A novel small-scale variable speed hydropower emulator using an inverter-controlled induction motor

The test procedure of an electrical drive control generally requires connecting the control to the power converter, the motor and the load. This is an expensive, time and power consuming procedure especially when it is necessary to test new control algorithms or architectures as often happen in renewable energy generation power plants. This paper introduces a low power emulator of a Small Hydropower generator used to develop and test the power quality functions of a universal digital controller for distributed generation systems.