Underground Cable Fault Detection Using IOT

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 09 Issue: 05 | May 2022 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
© 2022, IRJET | Impact Factor value: 7.529 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal | Page 3218
Underground Cable Fault Detection Using IOT
Thepashree M1, Srinivetha S2, Fouja A3, Surya prakash S4
123Student, Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering Kumaraguru college of Technology, Coimbatore,
Tamilnadu, India
4Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Kumaraguru college of Technology,
Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India
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Abstract - The goal of this work is to spot the particular
location of a fault in underground cable lines from the
supply station to the precise location of the fault in any unit,
during this case kilometers. When a fault arises in an
underground cable line for any cause, the mending method
for that faulted cable becomes problematic because of the
absence of a correct system for tracking the precise position
of the fault and also the kind of fault that happened within
the cable. For this, a system should be designed to find the
precise position of the fault within the distribution line
system for all 3 phases R, Y, and B, and for varied sorts of
fault circumstances. Single line to ground, double line to
ground, and 3 section faults are mentioned during this work.
have been regarded A systems program a microprocessor,
lcd|LCD|digital display|alphanumeric display} display,
Fault Sensing Circuit Module, LoRa Module, and proper
power supply arrangement with regulated power output is
made in this project. As a result, if there's a short circuit
within the kind of a line to ground in any phase/phases, the
voltage across series resistors changes an, associate degreed
an analogue signal within the variety of a dip is made by the
fault sensing circuit of the introduced system, that is then
fed to associate degree ADC built-in within the already
programmed microcontroller to make the precise digital
knowledge, and once process the info, the output are going
to be displayed within the connected liquid crystal display
with the precise location of the fault. Correlating R, Y, B
section with the measurement the gap wherever the fault
occurred Through the connected IoT Wi-Fi Module, a
similar processed data output can show on the webpage.
The AT Mega 328P microcontroller is employed during this
system. the present sensing of circuits fashioned employing a
combination of resistors is interfaced to the ATmega328
microcontroller exploitation associate degree internally
enclosed ADC to produce digital knowledge to the
microcontroller. The fault sensing circuit is formed of a
series of resistors and a collection of switches adjacent to
every resistance. The relay driver is answerable of the
relays. The microcontroller is coupled to a 16x2 liquid
crystal {display |LCD| digital display| alphanumeric display}
display that displays the phase/phases data additionally
because the location of the defect in kilometers.
Key Words: IOT, Fault Detection, Lora
1. INTRODUCTION
The detection of faults is one of the biggest drawbacks of
underground wires. Visual inspection procedures are
ineffective because the cables are placed beneath the
surface (directly or inside pressurized ducts). In the case
of Overhead Lines, this is not the case. We'll need to create
unique methods to detect cable failures.
• Fault with an open circuit
• A short circuit has occurred.
• Earth faults
When moisture enters the insulation, the majority of the
defects arise. Inside the cable, the paper insulation is
highly absorbent. Mechanical loss during transit, the lying
process, or numerous stresses faced by the wire during its
operational life are some of the other causes. The lead
sheath is frequently destroyed, mainly as a result of
atmospheric pollutants, soil, and water or, on rare
occasions, caused by mechanical damage and lead
crystallization caused by vibration.
i Open Circuit Fault (OCF)
Is a type of fault that occurs when a circuit issue is caused
by an open circuit in the conductors, as the name implies.
Discontinuity occurs when one or more cable conductors
(cores) break. Mechanical tension causes the cable to
come out of its joint, causing this discontinuity. This is
referred to as an open circuit fault.
ii Short Circuit Fault
It can only be found in multi-cored cables. A short circuit
occurs when two or more conductors of the same cable
come into touch with each other. Visual detection is
impossible without dismantling the cable. When the
individual insulation of the cables is destroyed, a short-
circuit issue arises. A megger can also be used to detect it.
1.1 LITERATURE SURVEY
A. A. Khan, et Al [2012], For electricity delivery, the power
distribution system must provide on a vast network of
medium voltage (MV) underneath wires.

Condition - based tools can thus play an important role in
seeking to pinpoint the cables that provide the greatest
risk of failure. Most network owners are focused on
maintaining or improving the reliability of their power
sources at a low cost.
Condition monitoring provides the data required for safe
and dependable operation, as well as replacement plan,
and so improves system durability. Because of the
increased demand for dependable power, alternative
solutions such as condition-based maintenance are being
used more frequently. One of the most accurate diagnostic
tools for determining the insulation status of MV cables is
partial discharge (PD) monitoring. Online PD evaluations
provided the data for this study can aid in determining
impending failures in certain cable networks and even
forecasting the insulation's remaining useful life. The
condition monitoring and diagnostic approaches for
buried power cables are discussed in this work. Power
cables, which are the most critical component of the
power system, are prone to failure owing to ageing or
flaws that develop over time. The cable is commonly made
out of an aluminum or copper conductor wrapped in
semiconductive and insulation layers, regardless of the
working voltage or frequency. The ground shield is formed
by a metallic screen over the insulating semi-conductive
layer, that is encased in an exterior outer covering.
F. B. Ajaei and colleagues [2011] For modelling of CT to
address the effects on digital protective relays, a current
transformer (CT) is precisely modelled.
The effects of CT saturation on the present Phasor
calculation are investigated using simulated experiments
performed on the PSCAD/EMTDC system. A new method
for detecting and compensating CT saturation effects is
also suggested, which is predicated on a lowest failure
squares (LES) filter that estimates the phasor variables of
the CT secondary current; a new saturation sensing
method that uses the output of the LES filter for saturation
detection; and a minimum acceptable average error
tracking approach that improves the Phasor estimation
precision. The suggested saturation identification method
is unaffected by CT settings, burden, or other factors. The
electrical system The findings of the study reveal that the
suggested algorithm: 1) reproduces the deformed current
waveform with the appropriate precision and speed under
dc and ac saturation situations, and 2) operates
satisfactorily under inductive burden and deep and mild
saturation states. Saturation of the current transformer
(CT) results in erroneous current measurements, which
might cause safety relays to fail. 1) dc saturation due to the
high fading dc source of the fault current and/or the CT
core's premagnetization, and 2) ac saturation due to the
enormous ac current magnitude. If adequate mechanisms
for saturation detection and/or correction are not used, a
protective relay is practically exposed to maximize the
value of the related CT, which has a negative impact on the
efficiency.
S. Kucuksari et. Al [2010] Optical current transformers
(OCTs) are available from several vendors to replace
magnetic current transformers (CTs). The efficiency of
certain currently available optical and conventional CTs is
compared in this research. In a laboratory, the steady and
transient reactions of the two systems are evaluated. Field
data is also collected and analyzed to ensure that optical
systems may take the role of traditional instrument
transformers. In addition, the impact of ambient
temperature on OCT performance and OCT step response
have been examined. Optical CTs are more than available
to replace conventional CTs, according to the findings. In
addition, the findings reveal that OCT has a better
frequency response than traditional CT. The differences
between field and lab readings are due to experimental
mistakes. Unlike traditional CTs, the OCT may produce a
digital output that adheres to the IEC 61850 standard. The
frequency-amplitude characteristic of the OCT's digital
output is evaluated. Due to the limited sampling rate given
in a UCA guide to IEC61850-9-2, the digital output of the
OCT has a smaller bandwidth than the low energy
analogue output. The steady state and transient
characteristics of conventional magnetic and optical
current transformers are compared in this research. The
high voltage laboratory at ASU was used for all of the tests.
The reactions of both current transformers were
compared under real-world settings (load current and
fault current). A step-function was used to assess the
OCT's transient performance. The effect of increased
temperatures on OCT measurements was investigated.
Increased sensor head temperature was used to determine
the impact of greater temperature on OCT measures.
Laxmi Goswami et Al [2020] . Underground cables, rather
than above transmission lines, are employed in downtown
areas. It's difficult to find the exact location of the flaws.
India's reputation as a progressive country is growing by
the day, and the civilized field is expanding as well.
Underground lines are beating under the same conditions,
and their use is increasing as a consequence of clear
advantages like fewer line losses, lower maintenance
costs, and less vulnerability to severe climate influences.
Because it is unclear, it goes to great lengths to pinpoint
the source of the problem. We are attempting to address
this issue in this suggested study by offering a strategy
that is suitable for the digital age. In this paper, we'll look
at with the help of the Node MCU Wi-Fi Module, we used
an IOT-based approach with a Google database for defect
detection in this work. It is entirely based on the Internet
of Things. Node MCU was used to connect Arduino sensors
to the Internet. We had set up a communication hotspot
using a router. We linked each MCU Module to a
transformer and checked the condition of the
transformers using a Google database. When compared to

previous strategies, our proposed method is more
accurate and efficient.
Hans, M. R., et Al [2017] As India evolves as a developed
country, the amount of civilized land grows. Since
underground cables perform best in these kinds of
situations, their use is increasing due to clear benefits like
as less transmission losses, lower maintenance costs, and
reduced susceptibility to the effects of severe weather,
among others. However, it has some drawbacks, such as
high installation costs and the inability to detect defective
locations. It's impossible to pinpoint the specific location
of the defect because it's not apparent. We provide two
techniques in this study that will be particularly beneficial
in finding the precise distance of an underground system
fault from of the base station. Murray is one of the
approaches. Murray loop method and Ohm's Law method
are two of the ways available. The Murray loop approach
employs the whetstone bridge to calculate the exact
distance of the fault location from the base station and
provides that information to the user's mobile device.
When using the Ohm's law method, the voltage drop varies
based on the length of the fault in the cable since the
current varies. Under LG, LL, and LLL faults, both
approaches require a voltage converter, microcontroller,
and potentiometer to locate the fault.
Heena Sharma and colleagues [2013]: This paper is
primarily concerned with the causes, types, and location of
cable faults. The document depicts various disturbance
and fault states at a given period. The goal of this work is
to tackle the problem of fault location, which is utilized to
prevent unwelcome outages, cable damage, and failure.
This research also examines the voltage-time and current-
time relationships in both normal and abnormal
conditions. Simulation with PSCAD software is used to
evaluate the proposed condition. It has been tested and
found to have a fault location error of less than 5%.
1.2 PROPOSED SYSTEM
This paper presents a fault location example for
underground power cable by using the Internet of Things,
which is dependent on the internet, signifying that
information will be delivered via the internet. The idea of
this technique is to determine the distance in kilometers
between a cable fault and a base station, as well as the
location of the cables fault. The simple notion of Current
Transformer Theory is used in this study (CT Theory).
When a fault develops, such as a short circuit, the voltage
drop varies based on the length of the issue in the cable;
because the current fluctuates, a current transformer is
used to calculate the fluctuating current. The signal
modifier manipulates the voltage change, and the required
computations are performed by a microcontroller. So that
LoRA devices can indicate the fault distance These fault
information are then broadcast over the internet to any
access point and displayed. While current is flowing
through the fault sensing circuit module, the current
varies depending on the length of the cable from the point
of fault if there is a short circuit fault with the single line to
ground fault, double line to ground fault, or three phase to
ground fault, according to the system's operation. The
voltage drop across the series resistors changes as a
result, and the fault signal is subsequently sent to the
microcontroller's internal ADC for development of digital
data. The digital data is then processed by the
microcontroller, and the outcome is presented. In
kilometers and phase according to the fault conditions,
LCD attached to Arduino controller.
Fig - 1 : Block Diagram
Software
The Arduino Software (IDE) comprises a message box, a
text console, a text editor for writing code, a toolbar with
buttons for basic functions, and a set of menus. It
communicates with the Arduino and Genuino devices by
connecting to them and uploading code. The Arduino
Software (IDE) created with Sketches are programs . The
message part contains faults issues and gives feedback
when storing and sending. The Arduino Software (IDE)
outcome to the console, which covers the described error
messages and other information. The window's bottom
right corner shows the configured board and serial port .
You may verify and upload programs, create, open, and
save sketches, and the toolbar buttons contain the serial
monitor to be open.
2. HARDWARE DESCRIPTION
POWER SUPPLY UNIT
The power force is a critical component of any electronic
circuit. This circuit necessitates a constant 5 V voltage,

hence a voltage controller is required. We used the IC7805
as a voltage controller in this project. A voltage controller
generates a preset fixed affair voltage that remains
constant regardless of changes in its input voltage or cargo
conditions. Direct and switching voltage controllers are
the two types of voltage controllers. Then a direct
controller is used, which uses an active pass device (series
or shunt) operated by a high speed discrimination AL
amplifier. It adjusts the pass device to maintain a constant
affairs voltage by comparing the affair voltage to an
unresisting reference voltage and a precise reference
voltage.
LCD DISPLAY
The Liquid Crystal Display (TV) is an Alphabetic Display, it
can display Basics, Figures, and Special Symbols, making it
a slacker Display device that can be used to display
colourful dispatches rather than the seven-member
display, which can only display figures and some of the
basic fundamentals. The only drawback of a television
over a seven-member display is that a seven-member
display is more resilient and can be imaged from a greater
distance than a television. Then we utilised alphanumeric
screens with a resolution of 16 x 2.
RELAY
A relay is a switch that is controlled by electricity. Many
relays employ an electromagnet to manually activate a
switch, but they can also use alternative operating
principles, such as solid-state relays. Relays are employed
when a circuit has to be controlled by a separate low-
power signal or when multiple circuits need to be
controlled by a single signal. The early relays were
employed as amplifiers in long-distance telegraph circuits,
repeating the signal from one circuit and transmitting it on
another. Relays were widely employed to conduct logical
operations in telephone exchanges and early computers. A
contractor is a type of relay that can manage the high
power required to control an electric motor or other loads
directly. Solid-state relays use a semiconductor device to
switch power circuits rather than a moving tunnel to
control them. To protect electrical circuits from load or
failures, relays with calibrated operating characteristics
and occasionally several operational coils are employed; in
innovative and modern electric power systems, similar
functions are fulfilled by digital instruments still referred
to as "defensive relays."
TEMPERATURE SENSOR
The LM35 is a temperature detector with a precession
Integrated circuit whose affair voltage fluctuates
depending on the temperature around it. It's a compact,
low-cost IC that can monitor temperatures from -55 to 150
degrees Celsius. For every degree Celsius increase in
temperature, the voltage will climb by 0.01 V (10mV).
WATER LEVEL SENSOR
There are ten exposed bobby traces on the detector, five of
which are power traces and five of which are sensing
traces. These traces are combined so that each pair of
power traces has one sense trace. When submerged, these
traces are usually not connected but are crossed by water.
3. RESULT
Fig - 2 : Initialize the Sensors
Fig - 3 : Fault in 1 km
Fig - 4 : Area power shutdown

Fig - 5 : Cable Degrade
4. CONCLUSION
The underground string fault discovery system has been
successfully designed and tested. This system is intended
to descry the circuit fault in the underground lines by
using Arduino microcontroller. The Arduino
microcontroller works grounded on the affair of the
detector values. By using Arduino regulator find out exact
fault position. Once faults do in the string, the display unit
displays the exact fault position. In this system, the
measured current is detected as being in the small or
medium current range. The RMS value per current cycle is
transmitted to a back- end covering system to negotiate
real- time monitoring. This system detects only the
position of short circuit fault in underground string line,
and descry the position of open circuit fault, to descry the
open circuit fault capacitor is used in ac circuit which
measure the change in impedance & calculate the distance
of fault.
5. REFERENCES
[1] Ajaei, F. B., Sanaye-Pasand, M., Davarpanah, M., Rezaei-
Zare, A. and Iravani, R. (2011) ‘Compensation of the
current-transformer saturation effects for digital relays’,
IEEE Trans. on Power Delivery, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 2531–
2540.
[2] Cai, D., Regulski, P., Osborne, M. and Terzija, V. (2013)
‘Wide area inter-area oscillation monitoring using fast
nonlinear estimation algorithm’, IEEE Trans. Smart Grid,
vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 1721–1731.
[3] Chen, K. L. and Chen, N. (2011) ‘A new method for
power current measurement using a coreless Hall Effect
current transformer’, IEEE Trans. Instrumentation and
Measurement, vol. 60, no.1, pp.158–169.
[4] Douglass, D. A. and Edris, A. (1996) ‘Real-time
monitoring and dynamic thermal rating of power
transmission circuits’, IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, vol. 11,
no. 3, pp. 1407–1418.
[5] Frolec, J. and Husak, M. (2010) ‘Wireless sensor system
for overhead line ampacity monitoring’, in Proc. 2010 8th
International Conference on Advanced Semiconductor
Devices & Microsystems, Smolenice, Slovakia.
[6] Gungor, V. C. and Hancke, G. P. (2009) ‘Industrial
wireless sensor networks: challenges, design principles,
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[7] Gungor, V. C., Lu, B. and Hancke, G. P. (2010)
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[8] Han, J., Lee, H. and Park, K. (2009) ‘Remote controllable
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Underground Cable Fault Detection Using IOT

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