Micro-Hydro Water Current Turbine Control for Grid Connected or Islanding Operation

This paper deals with the up-to-date issue of renewable energy production systems. For their exploitation these systems need advanced integrated controls that include power electronics facilities. A study of a microhydro water turbine based energy production system is presented(1). This study is oriented on controlling the microhydro generation system in grid-connected and in islanded operation. For each of this two operation modes, the roles of power electronics converters have been assigned and control structures have been proposed. Simulations and experimental tests have been realized to verify the feasibility of the system and the response of the control loops.