Small hydro power plants operating as backup source in local island

Abstract

This article deals with possible small hydro power plant operation as a backup power source for of a small local grid in island mode. Mentioned grid covers area of a small community usually connected to main grid, but temporarily disconnected from the grid due to some technical malfunctions in the main grid. The island operation should not cover complete energy demand in considered community, but it should be capable to power main crucial facilities in the community (hospitals, public buildings, traffic lights, street lighting, water stations, broadcasting systems, etc.). Specific sequential connection or disconnection to or from the island must be defined in dependency on the local power sources capacity and duration of the island operation. The main task is to discuss and define features of the local island, conditions of operation and definition of proper power sources and their cooperation. Complete research deals with different kinds of small local or distributed power sources, but this article focuses mainly on hydro power plants from the category small hydro.