My apologies if my terminology is not exactly correct, my background is more in embedded programming.
My colleague and I are in the feasibility stage of a project to build a scale model of a hydro-electric dam as a teaching aid for our students. We need two small three phase generators with field windings for voltage regulation. Something in the range of 30W. The idea is to have the students install and commission all the protection and control for the "dam" including synchronizing the voltage/frequency/phase of the generators by controlling the "wicket gates" (some type of control valve).
We tried searching for pico generators, but they all seem to be tailored for charging battery banks and have DC output. We've thought about brushless DC motors, but they use permanent magnets for the field. We discussed using an automotive alternator, but we're not sure if it will produce a nice sine wave and the RPM would have to be quite high. We will have about 3m of head and perhaps 750L of water.
Is there an option that we're missing?
Thanks for any help you may be able to provide!
My colleague and I are in the feasibility stage of a project to build a scale model of a hydro-electric dam as a teaching aid for our students. We need two small three phase generators with field windings for voltage regulation. Something in the range of 30W. The idea is to have the students install and commission all the protection and control for the "dam" including synchronizing the voltage/frequency/phase of the generators by controlling the "wicket gates" (some type of control valve).
We tried searching for pico generators, but they all seem to be tailored for charging battery banks and have DC output. We've thought about brushless DC motors, but they use permanent magnets for the field. We discussed using an automotive alternator, but we're not sure if it will produce a nice sine wave and the RPM would have to be quite high. We will have about 3m of head and perhaps 750L of water.
Is there an option that we're missing?
Thanks for any help you may be able to provide!