Modeling and Cost Effective Simulation of StandAlone Solar and Micro-Hydro Energy

N.N. Barsoum, H.H. Yong, H.M.A. Chang, W.C. Goh

Abstract--Stand-alone Power System (SPS) is the power station not connected to the grid. Today, there are many rural areas in the world still not readily accessible of grid power due to constraints of distance and terrain. Small SPS of renewable energy are targeted to the areas since there is not economical and environmental friendly by obtaining electricity from diesel generators. Practically, the renewable energy is pollution free and has comparatively low maintenance costs. This paper describes model design of solar photovoltaic and micro-hydro power system in rural area. Both metrological and economical analyses were involved. The model simulation is achieved by using SIMULINK/MATLAB and PSIM software, and cost optimization analysis is developed by HOMER software. These costs depend not only on system sizing like the capital costs but also on the control strategy.

but also on the control strategy. Both technical and economical analysis is involved in this paper. Technical analysis is involved the study of the locations metrology and load characteristics based on the design. Designed part is established by using SIMULINK/MATLAB and PSIM software and the economic part including the optimization analysis is developed by Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER) software. This is focused only on simulation to implement a prototype stand-alone energy system with the optimization of the components size and capital cost II. STAND-ALONE PV SYSTEM Figure 1 shows a typical stand-alone PV system. Photovoltaic is a solar power technology that uses solar cells or solar PV arrays to convert light from the sun directly into electricity [4]. When photons in sunlight hit the solar panel, the absorbed photons provide energy to generate electricity. An array of solar panels converts solar energy into usable amount of direct current (DC) electricity. Then, the DC current will be inputted to a three phase inverter which will converts DC electricity into 230/400 volt of alternating current (AC). The electricity is then distributed to residences.

I. INTRODUCTION Today, most of remote areas are still not readily accessible of grid power. Regarding the distance and terrain, and the huge cost of connection to the electricity supply grid, obtaining electricity supply by using diesel generators which operated by using fossil fuel seems to be the easiest conducted solution due to the obstacle. However, worlds supply of fossil fuels is now becoming scarce and depleting with increasing hazard of global warming [5]. As a result, people in rural area have to effort high cost of electricity generation of diesel generators. The gigantic transportation cost has again worsened the situation. Recently, photovoltaic (PV), micro-hydro and wind turbines are commonly used to replaced the diesel generators. The main purpose of this paper is to design two stand-alone power systems with different input sources. These are solar photovoltaic and micro-hydro power system which been targeted to rural area. Rural loads are characterized by low factor, which has a negative influence on plant operating costs, and makes it less cost effective to supply them from the grid. The optimization of a stand-alone PV solar and micro hydro power energy system were depends on a proper system design and a suitable and reliable [2,5] control strategy. At present calculation methods or programs for simulation optimize initial costs and/or solar fraction using a given control strategy. Usually the choice of the control strategy and its parameters is based on the operators experience. The result is an economic optimization of the cost effectiveness, are the total costs including the initial costs and the operation costs for maintenance and replacement of components. These costs depend not only on system sizing like the initial costs __________________________
Barsoum, N.N, Yong H.H, Chang H.M.A are with Department of Electrical Engineering, Curtin University of Technology, Miri, Sarawak Malaysia. Email: Barsoum nader.b@curtin.edu.my; Yong yhuahee@gmail.com, Chang anne_mei15@hotmail.com, Goh W.C is with Sarawak Energy Bhd, Kutching, Malaysia

Figure 1: Stand-alone PV system configuration

Fundamental Components of a Stand Alone PV System (i) PV Array - provide power input of solar radiation from the sun. (ii) The battery is used to store energy and smooth out the variable output from the PV array (iii) Voltage regulator/charge controller - regulates the flow of charge to the battery to maintain charge or prevent overcharge [2,4,5]. (iv) Array Ammeter - measures the output current of the PV array. (v) Battery Voltmeter - measures the battery voltage to give an approximate indication of the battery state of charge.

(vi) Load Ammeter - measures the current delivered by the system to the load. (vii) Battery bank - energy storage to match supply profile to demand profile, especially for periods of poor weather. (viii) Inverter convert DC power to AC (i.e. 230/400 volt for IEC standard) III. STAND-ALONE MICRO-HYDRO SYSTEM Figure 2 shows a typical stand-alone micro-hydro power system. Hydropower system captures the energy of falling water to generate electricity. The capacity (power) of a system depends on the head and flow rate:

residences is 750 kWh and power system with capacity of 75kW is required. The power system is planned to be distributed with three phase transmission line since it is more reliable and effective. It will carry voltage of 230/400V based on IEC standard. V. PV AND BATTERY CALCULATION AND INPUT DATA Assuming the effect of Northeast Monsoon, which usually heavy rainfall during November to March, the solar radiation is lower during the period. In order to design a stand-alone solar PV system, the worsen case is considered, where daily solar radiation is 3.337 kWm-2 [2]. The average daily sunshine is determined as 5.5 hours. The maximum ambient temperature is 34.4 oC while minimum is 22.7 oC [1]. Number PV Modules and Battery Bank Determination A group of modules required to work co-operate in order to generate sufficient power. Below is the calculation to determine minimum number of PV modules required: Irradiance index, G = irradiance (kWm-2 / sunshine duration (hr) = 3.337/5.5 = 606.73 W/m Area of a PV module is, A1module = Length x Width = 1188mm x 530mm = 0.6296 m2

Figure 2: Stand-alone micro-hydro power system configuration.

Power of module per meter, P1module/meter = Pmpp / A1module = 80W/0.6296 m2 = 127.06W/m2 Efficiency of a PV module = P1module/meter / PSTC = 127.06 / 1000 = 12.705% By considering the clearance index and PV efficiency, the daily energy produced per meter by PV = 3.337 (irradiation) x 0.65 (clearance index) x 0.127 (PV efficiency) = 0.2756kW/m2 The actual energy generated by 1 PV module, E1module = daily energy produced per meter x area of a PV module = 0.2756 x 0.6296 = 0.1735kwh Total amount of PV modules needed = load demand / E1module = 750 / 0.1735 = 4323 modules Battery storage capacity = (Load demand x storage days)/ (DOD x system voltage) = (750kWh x 4) / (0.8 x 300) = 12500Ah Hence, the number of batteries = Storage capacity / capacity of a battery = 12500/117 = 107 batteries VI. STAND-ALONE PV MODEL SIMULATION Stand-alone PV system is designed by using combination program of SIMULINK/MATLAB and PSIM. Figure 3 shows the PV system with Battery bank designed by using Simulink/MATLAB software which produces DC power with constant voltage of 300 volt. Figure 4 shows the three phase inverter designed by using PSIM software which functioned to convert DC 300 volt to AC 230/400 volt. These explained the overall solar energy system.

Power, P = Q (flow) x H (head) x g (gravity) This potential energy will turn into kinetic energy when the water falls down over the head which will rotate the shaft of hydraulic turbine then drive synchronous generator to produce electricity in term of alternating current (AC). The best geographical areas for exploiting micro-hydro power are those where there are steep rivers flowing all year round, for example, the hill areas of countries with high year-round rainfall, or the great mountain ranges and their foothills. Basic components of micro-hydro system (i) Pipeline (penstock) - to deliver the water. (ii) Turbine - to transform the energy of the flowing water into rotational energy. (iii) Alternator or generator - to transform the rotational energy into electricity. (iv) Shut off valve to immediate shut down the system by cut off water input. (v) Battery bank (optional) - to store the low voltage DC electricity, and usually an inverter which converts the low voltage DC electricity into AC electricity (i.e. 230/400V). (vi) The AC primary load from customers. IV. LOAD DEMAND DETERMINATION The load demand of the area need first been determined so the capacity of the power system can be decided. By assuming forty residences consisted in the targeted area. The calculated total daily energy consumption for forty

Simulation Results With presence of sufficient solar radiation, PV system will generate variable DC electricity with effect of ambient temperature. Battery bank will charge and discharged regarding the amount of electricity generated by PV panels. Figure 5 shows the state of charge of battery bank in five continuous good weather days. Notice that state of charge of battery bank is controlled by charge controller so it will not be overcharged (limit to 330volt). Figure 6 shows state of charge of battery bank (discharge) over five continuous bad weather days. Since the storage capacity of designed battery bank is able to supply electricity continuously for only four days when there is insufficient solar radiation day, so when battery discharge continuously for 96 hours (four days), the state of charge of battery bank drop dramatically and reach to zero within one day.

Figure 6: Battery banks voltage condition over 5 continuous bad weather days (insufficient irradiance) Figure 3: PV system that produces DC power designed in SIMULINK/MATLAB software

VII. PV HOMER ANALYSIS The amount of useful sunshine available for the PV panels on an average day during the worst month of the year called the isolation value. The average solar isolation values range from about 5.1 to 5.8 hours per day. The isolation value also can be interpreted as the kilowatt-hours per day of sunlight energy that fall on each square meter of PV panels at latitude tilt A. PV System Architecture PV array : 75kW Battery : 107 Trojan 27TMX Inverter : 75kW Rectifier : 75kW Total net present cost: $1,875,579 Levelized cost of energy: $9.411 per kWh B. Cost Breakdown
TABLE I COST BREAKDOWN FOR PV SYSTEM

Figure 4: Three-phase inverter to convert DC to AC designed in PSIM software

Figure 5: State of charge of battery bank over 5 continuous good weather (sufficient irradiance) days

Figure 7: Cost Break down chart for PV system

TABLE II ANNUAL ELECTRIC ENERGY PRODUCTION FOR PV

VIII. MICRO HYDRO CALCULATION The study in this paper goes through by considering various cases of river flow rate as shown in Table V. By considering the efficiency of local turbine that is approximately 75%. Thus Pin = Pout / 0.75 = 100 kW that indicates the power input to turbine. The head, H = Pin/gQ, where is density of water. From Figure 10, graph shows that when there is larger flow rate; then lower head is required in order to produce 100kW of power.
TABLE V AVERAGE FLOW IN VARIOUS STREAMS

Description
Figure 8: Monthly average electric production for PV TABLE III ANNUAL ELECTRIC ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Water flow Q(m3 / s) 0.01 to 0.05 0.05 to 0.25 0.25 to1.0 1.0 to 2.0 > 2.0

Average Q (m3 / s) 0.030 0.150 0.625 1.50 3.00

Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4 Case 5

very small stream small stream Stream small river River

Head Vs Flow
1000

Tables I, II, III, and figures 7, 8 illustrate HOMER calculation of solar components for the cost, energy production and consumption B. PV simulation output Power flow of PV system with their components are shown in figure 9

H ea d (m )

100

10

1 0 0.5 1 1.5 flow (m3/s) 2 2.5 3

Figure 10: Head Vs Flow

IX. STAND-ALONE MICRO-HYDRO MODEL SIMULATION The simulation of stand-alone micro-hydro is focused on its hydraulic turbine, generator and also excitation system. Figure 11 shows the model of generator with hydraulic turbine & governor and excitation system in SIMULINK/MATLAB. While, Figure 12 shows the results displayed by using load flow and machine initialization, it shows that power output is 75kW, and the voltage is 400 volt rms. Notice that each phases are differ by 120o. Besides, the frequency is 50Hz. The mechanical power is 75189W, resulted of power loss 189W, which is considered small.
Figure 9: HOMER simulation output for PV system

Figure 13: Cost Break down chart for micro hydro

Tables V, IV, IIV, and figures 13, 14 illustrate HOMER calculation of the micro-hydro system components for the cost, energy production and consumption. It show the running cost is less than its correspondence in solar system.
TABLE VI ANNUAL ELECTRIC ENERGY PRODUCTION FOR MICRO HYDRO SYSTEM

Figure 11: Generator with hydraulic turbine, governor and excitation system in SIMULINK/MATLAB

Simulation Results

Figure 12: Result displayed by using load flow and machine initialization

Figure 14: Monthly average electric production for micro hydro TABLE VII ANNUAL ELECTRIC ENERGY CONSUMPTION

X. MICRO HYDRO HOMER ANALYSIS Choosing a site is one of the most important steps in development, as it will largely determine the amount of energy that can be developed and the complexity of site development. Moreover, this section also presents several issues to consider in determining the feasibility of developing site [6]. It has proposed 5 different sites for rural area condition, such as very small stream, small stream, stream, Small River, and river. There are different pipeline lengths needed for those 5 cases designed. Each of the pipeline length was depending on the installation angle. Those 5 cases of micro hydro system have 5 different turbine-generator units. Cost results: Hydro: 75kW Total net present cost: $5,085 Levelized cost of energy: $0.056 per kWh

XI. CONCLUSION
TABLE V COST BREAKDOWN FOR MICRO HYDRO SYSTEM

Stand-alone power system can eliminate the need to build expensive new power lines to rural areas. Solar PV offers many advantages where it is flexible and less maintenance required since it is mechanically simple. Furthermore, PV system is functioning quietly and without polluting. Its production of DC current give means of simple battery storage. Solar electric

plants are easier to build than conventional power plants, and also been expanded incrementally by adding more modules when power demand increases. PV modules can be mounted on rooftops which save a lot of spaces. However, stand-alone PV system has its own weaknesses where it is costly due to the low efficiency of solar panel. In order to use AC appliances, inverter must be used to produce AC power. Moreover, solar PV system produces electricity intermittently when only during the sun shines. Their output varies with the weather and disappears altogether at night. Thus, battery storage is required. Meanwhile, additional maintenance and replacement required. This inconstant of power generation lead to low reliability, and effectiveness of the system. Generally, micro-hydro system is better than PV system where it is commonly known as high efficiency. Only small amount of flow required to generate electricity which seem to be easy conducted, a state blessed with abundant of water sources. Besides, it able produces a continuous supply of electricity energy in comparison to PV system. However, in order to take full advantage of the electrical potential of small streams, a suitable site is needed. Factors to consider are: distance from the power source to the location where energy required, stream size (including flow rate, output and drop), and a balance of system components inverters, batteries, controller, transmission line and pipelines. Unlike PV system, the size and flow of small streams may restrict future site expansion when the power demand increases.

Furthermore, micro hydro stand-alone system is more suitable and more cost effective to be installing for the rural area in Sarawak. According to the levelized cost of energy for micro hydro is only $0.056 per kWh, it is cheaper than the photovoltaic (PV) stand-alone system which had generated $8.283 per kWh. There are a big gap among those two renewable energy stand-alone power system which can proved that photovoltaic (PV) system was not suitable and not recommendation to be installing in rural area. XII. REFERENCES
[1] Malaysia Meteorology Department (MMD): Minimum/Maximum Temperature, 2007. Retrieved on 10th July 2007 from http://www.met.gov.my/english/service/observation/minmax.html [2] Overview of Policy Instruments for the Promotion of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Malaysia: Background Report, n.d.. Retrieved on 12th July 2007 from http://www.serd.ait.ac.th/cogen/62/reports/countries/malaysia.pdf [3] Rise: Microhydro, 2006. Retrieved on 8th May 2007 from http://www.rise.org.au/info/Tech/hydro/small.html [4] Solar Energy Home: Solar Energy, n.d.. Retrieved on 10th August 2007 from http://www.solarenergyhome.co.uk/solar_energy.htm [5] Syarifah Ahmad, 2007, Renewable energy (RE) Road Show. Retrieved on August 2007, from 10th http://prwire.bernama.com/viewprarticle.phtml?aid=9035 [6] Dunn S., Making way for Micro power, Retrieved October 20, 2007, from http://greenbusinesscentre.com/micropower.asp