Chapter-10 MORE REFERENCE

DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMER MONITORING AND CONTROL

SYSTEM FOR REMOTE ELECTRIC POWER GRIDS THROUGH
GSM/GPS MODEM

Abstract- This paper presents design & implementation of a mobile embedded system to monitor and record
key operation parameters of a distribution transformer like load current, voltage unbalance, transformer oil &
ambient temperatures. The proposed monitoring system integrates a Global Service Mobile Modem, with
standalone single chip microcontroller & sensor packages. It is installed at the distribution transformer site & the
above mentioned parameters are recorded by using the built-in 8 channel analog to digital converter (ADC) of
the embedded system. The acquired parameters are processed & recorded in the system memory. If there is any
abnormality or an emergency situation then system sends messages and loction to designated mobile
telephones containing information about the abnormality according to some predefined instructions & policies
that are stored on the embedded system EEPROM. Also, it sends SMS to a central database via the GSM/GPS
modem for further processing. This system will able to benchmark the DT measurements to abnormal operation
and take action before failure.

Keywords- Protection of distribution transformer, differential protection scheme.

I. INTRODUCTION
In power system network distribution transformer is electrical equipment which distributes power to the
low-voltage users directly and its operating condition is a vital part of the operation of distribution network.
Operation of distribution transformer under rated condition guarantees their long life. However, their life is
significantly reduced if they are subjected to overloading condition, resulting in unexpected failures and loss of
supply to a large number of customers thus affecting system reliability. Overloading and rise in oil & winding
temperature of transformer are the major causes of failure in distribution transformers.

The GSM based monitoring of distribution transformer is quite useful as compared to the manual
operating system. In case of manual monitoring system it is not possible to monitor the oil level, rise in oil
temperature, rise in ambient temperature, load current regularly. After receiving the message of any
abnormality, we can easily take action immediately to prevent any failure of distribution transformers. In a
distribution network system there are many distribution transformers and associating each transformer with
such system can easily figure out faulty transformer from the message sent to mobile, thereby no need of
checking all transformers phase current and voltage and thus we can recover the system in less time.

Abnormality in transformer is accompanied with variation in different parameters like winding

temperature, oil temperature, ambient temperature, load current, dissolved gases in oil and oil level. The
monitoring devices which are presently used for monitoring transformer have some problems and deficiencies
such as,

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Volume 03, Issue 01, [January – 2016] ISSN (Online):2349–9745 ; ISSN (Print):2393-8161

1. Manual monitoring system generally detects a single parameter such as power, current, voltage and phase.
While in some ways it could detect multi-parameter. The time for acquiring the data or readings and
operating parameters is too long and testing speed is not so fast enough.
2. Detection system is not reliable because poor anti-jamming capability and low measurement accuracy of the
data.
3. Timely detection data will not be sent to monitoring centres in time.
4. Cost of presently used monitoring system is very high.
5. Some monitoring systems uses power line carrier communication (PLCC) to send data but it has some
disadvantages:
a) Frequency interference in system.
b) Noise problem in network.
According to the above requirements we need a real-time electrical parameters monitoring system to detect all
operating parameters and send it to the monitoring Centre in time. It leads to online monitoring of operational
parameters of distribution transformer which can provide useful information about the health of transformers
which will help the utilities to optimally use their transformers & keep the asset in operation for a longer period.
This will help to identify problems before any serious failure which leads to a cost saving and provides greater
reliability. Widespread use of mobile networks & GSM/GPS devices such as GSM/GPS modems and their
decreasing costs have made them an attractive option not only for voice media but also for other wide area
network applications.
With the help of this GSM/GPS module it is possible to send information whenever fault arises i.e. send
text SMS to service engineer mobile & the location of transformer is sent (by using Google map services the
location can be identified)

II. METHODOLOGY

Figure 1-Block diagram

First sensors are installed at the transformer site for sensing the various electrical parameters of
transformers and convert into analog signal with the help of signal conditioning circuit. Then the signal is passed
through microcontroller .The GSM based modem is interfaced with the microcontroller through MAX232
adapter by which it uploads and downloads SMS that contain information related to the transformer

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parameters. This GSM/GPS Based modem then sends this SMS to mobile users containing information about
parameters value of the distribution transformers. When fault occurs in distribution transformer then we can
trip the circuit with the help of relay and 3 phase contactor.

III .HARDWARE ARCHITECTURE

Figure 2-sequence of methodologies in the monitoring of distribution transformer via GSM

Figure 3-Circuit diagram of the Model

The system hardware has four hardware modules like embedded system, GSM modem, mobileusers &
GSM networks and PC-based server. The embedded module is located at the site of transformer. It is utilized to
acquire process and display as well as transmit and receive the parameters from the GSM/GPS modem. The
second is the GSM/GPS module is the link between the embedded system and the public GSM network. Then

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third is utility module that has a PC-based -server located at the utility control center. Then server is attached to
GSM modem and received SMS from the transformer site via the GSM module.

Detailed specifications & functions of each module are described as follows: Embedded system module
has two blocks: Signal Conditioning Circuit block and Controller block. The SCC block reads the currents,
voltages, temperatures from sensors. Then it converts each reading to a compatible signals that can be read by
the embedded system built-in ADCs (0-5 volts DC). Each circuit has two Op-amps & set of resistors to adjust the
gain and the offset. The current & voltage SCC have small transformers and rectifier circuits that convert and
scale the current and voltage values to be compatible levels with the Op Amps circuits. The controller block
consists of an 8-bit microcontroller that has 8-channel analog to digital converter (ADC) & several digital
input/output ports. The ADC is used to read the parameters, which are built-in EPROM is used to host the
embedded software algorithm that takes care of the parameters acquisition, processing, displaying, transmitting
& receiving. The built-in EEPROM is used to save the online measured parameters along with their hourly& daily
averages. The system is equipped with 2-lines 16 character each LCD and 16-LEDs that are used as pilot lights to
indicate each parameter status. The microcontroller RS-232 is utilized for the GSM modem communication to
upload & download SMS messages that contain information related to the transformer parameters and status.
GSM/GPS Modem

Figure 4-hardware circuit Design

Block offers high speed wireless connection and it is attached to the microcontroller RS-232 data adapter
and can be used as a standalone modem. It can be connected to a personal computer, stand alone embedded
system or other devices via their serial ports The GSM/GPS based modem is used as a short message server
(SMS) and Global positioning system (GPS) device. It can send and receive SMS containing a maximum of 160
characters. In this application, the GSM/GPS modem is interfaced with the microcontroller via its RS-232
adapter.

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Figure 5- GSM/GPS Modem

The GSM/GPS modem receives a message from the microcontroller that contains the transformer
information such as location, load currents and temperature. It will then transmit the parameters as an SMS to
pre-stored GSM device numbers according to a preset policy and the receiver can be a utility personnel such as
maintenance technician, operation engineer or/and authorized utility personnel. Also, it can receive SMS
messages from any one of the above mentioned personnel acquiring information. Mobile users and GSM
networks: The mobile users are authorized utilities personnel with GSM mobile set with a valid SIM chip. The
GSM network is the public mobile phone network that is provided to users by the mobile service providers. . The
PC-based server is off-the-shelf Pentium with sufficient requirement to handle limited database application it
send SMS along with the location of transformer using GPS

IV.SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTATION
The programming is done in embedded C language then with the help of MPLAB software compilation of
the C program converts into machine language file (.hex) which is required for microcontroller. This is the only
language the microcontroller will understand and then design microcontroller based circuit diagram on
PROTEUS software. The voltage we get from the main supply is 230V AC but the other components of the circuit
require 5V DC. Hence we get 12V AC by using step-down transformer which is later converted to 12V DC using a
rectifier but output of rectifier still contains some ripples due to Pulsating DC. To remove the ripples and obtain
smoothed DC power filter circuits are used. The 12V DC is rated down to 5V using a positive voltage regulator
(chip 7805). Thus a fixed DC voltage of 5V is obtained.

Figure 6-Simulation result

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Figure 7- simulation result

SYSTEM PROCESS FLOW

This was developed in system programming as shown in the flow chart in figure

Figure 8-Process flow during start and monitoring

V.TESTING AND CONDITION MONITORING

These currents of high magnitudes can’t be fed directly to our designed system. It needs to be scaled down. For
this purpose current transformer and potential transformer can be used in practice. The current and voltage
after being scaled down is fed to microprocessor based system where it compares it with the reference value
and take consequent action.

Regarding taking reference value, we have to take Account the normal current, turn ratio of CT and PT, accuracy
and associated errors. For example the we are attempting to give that type situation using potentiometer. Using
potentiometer we will vary the voltage and current in different phases. By varying the potentiometer we change
the voltage when it is more than the reference voltage then system will send message. The following displays
are obtained during the operation.

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Figure 9-Results

The software and the hardware were set based on the system process flow while carrying out the first system
test. The application was configured through the computer serial port to receive the loading data from the
transformer via a GSM/GPS Modem connected to the computer. The data was displayed in real time as it was
received from the hardware setup and mobile.

VI.CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK

In this project we have design a system based on PIC microcontroller on Proteus software for
distribution transformer key parameters like voltage and current which are monitored with employing PIC
16F877A Microcontroller and then LCD interfaced with PIC microcontroller and respective phase voltages and
respective phase currents which are displayed on LCD screen. In hardware implementation the necessary
components are carry out and interfaced with the PIC Micro controller. The GSM/GPS modem is put in work to
transfer the monitored parameters information from the PIC Micro controller to the service engineers mobile.

So we can monitor and control the voltage, current & temperature of a distribution transformer. The
proposed GSM based system which has been designed to monitor the transformers essential parameters
continuously monitors the parameters throughout its operation and GPS is designed to identify the location. If
the micro-controller recognizes any increase in the level of voltage or current or temperature values the unit has
been made shutdown in order to prevent it from further damages. The designed system not only controls the
distribution transformer in the substation by shutting it down, but also displays the parameter values
throughout the process for user’s reference and this claims that the proposed design of the system makes the
distribution transformer more robust against some key power quality issues which makes the voltage or current

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or temperature to peak, hence the distribution network is made more secure, reliable & efficient by means of
the proposed system.

REFERENCES
I. Abdul-Rahman AI-Ali, Abdul Khaliq & Muhammad Arshad,” GSM-Based Distribution Transformer
Monitoring System”, IEEE MELECON 2004, May 12-15,2004, Vol 3 Pages-9991002, Croatia.
II. Leibfried, T, “Online monitors keep transformers in service”, Computer Applications in Power, IEEE,
Volume: 11 Issue: 3 , July 1998 Page(s):36 -42.
III. Chan, W. L, So, A.T.P. and Lai, L., L.; “Interment Based Transmission Substation Monitoring”, IEEE
Transaction on Power Systems, Vol. 14, No. 1, February 1999, pp. 293-298.
IV. Par S. Tenbohlen,T. Stirl, M. Rösner,” Benefit of sensors for on-line monitoring systems for power
transformers”
V. T. D. Poyser, "An On-Line Microprocessor Based Transformer Analysis System to Improve the
Availability and Uti'lization of Power Transformers". IEEE Trans. On Power Apparatus and Systems,
Volume PAS-102, April 1983, pp.957-962.
VI. 6.Muhammad Ali Mazidi , Janice Gillispie Mazidi, Rolin D.Mckinlay, The 8051 Microcontroller And
Embedded Systems Using Assembly And C,Second Edition, Pearson Education, 2008, India.

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