Load diverter system for stand alone micro hydro generators

In developing countries, the demand for electricity in rural communities is increasing day-by-day. Stand alone micro hydro generator installations provide an inexpensive and reliable solution to the demand for electrical energy, in rural and remote sites. Such installations in order to be useful, must incorporate an appropriate voltage control facility. This article describes a few approaches, through electronic means, to control the generator terminal voltage, namely, using mechanical relays for switching, synchronised thyristor switching, and high frequency chopping of the generator output to vary the effective ballast load (0 refs.)