Simulation of Small Hydropower Stations for Operator Training

Abstract Hydropower is important for many developing countries. Small hydropower stations can be manufactured and operated in the countries by local personnel. Training of this personnel for operating the stations under different operating conditions is becoming vital. At ETH Zurich, together with the Swiss Center for Development Cooperation in Technology and Management, we are developing a generally available simulator for operator training. The simulator must be easy to use in teaching. No programming, only configuring should be required. Oberon, an object-oriented programming language and a modular, extensible operating system developed by N. Wirth and J. Gutknecht at ETH Zurich, is used as the basis for the simulator. The modelling and simulation of small hydropower stations is described in some detail.