A small niobium magnet attached (tape works) to the turbine/generator shaft creates a narrow pulse at pin 2 of the Arduino for each revolution. The Arduino program checks the time between pulses, calculates the RPM, and makes the AC motor that operates the butterfly valve run in a direction so as to keep the RPM constant. There are some fancy PID (Proportional Integral Differential) loops programmed in to keep things stable. Here is the diagram.
I could not upload a more readable PDF here but I can email it to you if you drop me a line.
I think I posted the Arduino program elsewhere on this blog. This link will get you to a simplified schematic of the hall sensor / Arduino hookup. http://schematics.com/editor/hall-sens-rpm-control-16718/ I'm still trying to use their schematic editor on a Mac but it is frustratingly windows centric, not intuitive -- yet, but I'll keep at it, so expect more clarity.
Hi
ReplyDeleteI am interested in more info as you indicated you couldnt post everything on your website.
Please email it to mzukisi.keli@gmail.com