DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN IoT BASED MONITORING AND PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMERS
1Ogbekhiulu A., J. &2Agbontaen F. O
1Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
College of Engineering and Technology,Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun.
2Departmentof Electrical / Electronic Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State.
Email: ogbekhiulu.joseph@fupre.edu.ng
ABSTRACT
Transformers are the main components in a power system. Any fault in the transformer adversely affects the balance of a power system. The faults are mainly occurring due to overloading and inefficient cooling system in the transformer. This paper present a real time monitoring system of the health condition of distribution transformer using IOT (Internet of Things) Technology. Parameters such as temperature, oil level, humidity, voltage, current and location of a transformer are monitored, processed and recorded in servers. The system also have an anti-theft security (alarm) system as well as surveillance camera and backup security lighting unit for late hours for the protection of the substation against vandals and unauthorized personnel having access to it. The database used in this paper is the firebase database and it can be accessed from anywhere around the world using IoT technology through HTTP protocol. Messages are sent to pre-stored mobile numbers when any abnormalities in the parameters being monitored is observed using existing network. This helps in identifying and solving a problem before a failure could occur in the system without human dependency.The transformer parameters are monitored on a mobile application with the access being controlled remotely via the mobile application designed for the system. The transformer automatically isolated the load/consumer loads from the power supply when load current, oil temperature increases beyond the preset values. An alarm gets activated and the ESP32 camera captures the intruder when unauthorized personnel try to access the power substation. The system was then implemented and tested. The results obtained indicates that the parameters of the transformer and the substation can be conveniently monitored using IoT technology.
Keywords: IoT, Distribution Transformers, Mobile Application, Firebase Database, ESP 32
