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A project log for Automatic Voltage Regulator for AC alternator

Can be used to replace old AVR regulator for AC 3 phase alternator.

michael-skrepskyMichael Skrepsky 08/08/2015 at 21:280 Comments

It works!!! But it oscillates with about 1s period from 250V to 400V (phase to phase) or regulates only partially, reaching 500V. I need to make frequency compensation and protection, and replace temporary incremental algorythm with PID or something better. I will take a notebook to it and make it throw values through serial/USB. If it does not work, i would make basic ON/OFF regulation.

Relay is now switched off by software. Will update schematic after finished.

The temporary test code (that has fixed oscillation, but regulates poorly):

// experimental AC alternator voltage controller

// Uses AC Control V1.1

#include <avr/io.h>
#include <avr/interrupt.h>

#define DETECT 2  //zero cross detect
#define GATE 9    //triac gate
#define PULSE 5   //trigger pulse width (counts)
#define VOLTPIN A0//voltage measurement
#define LEDPIN 13
int i=450;
int voltage = 0;  // variable to store the value coming from the sensor
unsigned long oldtime;
unsigned long time;

void setup(){

  // set up pins
  pinMode(DETECT, INPUT);     //zero cross detect
  digitalWrite(DETECT, HIGH); //enable pull-up resistor
  pinMode(GATE, OUTPUT);      //triac gate control

  // set up Timer1 
  //(see ATMEGA 328 data sheet pg 134 for more details)
  OCR1A = 100;      //initialize the comparator
  TIMSK1 = 0x03;    //enable comparator A and overflow interrupts
  TCCR1A = 0x00;    //timer control registers set for
  TCCR1B = 0x00;    //normal operation, timer disabled


  // set up zero crossing interrupt
  attachInterrupt(0,zeroCrossingInterrupt, RISING);    
    //IRQ0 is pin 2. Call zeroCrossingInterrupt 
    //on rising signal
    

  // initialize serial communication at many bits per second:
  Serial.begin(115200);

}  

//Interrupt Service Routines

void zeroCrossingInterrupt(){ //zero cross detect   
  TCCR1B=0x04; //start timer with divide by 256 input
  TCNT1 = 0;   //reset timer - count from zero
  

  // read the input on analog pin 0:
  voltage = analogRead(VOLTPIN); // synchronous voltage measurement to prevent ripple
  if (voltage > 640) i=i+5; // emergency voltage decrease (does not work)
  time = millis() - oldtime;
  oldtime = millis(); // period (frequency) measurement for future compensation of generator revs/min change
}

ISR(TIMER1_COMPA_vect){ //comparator match
  digitalWrite(GATE,HIGH);  //set triac gate to high
  TCNT1 = 65536-PULSE;      //trigger pulse width
}

ISR(TIMER1_OVF_vect){ //timer1 overflow
  digitalWrite(GATE,LOW); //turn off triac gate
  TCCR1B = 0x00;          //disable timer stopd unintended triggers
}

void loop(){ // code
if (voltage > 620) i=i+1; // decrease phase
if (voltage < 580) i=i-1; // increase phase
if (i > 600) i = 600; //limit
if (i < 300) i = 300; //limit
//i--;
OCR1A = i;     //set the compare register phase desired.
//if (i<300){i=550;}                      
delay(20);


  // print out the value you read:
  Serial.print(time); // write period of AC
  Serial.print("   ");
  Serial.print(i); // write phase
  Serial.print("   ");
  //Serial.println((10*voltage)/205); // 10*voltage in volts
  Serial.println(voltage); // voltage in ADC units - / 1024 * 5

}

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