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CATEGORY: HARDWARE

Thermal Condition Monitoring and diagnosis For Power and Distribution Transformers based on an Arduino

MAKERS: Emmanuel

The project is aimed at providing a solution for the frequent failure of distribution transformers in Uganda. The main utilities company has no online condition monitoring for these transformers because it is considered expensive. Transformers mainly fail due to excessive load which causes overheating of windings hence explosions due to winding insulation breakdown. I have developed a thermal condition monitoring system which includes both software(Human Machine Interface) and hardware with GPRS Communication. The system hardware is built using an arduino mega, split core current sensors, ambient temperature sensor and a sim900 GPRS module. The software is a C# application that can access the internet to continuously poll transformer data using web-sockets and uses a MySQL database to store transformer information such as location,technical data and monitoring history of the transformer such that it can be viewed using a codeplex google map API embedded in the App and charts on the user interface. The model is based on the IEEE for Loading Mineral-Oil-Immersed Transformers and Step-Voltage Regulators with the calculation of the transformers hottest spot temperature being paramount. Using an algorithm, the system software suit computes the transformers hottest spot temperature and then the insulation aging rates using information provided in the manufacturers data sheet. From this the maintenance engineer can set the loss of life he is willing to sacrifice for a transformer before alarm conditions. I am currently adding more functionality and monitoring parameters to the system using IEEE Guide for Application for Monitoring Equipment to Liquid-Immersed Transformers and Components; this will make it more applicable since even the current system used for power transformers does not have the capability to compute the insulation aging rates. I am hoping to move to production once if i can acquire a 3D printer to make enclosures for the Remote Terminal Unit and also have a fully designed printed circuit board which am developing using Eagle circuit design software. Advantages of the system in-terms of costs shall be; reduced maintenance costs, reduced failure-related repair or replacement costs, improved real time transformer loading capability and more

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