Electronic Load Controller based on Dimmer Circuit and Stepper Motor for 5 kW Micro-Hydro Power Plant

This paper presents the results of research on a new schematic generator load controller simulation, namely an electronic load controller based on a dimmer circuit and a stepper motor for a small-scale 5 kW micro-hydro. The load controller is built from a dimmer circuit and a stepper motor with program control using Matlab software, and the PPI 8255 interface device. Using a dimmer circuit built from diac, triac, a variable resistor (pot), and capacitor components. As well as using a 28BYJ-48 stepper motor. Simulation is made to determine the performance of the load controller in controlling the distribution of power to the ballast load when the generator supplies power to consumers less than the full load of the generator. By using the simulation data of 45 variations of the consumer load sample, the result is that there are only 4 samples where the load controller is not working well. For the 4 samples, the generator was loaded beyond its full load tolerance limit (full load tolerance of 5kW ± 5 %). Overall, based on the simulation results, it can be said that the generator load controllers tested in this study have good performance. HIGHLIGHTS Methods and power electronic configurations used in electronic load controllers for micro-hydropower plants from 1980 until now. In the future, the use of low-power micro hydro and pico hydro power plants is also in great demand, especially for rural areas The utilization of micro-hydro in Indonesia, especially low-power micro-hydro, has been utilized by the community in Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi Province. A 5 kW generator has been operated in Katimbang Village, Borong Rappoa District, Kindang Regency, Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi Province to distribute electrical energy to 15 households This research proposes a new electronic load control scheme for a simple and inexpensive 5 kW micro-hydro power plant, namely a dimmer circuit and stepper motor-based generator load controller. With the consideration that the main components that make up this controller are not expensive GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT