducing wastage of power into ballast
by ow rate controlling methodology.
D. Nomenclatures
fr : MHPP frequency
qt : water flow
ht : head
pt :turbine power
pe : load
 IEEE International Conference on Power, Control, Signals and Instrumentation Engineering (ICPCSI-2017)
kt and Ta : constants that characterize the plant
Pm :Turbine mechanic power
Hf : The head loss in the conduit (m)
V. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE
A. Conclusion
Based on the simulation results obtained the following
conclusions are illustrated:
1) The proposed novel technique of regulating load
frequency of micro hydro power plant ensures good solution
in terms of efficiency. It also able to maintain the frequency as
constant in spite of changing user loads at any operating point.
2) The concept behind splitting the controller is achieved
successfully, and the simulation results show the feasibility of
the proposed fuzzy control system.
3) Furthermore, this proposed fuzzy logic based control
system manages the available water efficiently while keeping
good system dynamics as expected.
Thus this work makes an important contribution in terms
of splitting of control action for controlling micro hydro power
plants and providing guidelines for the choice of new control
schemes for the betterment of the system.
B. Future Scope
The following extensions to the work presented here
would be very interesting:
There are reservations in some circles on the use of
sophisticated control schemes for the control of micro hydro
power plants. However, after the evolution of soft computing
tools, many researchers are tried to find better output
frequency controlling schemes for various power system
utilities. So the newer techniques can be developed that were
based on Genetic Algorithms and Particle Swarm. So as to
achieve the similar performance but at the reduced power
consumption and utility with the constraint of cost
effectiveness. It would be an extremely challenging scenario
but could be possible.
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