Last modified: 2017-10-10
Abstract
Authors
Linta Ahmed, Ayusha Wahid, Mehak Khalid, Mashaal Khan.
Affiliation
NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi.
Introduction
With increasing size of modern Power Systems, the complexities of handling the faulty conditions and even normal operations has increased significantly too, hence requiring incorporation of advanced, proactive systemized monitoring and control system. In today's world, manual efforts which make tasks slower to achieve are quickly being replaced by precise and robust equipment. This growing trend demands a fast-working substitution of the operation which causes delay in work. This project is another such implication. The stand-by generators in NED University of Engineering Technology need a constant supervision of service engineers who can look out for the abnormal functioning of generators like the current values going higher than normal, decreased power factor, high temperature value, fuel level going down and other such. Machines are periodically monitored for fault diagnosis, record its timing and put it on the appropriate preventive measure. Hence, this task becomes totally human dependent. It takes up more than available time and does not ensure accuracy. This amount of time delay and risk with generators is unsafe and is a threat to not only the engineers but also to the people within the institution. This project tends to provide a solution to this problem by proposing an atomized monitoring and control system. The human supervision will be replaced by monitoring system for current, voltage, frequency, power factor status and other such parameters. Wireless Sensor Network would send these values to central Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. The central system would be prompted from the sensors and then troubleshoot the necessary prevention.
This will cause our system to become more reliable and stable. It will make the work to be done in considerably lesser time. Moreover, the engineers will be able to invest in their knowledge and efforts in some productive and more beneficial jobs.
Methodology
The very first step was the selection of an appropriate programming board, compatible enough to give all results, which required significant amount of study. We selected the ARDUINO MEGA board. All the sensors used in this project employ Arduino mega for the detection of values and previews them successfully on computer screen. We have worked on the following sensors:
- Current
- Voltage
- Frequency
- Power factor
- Temperature
- Fuel
- Carbon monoxide (CO)
After this preview, we need to send it to the supervision and control system via a Wi-Fi module. This involved extensive analysis and trails on the module. Since we want to transfer the values on the central monitor and study the abnormal behavior, web designing was to be introduced. So, by the end, all the parameters were to be displayed on the website.
Results
We have successfully built the sensors which show the values without any time or accuracy error. As soon as the values are received on the working website, preventive measures are taken to ensure healthy operation of all machines.
Author's Profile
1. Linta Ahmed
B.E. Electrical Engineering (Final year)
NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi.
Mobile no: +92 333 1346997
2. Ayusha Wahid
B.E. Electrical Engineering (Final year)
NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi.
Mobile no: +92 333 2348196
3. Mehak Khalid
B.E. Electrical Engineering (Final year)
NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi.
Mobile no: +92 333 1220099
4. Mashaal Khan
B.E. Electrical Engineering (Final year)
NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi.
Mobile no: +92 347 3668593