Control of Grid-Connected and Standalone Microhydraulic Turbine Using a Six-Phase Induction Generator

Abstract

Microhydraulic turbines offer a promising solution for decentralized energy production, suitable for both grid-connected and standalone applications, due to their compactness and high efficiency. This paper introduces a control approach for such systems employing microhydraulic turbines as distributed generators (DGs), utilizing six-phase induction generators for electricity production. This study emphasizes control strategies for both grid-connected and standalone modes utilizing proportional-integral (PI) controllers. An integrated energy storage system based on Li-Ion battery technology is also implemented to store the excess energy and compensate for production deficits to meet demand. The results obtained using MATLAB/Simulink demonstrate efficient and reliable power management among production sources, the grid and the local load, highlighting the unique contribution of employing a six-phase induction generator with the energy storage system.