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IPASJ International Journal of Electrical Engineering (IIJEE)
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEE/IIJEE.htm
Email: editoriijee@ipasj.org
ISSN 2321-600X
A Publisher for Research Motivation........
Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2015
Fault Detection in Power Line Using Wireless
Sensor Network
Sushil Chavhan1, Vaibhav Barsagade2, Abhijit Dutta3, Shubhangi Thakre4
1
Eighth Semester Electrical Engg Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar College of Engineering & Research Nagpur, Maharashtra
2
Eighth Semester Electrical Engg Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar College of Engineering & Research Nagpur, Maharashtra
3
Assistant Prof. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar College of Engineering & Research Nagpur, Maharashtra
4.
Deputy Executive Engineer, MSETCL, Nagpur Division
ABSTRACT
Detecting and locating fault in power line is very necessary for healthy operation of power system. In electrical power line fault
often occur many times making the power system unreliable. In this paper a novel concept using wireless sensor for detecting
fault which includes phase to phase, short circuit and mainly line to ground fault in power line for better reliable and optimum
operation of the system is presented. In the proposed concept power line is divided by WNS (wireless sensor network) nodes that
could sense the faulty condition in power line, display to operator as well as send SMS through GSM modem to service
engineer. This is well demonstrated with the help of hardware model and the results obtained shows that WNS have several
features that make them an attractive instrumentation solution in electrical distribution networks and also a viable tool for
detecting fault in power transmission line for its accurate fault detection.
Keywords: Wireless Sensor Network, Optimum operation, Arduino, hall-effect current sensor, sensor nodes.
1.INTRODUCTION
In development of nation power sector provides one of the most important input especially in moderately developing
nation. In India the consumption of electricity is increasing at much faster rate. Therefore a need has aroused to
generate, transmit & distribute electric power at most economical way. [3] Electrical power system is been divided into
generation, transmission & distribution. Losses in distribution system are much higher than losses in transmission side
and also fault are more frequent in distribution side. In distribution system most of the losses are caused by fault and
theft. In this paper the focus is on single phase to ground fault in power line. When single phase to ground fault occurs,
it becomes significant to detect fault quickly and with accuracy. It becomes challenging for the power company to detect
and repair the fault as quickly as possible. Protection systems are designed to identify the location of faults and isolate
only the faulted section in order not to damage the whole equipment in power system. In the proposed concept with the
use of wireless sensor network exact location of fault can be diagnosed. There by providing optimum operation of
electric power. The objective of this paper is to provide with a simple way to detect the fault and show the exact
location of occurred fault which will ultimately lead to optimum operation of the whole system and to improve the
reliability of distribution network.
In the proposed concept the electric distribution network is into the pieces of wireless sensor node which will constantly
interact with primary node which will be in server room. Each sensor node comprise of three components namely A]
ACS712 hall-effect current sensor B] Arduino mini pro C] nRF24l01 transceiver. Each sensor node is given a unique
address on different electric pole. During the normal operation the sensor node communicate with the main primary
node giving conformation that the operation of power line is normal. Any fault occurred in between any node will be
sensed by the sensor node and it will send the report to primary node. Then the arduion will compare the data and if
difference in data then the condition is termed as faulty. Thus giving us the exact location of fault occurred. Repair
team will be send to the faulty location. After a delay a SMS will be send to service engineer in case the operator did
not corresponded. Proto type hardware is been by our team.
Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2015
Page 8
IPASJ International Journal of Electrical Engineering (IIJEE)
A Publisher for Research Motivation........
Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2015
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEE/IIJEE.htm
Email: editoriijee@ipasj.org
ISSN 2321-600X
Figure 1 Conceptual Diagram
2. BLOCK DIAGRAM
Figure 2 Block Diagram
Block diagram of our proposed concept is shown in figure 2. We take on one side a source and on another side
destination and in between sensor node is deployed. Sensor node will measure the current value through power line and
will send it to primary sensor node which is interfaced with arduino uno. Arduino will execute the program embedded
it in and will compare the value of s1 and s2 for any fault in power transmission line it will sense and send SMS to
service engineer with the help on GSM modem incorporated.
3.COMPONENT DESCRIPTION
3.1 ARDUINO
It’s a great tool for developing interactive objects which takes input from various sensors, actuators, switches and
controls the output for obtaining desired result. [4] Arduino is a tool for making computer that can sense and control
more physical world than your desktop computer. It’s an open source physical computing platform based on simple
microcontroller board and a development environment for writing software for board.
There are many advantages [5] using arduino:
(a)It is open-source hardware. The arduino software is also open-source accessible to all without prior permission to
use.
Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2015
Page 9
IPASJ International Journal of Electrical Engineering (IIJEE)
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEE/IIJEE.htm
Email: editoriijee@ipasj.org
ISSN 2321-600X
A Publisher for Research Motivation........
Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2015
b) One of the greatest advantage of using arduino is that it can be runned on any operating system such as windows,
Macintosh, Linux unlike other micro controllers which are limited to windows.
c) As arduino is open-source software platform so you can get lots of source code available on online forum &
communities related to arduino.
Here we use two different arduino namely arduino uno & arduino pro mini. The main difference between both of them
is its microcontroller chip arduino uno uses Atmega328 & arduino mini pro uses ATmega168.
Figure 3 PIN LAYOUT OF ATmega328
3.2.nRF24l01 LOW POWER TRANSCEIVER
As shown in the figure 4 [6] The nRF24L01 integrates a complete 2.4GHz RF transceiver, RF synthesizer, and
baseband logic including the Enhanced ShockBurst™ hardware protocol accelerator supporting a high-speed SPI
interface for the application controller. The nRF24L01 module is worked at 3V voltage level. Figure 5 shows the
interfacing of arduino with nRF24L01 transceiver. GND of arduino is connected to GND of nRF24L01, VCC of
arduino is connected to VCC of nRF24L01, CE of nRF24L01 is connected to pin 13 of arduino, CSN of nRF24L01 is
connected to pin 10 of arduino, CSK of nRF24L01 is connected to pin 13 of arduino, MOSI of nRF24L01 is connected
to pin 12 of arduino.
Figure 4 nRF24L01PIN LAYOUT
Figure 5 INTERFACING OF ARDUINO & NRF24L01
Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2015
Page 10
IPASJ International Journal of Electrical Engineering (IIJEE)
A Publisher for Research Motivation........
Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2015
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEE/IIJEE.htm
Email: editoriijee@ipasj.org
ISSN 2321-600X
3.3 ACS712 HALL-EFFECT CURRENT SENSOR
The ACS712 is a bi-directional hall-effect current sensor. That means that it will detect positive and negative flowing
currents. Since the module runs on 5V, the output of the ACS712 is set to 1/2Vcc or approximately 2.5V to represent
zero current flow. So a negative current flow will go from 2.5V down and a positive current will go from 2.5V up.
Allegro ACS712 device which provides an economical and precise way of sensing AC and DC currents based on Halleffect. It uses the principle of Hall-effect, which was discovered by Dr. Edwin Hall in 1879. We use ACS712 hall effect
current sensor to measure the current flowing from power line. As shown in figure 6 ACS712 is connected in series to
power line. And corresponding voltage is given through output pin. Table 1 and table 2 shows the forward and reverse
direction current flowing through the hall-effect current sensor. [7]The sensitivity of the current is 185 mV/A. i.e. if 1
amp current flows through ACS712 then 185 mV will be the corresponding voltage through output pin.
Figure 6 ACS712 hall-effects current sensor
Table 1: Forward direction current through acs712
Current
Voltage
+2.5
1
0.185
2.685
2
0.370
2.870
3
0.555
3.05
4
0.740
3.24
5
0.925
3.42
Table 2: Reverse direction current through ACS712
Current
Voltage
-2.5
1
0.185
2.315
2
0.370
2.130
3
0.555
1.945
4
0.740
1.760
5
0.925
1.575
3.4 GSM MODULE
Here we have used SIM900A GSM MODEM which is Compatible with ARDUINO, RASPBERRY PI, ARM, AVR,
PIC, 8051, etc. directly connected to computer via Serial Port, Best suited for GSM based Microcontroller Projects,
better than SIM300 and other GSM Modems.
4.WORKING
Power line carrying power through will be measured by the hall-effect current sensor ACS712. ACS712 is interfaced
with arduino mini pro which will convert the analog measured current value into digital form and then it will transmit
the data to the main primary node through nRF24l01 transceiver. This process will happen on both sensor nodes, let
say sensor node 1 and sensor node 2 and all the parameters will be calculated in arduino ATmega328 UNO. LCD is
interfaced with arduino which will display measured value of s1 and s2. For creation of fault we apply 100 watt bulb in
between s1 and s2 thus the phase to ground fault is produced there by creating difference in reading of s1 and s2 due to
faulty condition. We gave condition, if s1 is greater the s2+ fault current then fault occurs. So, it will display on LCD
screen and buzzer will buzz to alert the operator at server station, at the same time SMS will be sent through GSM
modem to on duty service Engineer with exact fault location detail.
Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2015
Page 11
IPASJ International Journal of Electrical Engineering (IIJEE)
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEE/IIJEE.htm
Email: editoriijee@ipasj.org
ISSN 2321-600X
A Publisher for Research Motivation........
Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2015
Methodology:
Normal condition
Sensor node 1 reading ≈ sensor node 2 reading
Faulty condition
Sensor node 1 reading > sensor node 2 reading + fault current
Figure7 Hardware set up
Figure 8 Sensor Node reading
Figure 9 Sending message through GSM module
Specification:
Destination side load= 100 watt bulb
Power line= 230 volt
Creation of fault= 100 watt bulb in between s1 & s2
Figure 7 Flow chat
Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2015
Page 12
IPASJ International Journal of Electrical Engineering (IIJEE)
A Publisher for Research Motivation........
Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2015
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEE/IIJEE.htm
Email: editoriijee@ipasj.org
ISSN 2321-600X
5.CONCLUSION
Locating fault in a power transmission line is a complicated and severe problem in power system. Many research work
is been carried out for fault detection but this is one of the simplest way. This concept successfully analyse the
asymmetrical faults which occurs in power line. In Wireless Sensor Network (WNS) current sensor ACS712 interfaced
with arduino mini pro converts the analog measured current value into digital form and then transmits the data to the
main primary node through nRF24l01 transceiver. Parameters calculated in arduino ATmega328 UNO transmits data
to control panel or substation so that immediate action can be done with the help of GSM technology. We have
successfully found out the exact location of fault
REFERENCES
[1] Ashwini Yenegur, Basawaraj.S.Mathpati “An algorithm for fault node recovery of wireless sensor network”
Volume: 03 Special Issue: 03 | May-2014 | NCRIET-2014
[2] He Yi Li Chang-binWu Ai-guo Meng Qing-yu “Research of Phase-to-ground Fault Location in The Distribution
Line Based on Wireless Sensor Networks”
[3] S. Tamronglak, S. E Horowitz, A. G. Phadke, J. S. Thorp “Anatomy of power system blackouts: preventive
relaying strategies” IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 11, No. 2, April 1996
[4] Ahmad Adamu Galadima “Arduino as a learning tool”.
[5] Yusuf Abdullahi Badamasi “The Working Principle Of An Arduino”.
[6] “nRF24L0 Single Chip 2.4GHz Transceiver Product Specification” NORDIC semiconductors.
[7] “Fully Integrated, Hall Effect-Based Linear Current Sensor with 2.1 kVRMS Voltage Isolation and a LowResistance Current Conductor” datasheet
[8] Charles Kim, Thomas Bialek, Jude Awiylika, “An Initial Investigation for Locating Self-Clearing Faults in
Distribution Systems” IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON SMART GRID, VOL. 4, NO. 2, JUNE 2013
AUTHOR
Sushil Chavhan currently pursuing Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering disciple from
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar College of Engineering & Research, Nagpur (MH). His professional aim is
to become energy expert. His area of interest is Alternative Energy, losses in electrical power system,
and Energy Audit
Vaibhav Barsagade currently pursuing Bachelor of Engineering in Electrica Engineeringl disciple
from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar College of Engineering & Research, Nagpur (MH). His area of interest
are Electrical machines and power system.
Abhijit A.Dutta is an Assistant Professor in Department of Electrical Engineering Dr. Babasaheb
Ambedkar College of Engineering & Research, Nagpur (MH) Under Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj
Nagpur University. He has completed his B.E. (Electrical) from Govt. College of Engineering,
Chandrapur in year 2003 also he has completed his M.Tech (Integrated Power System) from YCCE,
Nagpur. He has teaching experience of 10 years. His area of interest are Power Electronic, Power
System and Network Circuits He has many research papers in International Journals and presented
his research work in the field of Power System in International Conference in India and abroad
Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2015
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