International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology Vol.88 (2016), pp.63-78 http://dx.doi.org/10.14257/ijast.2016.88.06 ISSN: 2005-4238 IJAST Copyright ⓒ 2016 SERSC Design of Multivariable Adaptive Generalized Predictive Control for the Part Turbine/Generator of Micro-Hydro Power Plant Zohra Zidane, Mustapha Ait Lafkih, and Mohamed Ramzi Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Sultan Moulay Slimane, B.P: 523, 23000 Beni-Mellal, Morocco zidane.zohra@gmail.com Abstract This paper provides the design steps of a multivariable Adaptive Generalized Predictive Controller AGPC whose duty is to drive a micro-hydro power system that comprises a hydraulic turbine driving a synchronous generator which is connected to an infinite bus via a step-up transformer and a transmission line. The simulation model of the part turbine/generator of micro-hydropower plant was constructed based on mathematical equations that summarize the behavior of the micro-hydro power plant. Multivariable AGPC is considered here because of its wide use in the industry and also at universities, showing good performance and a certain degree of robustness. In this study, the standard multivariable (GPC) algorithm is presented. The model parameters are estimated using an identification algorithm based on Recursive Least Squares (RLS) method. In order to validate the effectiveness of AGPC, simulation studies for the part turbine/generator of micro hydropower plant are used. Encouraging results are obtained that motivate for further investigations. Keywords: Generalized Predictive Control, Adaptive Control, Modeling, Multivariable Systems, Micro-hydropower Plant 1. Introduction The most important elements of hydropower plant are synchronous generator and turbine, because it is the source of electrical energy. In generator, mechanical energy (usually from a turbine) is transformed into electrical energy. Energy transformation is possible only if generator excitation exists. Excitation of generator also defines generator output values: voltage and real power. This means that generator excitation regulation is actually regulation of generator output energy and also impacts the stability of entire electric power system [1-4]. The objective of the control strategy is to generate and deliver power in an interconnected system as economically and reliably as possible while maintaining the voltage and frequency within permissible limits. Micro-hydropower plant is equipped with hydraulic turbine governor and excitation control. The errors in the terminal voltage and in the output active power, with respect to their respective references, represent the controller inputs and the generator-exciter voltage and governor- valve position represent the controller outputs. The control of real power output and the terminal voltage keeps the system in the steady state [5-10]. This paper presents the application of multivariable GPC control to achieve sets points tracking of the outputs of the plant. The GPC control is one of the most favorite predictive control methods; it has obtained great success in process industries. It is applicable [11- 13] to the systems with non-minimal phase, unstable systems in open loop, systems with unknown or varying dead time, systems with unknown order and nonlinear systems approximated by linear models. This approach can be easily extended to deal with multivariable plants which results in the multivariable GPC algorithm.