MODELING MICRO-HYDRO GRIDS IN NEPAL
MODELING MICRO-HYDRO GRIDS IN NEPAL
4th Year Design Project
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Micro-hydro grids in Nepal require a method of power and load control. Existing infrastructure and technologies
Require frequent maintenance, and
Do not provide proportionate load sharing
Aspin Kemp & Associates (AKA) has been contracted by the Alternate Energy Promotional Centre (AEPC) in Nepal to provide a new method of electronic load control.
UPEI has been subcontracted by AKA to develop a simulation of the existing system and new controller that will be used for modelling future micro-grids and educating new electrical engineers in Nepal.
UPEI DESIGN TEAM
PROJECT SCOPE
Over the past 8 months, the design team has worked to:
1. Develop a model that represents the system, with a method of load control that demonstrates the functionality of AKA's controller
2. Make changes to the model so that it could be run similarly to a physical test at the AKA facility and allow validation of the model results
3. Design a graphical user interface that would allow users without in-depth knowledge of MATLAB to still perform simulations
UNDERSTANDING THE SYSTEM
MODEL VALIDATION
MODEL PARAMETERIZATION
Nepal Site Visit
In December of 2018, the team travelled to Nepal for meetings with AKA and AEPC. While in Nepal, the team studied the existing system and infrastructure to be able to return to Canada and make an accurate model of this system.
Testing at AKA
Once the model was built and the simulation results were verified, they needed to be validated. AKA designed a test using a single-generator and load bank, which could be replicated by the model. The results of the physical test were compared with the model results to fully validate the functionality of the model. This ensured that the model performed like a real controller.
Designing a GUI
The team designed a graphical user interface, that allows users to change inputs and parameters before running the simulation. This permits people who are not experts in MATLAB to still be able to use the model to its full capacity. It also allows different micro-grids with different characteristics to be modelled with the same simulation.
THE MODEL
The design team used MATLAB Simulink to design a model that would accurately represent the system and controller, while still providing a method of changing input variables.
1. System Overview
2. Model Interface
3. Model Results
MOVING FORWARD WITH THE MODEL
The model has been provided to Aspin Kemp & Associates. Moving forward, it will be used for modelling future micro-grid systems and for educating new electrical engineers graduating from the Kathmandu Engineering College. The simulation will be used for teaching the logic behind electronic load controllers.
SITE VISIT TO NEPAL
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PROJECT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ASPIN KEMP & ASSOCIATES
Thank you for providing this project and for your continued support.
â—¦Jason Aspin and Christian Wiedemer
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PROMOTIONÂ CENTRE
Thank you for your support and hospitality while we were in Nepal.
â—¦Jiwan Malik, Srijana Shrestha and Nischal Guruwacharya (KEC)
UNIVERSITY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Thank you for your support and mentorship as we worked on this project.
â—¦Dr. Ali Amadi, Dr. Grant McSorley, Dr. Wayne Peters, Dr. Bishnu Acharya and Justin Perry