Menus
Main Menu
Current operating mode
Information only. This is changed in the menu "Settings"
Water and Mains startup
This section is NOT about the Dump Load regulation. Dump Load regulation is always active.
If you have electrical water valves and/or a mains contactor, and you have set the valves NOT to open automatically on power up, then you can open the valves here.
Settings
as the name says
Status Menu
Only for looking. No settings possible - except you can reset the controller in this menu
Warnings
Look at warnings. With warnings, the hydrocontrol still regulates.
Show errors and shut of cause
With errors, the hydrocontrol sets the dump loads to 100% and tries to shut the system down. It won't recover automatically. You have to enter the menu and reset the error.
Status
Possible modes: Normal Operation, Warnings, Error.
Regulating, or dump loads 100%
Settings
Operating Mode
Electronic Load Controller
The controller tries to keep the frequency stable. Suitable for synchronous generators.
Induction Generator Controller
The controller tries to keep the voltage stable. Suitable for asynchronous (induction) generators.
Automatic Load control
The controller DOES NOT regulate frequency or voltage. It switches on/off user loads, if there is enough power available, or if there is too little power. E.g. water pumps, heaters.
Output test
Test the outputs directly. This is to verify you have wired everything correctly, of for trouble shooting
3 phases
Single phase operation or 3 phase operation.
3 phase operation will...
- adapt the timing (triggering angles) of the triacs for line 2 and line 3 phase angle switching.
- it will also monitor line 2 and line 3 voltages
Common reference point for zero crossings and voltages.
If your system has neutral, then use the default.
If your system does not have neutral, then Line 1 will be the common reference.
If you have Line 1 as common reference, then use this wiring for Mains connector on PCB
Variable dump load wiring
(only relevant for 3 phase operation)
Star
(also called Y), connected to neutral. Default setting
Delta, between lines
If you have Neutral as reference, but the dump loads are connected as delta, then this setting adapts the triggering angles.
Regulation
Set points
Total turbine capacity
This setting is currently not used. In the future, it could be used to do plausibility checks, and warn you if the water intake is blocked, or if water is low, or to set the position of a spear valve with MPPT.
ELC only: target frequency
Even in IGC mode, this setting is monitored, and the system will go into error mode if the thresholds specified in the "warnings, protection" menu are exceeded.
IGC only: target voltage RMS
Even in ELC mode, this setting is monitored, and the system will go into error mode if the thresholds specified in the "warnings, protection" menu are crossed.
Tolerated deviation from set point
If your dumploads have different sizes, and as a result the system constantly "hunts" by switching dumploads on and off, you can specify a "corridor" here, where a deviation from the set point is acceptable, and where dump loads will not be switched.
E.g. if you allow a tolerance of 1%, then the ELC will only start switching dumploads, once the freqeuncy crosses 49.5 Hz or 50.5. Hz.
Droop (setpoint shifts with load)
This might be useful if you have 2 generators, which should balance the load among each other.
IGC
Input control value - Peak voltage or RMS voltage.
If your generator does not produce sine waves, then using RMS (root mean square, the average of the wave form) as input might lead to high peak voltages.
Using peak voltage (the highest point of the waveform) as input, the peaks can be prevented.
Regardless of this setting, the set point is always entered as RMS value.
Water valves
Electric water valves - Yes or NO
If YES, then the hydrocontrol does the needed calculations. Assign the corresponding functions in the Menu Output > Relays
If NO, then the corresponding functions will not work.
Threshold
If dump loads ON are less than xx%, then open valves (shortage of energy)
If dump loads OFF are less than xx%, then close valves (too much energy)
Water valve type
variable flow
If you water valve(s) can regulate the water continuously (spear valve or suitable butterfly valve), then use this
Fixed flow
If your water valves can only be totally closed or totally open (you need more than one valve in this case) - e.g. butterfly valves, which are not designed for continuous operation - then you can open or close one valve after the other.
Fixed flow only: Seconds before operating the next valve.
The system might need many seconds to stabilize, after a valve has been opened/closed. Here you can delay the operation, so the same valve does not open immediately again, or the next valve closes too fast.
Water valve duty cycle
(only makes sense for variable flow)
If you valve motor operates very fast, it might help to operate it only a few seconds at a time, and let the system stabilize after each correction
To be implemented: MPPT
If the problem is too little water, closing the spear valve will increase power output. A MPPT (maximum power point tracking) algorithm will be used to find the optimum valve position.
P-I setup
Adaptive control
Not implemented at the moment. You will have to manually find the best P- and I-value
3 phase load balancing
Software not implemented at the moment. The hardware is ready.
Main Input Valve timer
If your MIV motor has no end position switches, you can turn off the current to the motor after a specified time.
Invert <close water valve> relay function
If the hydrocontrol fails for whatever reason, then the <valve close> relay falls into the <close> position, and the valve motor will get power from the 12V battery indefinitely. This is a safety feature which ensures that in case of hydrocontrol failure, the water will be shut off.
The disadvantage is that the valve motor might be destroyed. By inverting the function, there won't be an automatic water shutoff in case of hydrocontrol failure, but the motor will stay safe.
Water and mains startup
This menu has NO effect on dump load regulation. Dump load regulation is always active.
Open water valve manually or automatically
If the hydrocontrol has a secondary permanent power supply from 12V battery, you can open the water valve with the START button.
If there is no secondary power supply, you can use the START button to hand over valve control to the hydrocontrol.
Use "automatic" to start up the hydro power system without needing access to the hydrocontrol keyboard and screen.
Mains user contactor.
If this contactor is closed automatically as soon as nominal frequency is reached, power might break down.
Here you can delay the connection of the users, until the system has built up a reserve.
Protection, Warnings
Protection functions
These are the absolute limits. If exceeded, the system will go into error mode and set dumploads to 100% permanently.
The warning thresholds are calculated automatically by the hydrocontrol at 50% of the error thresholds.
Overvoltage
These are the absolute limits. If exceeded, the system will go into error mode and set dumploads to 100% permanently.
The warning thresholds are calculated automatically by the hydrocontrol at 50% of the error thresholds.
Warning alerts, notifications
You can decide which kind of warning triggers the Warning relay, the Hum signal (see below) and the SMS (option)
Hum Signal Sound
You can alert all users that something is wrong with the system. This is especially useful if the system is overloaded.
The users will now have to disconnect some loads.
The hydrocontrol will regularly switch on some dump loads. The resulting frequency drop will change the sound of the hum in user appliances. If they hear this, the should switch off loads.
Fault checks
Dump load check
This feature is disabled at the moment, because it produced problems with dump load switching in some systems. A new approach is tested and in progress at the moment.
Fan check
If your hydrocontrol has fans to force-cool the heat sinks, then the function of the fans (the current through the motor) is monitored.
Mobile Communication
Input calibration
Volts
Ampere
AC noise reduction
Temperature limits
Outputs
Dump loads
Switching type
SSRs
Relays
High priority auxiliary Loads
Test
Auto user Load mode