WIRELESS MOIVII'OItINC OF SMALL HYDROPOWER (SHP) STATION

Abstract

Hydro power station needs simultaneous measurement and control of a number of variables located in different places in the station using suitable instruments placed close to the respective variables. The measurement data from these instruments can be acquired and implemented simultaneously, centrally and reliably by networking them with a computer using RS-485 for communications [1]. The dissertation work is carried out by taking a hydro-turbine generator test unit in the laboratory of Alternate Hydro Energy Centre as the test system of 10 kW. The measurement data is acquired from the remote data acquisition modules namely analog input modules and frequency/counter modules. All these modules are connected to the PC by means of RS-485 network. The RS-232 port of the PC is converted to RS-485 port using a RS-232 to RS-485 converter module. Data acquisition is implemented in software Lab VIEW by calling the appropriate SubVI's corresponding to the remote data acquisition modules. This enables online monitoring of sixteen parameters such as speed, inlet head, temperature of bearings, valve position, as well as almost all electrical parameters. This dissertation work helps to monitor all parameters of Small Hydropower Station in a single window on desktop, as well as from a remote PC. The PCs should be connected through internet. Wireless monitoring is possible on laptop, PDA and desktop with Wi-Fi connection. Further on the basis of above measured parameters, efficiency of the test unit has also been calculated.