Modeling of Electromagnetic Phenomena in Small Hydroelectric Plants

Due to the increasing consumption of electricity,small hydropower plants (SHPP) are becoming one of the most important sources of renewable energy in the world with a negative impact on the environment. Their research and practical implementation are among the current tasks of contemporary power engineering. The expected production of the electricity depends on certain design parameters of an SHPP, which can be determined by analyzing dynamic phenomena using its specific simulation model. The paper focuses on the development of a functional simulation model of an SHPP using an induction machine as an electrical generator, which is used to model their mutual couplings and to analyze arising hydro-mechanical and electro-mechanical phenomena. The overall model has been used for the investigation of the dynamics of fast electro-mechanical phenomena during individual start-up phases of the SHPP, and also for solving the problems of short-term voltage interruptions in the electrical network. The paper brings a solution to the problem of limiting peak currents that arise during the connection of the electric generator to the power grid. The elimination of this negative phenomenon is important in terms of optimal sizing of the power grid (cables, circuit breakers), as well as for the design, and operation of the SHPP itself.