Designs and building instructions
Analog ELC building instruction - not a finished product. Not recommended anymore - the digital remotehydrolight is an improved version of the hummingbird.
- Basic design is max. 10 kW. Can be extended to 3 phase and 30kW.
- switching method: triac phase angle, 3 staggered angles per phase
- max. 3 channels per phase
- the 3 phase version adds up to quite a bit of analog circuitry
and a big PCB. Repair of this PCB (high voltage damage, probably
lightning) turned out to be very work-intensive.
- Capacity is limited to 30KW (15KW for 110V)
- Adapting the design to specific customer's needs is very time-consuming.
- Modern features like mobile communication or software-based configuration are not possible.
- For someone who has not built the hummingbird himself, on-site adjustment, error-diagnosis and repair is exceedingly difficult.
Manfred Mornhingweg
Based on a Picmicro MCU. Instruction - not a finished product. Knowledge how to program microchip pics is necessary.
- Switching method: triac zero crossing
- Add as many channels as you like, you are the engineer.
This ELC has some clever ideas, like prioritized user loads.
However
any modifications require modifying the code and reprogramming of the
microcontroller
Also
it has no protection features (operating parameter monitoring), and the
design is optimized for cost (no optocouplers). This is perfectly okay
if the designer/manufacturer of the ELC is also the operator. As of 2017, M. Mornhinweg also sells a finished 20kW version for 1000 USD.
Originally based on the Hummingbird from Jan Portegijs, it's now a simplified microcontroller based design. - Max. 18 channels (6 per phase), 2kW per channel, max. 36 kW,
- phase-angle triggered triacs, single angle per phase. No staggered triggering.
- No additional protection features, no valve control, no options, but simple and cheap.
The PCBs are produced in batches of 100, and then hand-soldered in through-hole technology in a shop in Pakistan. Quality of the soldered PCB can vary - each one needs to be checked. The final assembly is done by trained locals in Afghanistan. For larger capacities, multiple ELCs are operated in parallel. Design and software available on the website (registration required) Available Products
Available product
- up to 500KW
- Switching method: Double Thyristor (SCR)
- channels: 3 or 6 (one or 2 per phase)
Renerconsys
Conventional digital ELC (DLC), similar to the PME one
- 2 loads per phase, 6 total
- up to 500kW
- Switching method: Double Thyristor (SCR)
Digital Flow Controller, similar to the hydrocontrol
- up to 10 MW
- Water Valve Control
Palmers Mechanical
Available product. No technical details available on the website
Fastec Powerflow
Available product.
- up to 35 kW per phase
- Switching method: triac zero crossing.
- 8 and a half channels. The "half" channel is a channel with a dump load which is half the size of the others. Dump loads are either fully on or off, no "dimming" (proportional regulation). So with the half load, you can achieve 16 different total load steps.
The 20kW version was around 1000 USD in the year 2010.
Dhavamani Technologies
Available product, allthough website has not been updated since 2014. Prices available online.
- up to 50kW, 3 phase
-
microcontroller based.
no other technical details available, the images suggest triac switching
Powerpal
Available product. - up to 8kw
- PWM pulse width modulation switching. -> you can connect one big dump load.
MAP electronics From the description:
In our ELCs, power control (Current Ampere measurement) as well as frequency control are employed which makes the system response very fast.
Also, our ELCs have a perfect sine-wave output and no waveform distortion (zero crossing switching).
Range of 3kW to 100kW, for 3 phase as well as 1 phase.
Manual
IREM Italy
Thomson and Howe
Switching gear for grid-connected hydro power plants, USA:
Link collections http://www.waterpowermagazine.com/contractors/governors-electrical/Philosophy and Science blog (only in German)
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