Unmanned system of Micro Hydropower Plant for Provincial Electricity Authority

Abstract

Benefit-cost ratio of Micro Hydropower Plants (MHPP) consisting of revenue from electricity sales by comparing maintenance costs and operator costs. The staff salary of MHPP operation under 00 kW is an important factor for the break-even point of the system. In addition, in the past the operation of a hydro turbine was largely dependent on the operator’s decision. While the turbine is running all the time, the maintenance and control phase must be divided into 3 periods per day. For this reason, the decision of the operator to solve the problem depends on the experience of the individual. Therefore, to reduce the operating error of the hydro turbine and to increase the benefit-cost ratio of MHPP. Unmanned system was presented as an alternative to Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA). As the result, when improving the equipment control system in the MHPP Baan Khun Pae, the control with automatic operation mode allows the hydropower plant to supply electricity to the system continuously. It also has a high level of security when a system error occurs.