Experimental optimization of voltage stability and power output in PMDC micro-hydropower systems using a buck–boost converter

Firdiansyah Firdiansyah; Indrayani Indrayani; Rusdianasari Rusdianasari

doi:10.30811/jpl.v24i2.8747

Experimental optimization of voltage stability and power output in PMDC micro-hydropower systems using a buck–boost converter

Firdiansyah Firdiansyah, Indrayani Indrayani, Rusdianasari Rusdianasari

Abstract

Low-head micro-hydropower systems often experience voltage instability due to fluctuating water flow and low turbine rotational speeds, limiting their ability to supply reliable power to standalone electrical loads. This study aims to experimentally optimize the output performance of a permanent magnet DC (PMDC) generator integrated with a buck–boost DC-DC converter in a low-head micro-hydropower system for improved voltage regulation, power output, and system efficiency. Experiments were performed by varying the generator rotational speed from 29.83 to 144.80 RPM with a 30 W LED load, while the converter maintained a constant 14.6 V set-point. Measured parameters included generator input voltage, input current, regulated output voltage, load current, electrical power, and system efficiency. The experimental results show that the system can operate at an ultra-low input voltage of 3.61 V at 29.83 RPM. The optimal operating condition was achieved at 63.78 RPM, where the system reached a maximum efficiency of 74.7% and an output power of 27.7 W. The converter maintained a stable output voltage close to the required load voltage, within the rotational speed range of 68.20-132.40 RPM. These results demonstrate that integrating a PMDC generator with a buck-boost converter improves voltage stability and expands the usable operating range of low-head micro-hydropower systems, making the proposed configuration suitable for off-grid and rural electrification applications.

Keywords

Micro-hydropower; permanent magnet DC generator; buck-boost converter; low-head system; voltage regulation; performance optimization.

Full Text:

PDF

References

D. Liszka et al., “Alternative solutions for small hydropower plants,” Energies, vol. 15, no. 4, 2022, doi: 10.3390/en15041275.

I. A. Safitri, M. Sulaiman, and R. Budiarto, “Assessing potential energy sustainability of micro-hydropower system through a sustainable indicator approach,” J. Environ. Sci. Sustain. Dev., vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 640–656, 2024, doi: 10.7454/jessd.v7i2.1256.

E. Quaranta et al., “Hydropower case study collection: Innovative low head and ecologically improved turbines, hydropower in existing infrastructures, hydropeaking reduction, digitalization and governing systems,” Sustain., vol. 12, no. 21, pp. 1–79, 2020, doi: 10.3390/su12218873.

I. Indrayani, A. Syarif, S. Yusi, M. N. Nugraha, and R. C. Ramadhani, “Utilization of the kelekar river flow as micro-hydro power plant,” Proc. 5th First T1 T2 2021 Int. Conf. (FIRST-T1-T2 2021), vol. 9, pp. 43–46, 2022, doi: 10.2991/ahe.k.220205.008.

Y. D. Herlambang et al., “Micro hydro power plant (MHP) performance using breast-shot waterwheel with different electrical load to improve efficiency,” J. Polimesin, vol. 22, no. 3, p. 278, 2024, doi: 10.30811/jpl.v22i3.4608.

T. Z. Ang, M. Salem, M. Kamarol, H. S. Das, M. A. Nazari, and N. Prabaharan, “A comprehensive study of renewable energy sources: Classifications, challenges and suggestions,” Energy Strateg. Rev., vol. 43, no. November 2021, p. 100939, 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.esr.2022.100939.

A. Barbón, F. González-González, L. Bayón, and R. Georgious, “Variable-speed operation of micro-hydropower plants in irrigation infrastructure: An energy and cost analysis,” Appl. Sci., vol. 13, no. 24, 2023, doi: 10.3390/app132413096.

M. Rumbayan and R. Rumbayan, “Feasibility study of a micro hydro power plant for rural electrification in Lalumpe village, North Sulawesi, Indonesia,” Sustain., vol. 15, no. 19, 2023, doi: 10.3390/su151914285.

E. Okdinata, A. Hasan, and C. Sitompul, “Performance test of pelton micro-hydro turbine with the variations of parameter to produce the maximum output power,” J. Phys. Conf. Ser., vol. 1167, no. 1, 2019, doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/1167/1/012025.

Y. Dinata, I. Indrayani, and T. Dewi, “Analysis of reservoir water discharge at solar power plant Tanjung Raja village as a basis for pico hydro power plant planning in paddy-field area,” Int. J. Adv. Sci. Comput. Eng., vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 76–87, 2022, doi: 10.62527/ijasce.4.2.82.

Firmansyah, A. Syarif, Z. Muchtar, and R. Rusdianasari, “Study of the supply water discharge at the micro hydro power installation,” IOP Conf. Ser. Earth Environ. Sci., vol. 709, no. 1, 2021, doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/709/1/012002.

I. Imawati et al., “Harnessing sustainable energy: Portable pico-hydro power generation using an undershoot water wheel turbine in irrigation canals,” J. Nas. Tek. Elektro, vol. 2, pp. 52–62, 2025, doi: 10.25077/jnte.v14n2.1252.2025.

H. B. Lamesgin and A. N. Ali, “Optimization of screw turbine design parameters to improve the power output and efficiency of micro-hydropower generation,” Cogent Eng., vol. 11, no. 1, p., 2024, doi: 10.1080/23311916.2024.2327906.

T. Rahimi, M. R. Islam, H. Gholizadeh, S. Mahdizadeh, and E. Afjei, “Design and implementation of a high step-up dc-dc converter based on the conventional boost and buck-boost converters with high value of the efficiency suitable for renewable application,” Sustain., vol. 13, no. 19, pp. 1–23, 2021, doi: 10.3390/su131910699.

A. P. Maulana, I. Indrayani, and F. Arifin, “CFD analysis in investigating the impact of turbine blade number on the performance of hydro turbine,” J. Polimesin, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 311–317, 2023, doi: 10.30811/jpl.v21i3.3671.

A. Aripriharta et al., “Design and performance evaluation of a portable low-head pico-hydro system using a rewound axial generator for rural energy,” J. ELTIKOM, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 78–90, 2025, doi: 10.31961/eltikom.v9i1.1489.

I. Imawati, M. Febiansyah, E. K. G. Novtrianda, and H. Mubarok, “Portable pico-hydro power plant with archimedes screw turbine in Pelangi reservoir of Universitas Islam Indonesia,” Elkha, vol. 14, no. 2, p. 132, 2022, doi: 10.26418/elkha.v14i2.57770.

R. Thakur et al., “Potential of the archimedes screw to generate sustainable green energy for mini, micro, and pico hydro turbine power stations: An Extensive Analysis,” Energy Strateg. Rev., vol. 55, no. September, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.esr.2024.101514.

M. I. Maulana, A. Syuhada, Y. Yusmanizar, and M. A. Asyqar, “Performance analysis of a single-blade Archimedes screw turbine for low-head micro hydro applications,” J. Polimesin, vol. 22, no. 6, pp. 600–604, 2024.

I. Wiryanta and A. Wibolo, “Preliminary design of micro hydro portable screw archimedes with transmission system in small irrigation channel,” in Proceedings ofthe 4th International Conference on Applied Science andTechnology on Engineering Science, 2023, pp. 207–212. doi: 10.5220/0010942400003260.

N. Nofriadi, A. Aziz, and R. I. Mainil, “Design and manufacture of portable screw turbine of pico hydro power plant for road lighting in rural area,” J. Ocean. Mech. Aerosp. -science Eng., vol. 67, no. 1, pp. 1–6, 2023, doi: 10.36842/jomase.v67i1.330.

P. Irasari, A. Muqorobin, P. Widiyanto, T. Nur, I. N. Diasta, and P. Sutikno, “Performance analyzes of a compact Pico hydropower plant with a wide operating range,” Int. J. Power Electron. Drive Syst., vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 2357–2364, 2022, doi: 10.11591/ijpeds.v13.i4.pp2357-2364.

G. Lin, Y. Li, and Z. Zhang, “A Review of control strategies for four-switch buck–boost converters,” World Electr. Veh. J., vol. 16, no. 6, pp. 1–29, 2025, doi: 10.3390/wevj16060315.

S. Vickram, S. K. Rangarajan, H. S. Dhamodharan, and M. Sivasubramaniyan, “Micro-Hydro Systems: Empowering rural communities with small-scale solutions,” Nanotechnol. Perceptions, vol. 20, no. S6, pp. 108–138, 2024, doi: 10.62441/nano-ntp.v20iS6.10.

B. Guo, S. Bacha, M. Alamir, and A. T. Mohamed, “Variable speed micro-hydro power generation system : Review and experimental results,” in Symposium de Génie Electrique, Uni- versité de Lorraine, Nancy, France, 2018, p. hal-02981922. [Online]. Available: https://hal.science/hal-02981922v1

B. Singh and A. K. Mishra, “Performance analysis of a solar‐powered water pumping using improved SIDO buck boost converter,” IET Power Electron. Res., vol. 11, 2019.

E. B. Seto and L. H. Pratomo, “Integrasi PMSG dan DC-DC buck-boost converter untuk meregulasi tegangan keluaran menggunakan STM32VET407,” Elkomika J. Tek. Energi Elektr. Tek. Telekomun. Tek. Elektron., vol. 12, no. 2, p. 394, 2024, doi: 10.26760/elkomika.v12i2.394.

Y. I. A. Yani, “Rancang bangun buck-boost converter pada sistem pembangkit listrik tenaga mikrohidro,” Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, 2017.

R. Nurul Huda, “Desain dan Simulasi non-inverting buck-boost konverter,” MSI Trans. Educ., vol. 03, no. 04, 2022.

R. Jain, A. Sunil Khairnar, and D. C, “Performance analysis and implementation of buck-boost converter for electric vehicle applications,” Int. J. Sci. Res., vol. 13, no. 11, pp. 798–806, 2024, doi: 10.21275/sr241113114458.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30811/jpl.v24i2.8747