REMOTE MONITORING OF SHP STATIONS

Abstract

Small hydropower plants are emerging as a major renewable energy resource today. However, they require control and monitoring systems to limit the huge variation in input flows expected in rivulets over which these are established to produce a constant power supply. The monitoring of small hydropower means that it can collect the information about current state of the system. In this dissertation work we have developed a system for remote monitoring of a small hydropower stations. It can also be connected through LAN or wi-fi network for transferring data to other PC. Here we installed power analyser, flowmeter, speed sensor, infrared temperature gun, pressure transmitter and electric valve for measuring electrical parameters(voltage & current in all three phases, kW, KVA, KVAr, power factor, frequency), discharge, speed, temperature, head and %of valve opening. We used the software LabVIEW, using this we can monitor all parameter on same window as well as we can get them in desired form. This can be further transmitted by Radio modem or connected through internet for remote monitoring. This software is made by National Instruments. To connect instrument with LabVIEW, we used 7000 series modules, manufactured by ICP CON. This enables online monitoring of parameters such as speed, inlet head, temperature of bearings, valve position and electrical parameters such as voltage, current, power output, power factor, frequency etc. Further on the basis of these measured parameters, efficiency of the test unit has also been calculated.