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This paper describes a Prioritized Load Control System (PLCS) developed to improve the overall utilization factor of pico-hydroelectric systems. A pilot project utilizing this PLCS in a remote rural Himalayan village has been operating since November 2018. The system uses traditional diversion load, incorporating a commercial PWM diversion controller to automatically and dynamically maintain a constant load on the turbines, diverting excess power to air heater resistors in the community center. We developed a programmable AC Load Controller that adds or removes useful 230VAC electrical loads based on commands from a central control computer. It diverts power to ubiquitous and inexpensive 230VAC water heater elements, over the existing 230VAC power distribution network, to heat water tanks for useful purposes. The central control computer adds and removes power to each of the prioritized loads in the system based on their priority, their need for additional energy, and on the availability of sufficient power. An electrical and mechanical interface to temperature sensors is incorporated into the AC Load Controller to monitor the temperature of the water heated by these loads. Voltage and current sensors are also included to monitor overall system performance and utilization. The AC Load Controller and the PWM diversion load controller are integral parts of the PLCS used to improve the utilization factor of the electric system to close to 100% (neglecting parasitic losses), sending power to heat water for showers, to heat the slurry in a prototype high altitude biogas digester, and to heat the community center. This paper describes the AC Load Controller in detail. |
