International Conference on Electrical, Computer and Communication Engineering (ECCE), February 16-18, 2017, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Design and Implementation of Real Time

Transformer Health Monitoring System Using GSM
Technology
Sajidur Rahman, Shimanta Kumar Dey, Bikash Kumar Bhawmick and Nipu Kumar Das
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology
Chittagong-4349, Bangladesh
sajidurrahmaneee@gmail.com, skdshimanta@gmail.com, anjan.13@outlook.com, nipu16@gmail.com

Abstract—With the progress and development of national transformer under rated condition( as per specification in their
economy as well as power system, reliability and safety issues of nameplate) guarantees their long service life .However, their
power system have been more important. Development of life is significantly reduced if they are subjected to
distribution Transformer Health Monitoring System (THMS) overloading, heating, low or high voltage/current resulting in
has been done in that reason. Distribution transformer is the unexpected failures and loss of supply to a large number of
most vital asset in any electrical distribution network and customers thus effecting system reliability. Abnormality in
therefore it needs special care and attention. This THMS can distribution transformer is accompanied with variation in
monitor the health status of the distribution transformer in real different parameters like Winding temperature, Oil
time aspect. As a large number of transformers are distributed
temperatures, Ambient temperature, Load current, Oil flow
over a wide area in present electric systems, it’s difficult to
monitor the condition manually of every single transformer. So
(pump motor), Moisture and dissolved gas in oil, LTC
automatic data acquisition and transformer condition monitoring, Oil level, Bushing condition [1]. Overloading, oil
monitoring has been an important issue. This project presents temperature, load current and ineffective cooling of
design and implementation of a mobile embedded system to transformers are the major causes of failure in distribution
monitor load currents, over voltage, transformer oil level and oil transformer. When a transformer fails, an adverse effect
temperature. The implementation on-line monitoring system occurs in the continuity of transmission and distribution
integrates Global Service Mobile (GSM) Modem, with single chip systems resulting in increase of power system cost and
microcontroller and sensors. It is installed at the distribution decrease of reliability in electric delivery. As transformer is a
transformer site. The output values of sensors are processed and combination of many parts, this all parts must be checked
recorded in the system memory. System programmed with some regularly to maintain the transformer in perfect operating
predefined instructions to check abnormal conditions. If there is conditions. The monitoring devices or systems which are
any abnormality on the system, the GSM module will send SMS presently used for monitoring distribution transformer have
(Short Message Service) messages to designated mobile some problems and deficiencies. According to the above
telephones containing information about the abnormality requirements, we need a distribution transformer real-time
according to the aforesaid predefined instructions. This mobile monitoring system to monitor all essential parameters
system will help the utilities to optimally utilize transformers and operation, and send to the monitoring center in time. It leads
identify problems before any catastrophic failure occurs. This
to online monitoring of main functional parameters of
system will be an advanced step to the automation by diminishing
distribution transformers which will provide necessary
human dependency. As it is a wireless communicating system,
there is no need of large cables which are of high cost. Thus
information about the health of distribution transformers. This
THMS offers a more improved transformer monitoring. will help and guide the utilities to optimally use the
transformers and keep this equipment in operation for a longer
period. An online-monitoring system is used to collect and
Keywords—GSM; Transformer health monitoring; analyze temperature data over time [2]. THMS will help to
Microcontroller; Embedded System; Transformer. identify or recognize unexpected situations before any serious
failure which leads to a greater reliability and significant cost
savings. Widespread use of mobile networks and GSM
1. INTRODUCTION
modems, have made them an attractive option both for voice
media and wide area network applications.
Electricity plays an important role in our life. Every
moment of our life depends upon electricity. Electricity has
several components and equipment helping human to transfer 2. METHODOLOGY
and regulate the distribution according to usage. The most
crucial equipment of transmission and distribution of electric This paper is a presentation of the design
power is transformer. In power systems, an electrical implementation of Real Time Transformer Health Monitoring
equipment distribution transformer directly distributes power System (THMS) through GSM module. Cost effectiveness
to the low-voltage users and its operation condition is an and remote location will be given priority to this project. In
important criteria of the entire network operation. The case of software driven system total system requires lot of
majority of these devices have been in service for many years connection and apparatus and technically skilled personnel.
in different (electrical, mechanical and environmental) Fault information will available only in control room. On the
conditions. They are the main components and constitute a other hand, the designed system has less complexity to install
large portion of capital investment. Operation of distribution and doesn’t require any sort of skilled personnel and can be
978-1-5090-5627-9/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE

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notified remotely. Automatic decision making is the main
feature of THMS. Decision making steps are given in a flow
chart on Fig.01, which indicates how system takes decision.
At first all the sensors, processing controller and GSM modem
initialization occurs. After the initialization process required
data’s are measured from sensors and some common used
components simultaneously. Then the microcontroller starts to
compare the incoming values with the saved values in the
EEPROM memory. When there is at least one parameter’s
value denied the saved value, then the microcontroller takes
action to send this message to the controller cell. If there is no
over rated values of current and voltage or oil level is in safer
level or the oil temperature is in the predefined value range,
then the microcontroller jumps back to the testing procedure.
This process continues until the decision making logic’s
output is negative. When the decision making logic’s output is
affirmative, then instantly microcontroller will take action for
further execution. After sending the information, the loop
continues again.

Fig. 2: Block diagram of GSM based THMS system

I. SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

A. Interfacing Modules
The advanced THMS includes Microcontroller, ACS712
current sensor, ultrasonic device, SIM 900GSM module and
Mobile Phone. The THMS continuously measures the line
voltage, line current, oil level and oil temperature serially.
System reads corresponding values for further calculation for
monitoring purpose and does the functions according to the
program loaded in it. GSM module sends data to Mobile
Phone.
The system starts with establishing a serial communication
between the microcontroller and GSM modem, after a
successful communication the system starts the check the
parameters. Baud rate of the established communication was
9600 bps.
To measure the voltage in primary side a capacitor divider
was used and then the divided voltage converted to DC for
measurement purpose and then through an ADC channel of
Fig. 1: Flow chart of THMS system
microcontroller. As the measured value varies frequently a
number of 1000 samples taken and the average value
calculated and then multiplied with specific constant to get
3. SYSTEM OVERVIEW
real AC RMS value.
We divided our system into three parts. These are data ACS 712 used to measure current which provided an ADC
collector, data processor and communicating part. In this part value with proportional to the current through the line
we talks about the combined system or control unit for measured from another ADC channel. The measured data
transformer health monitoring system. The system hardware gives the instantaneous current value. By taking several
has four hardware units as shown in Fig. 2.The data collector samples and applying RMS formula to get average RMS
unit is actually different sensor modules which is located at the current and then recorded.
transformer site. It is utilized to acquire the continuous data
from the transformer side. Then these data processed and LM 35 used as temperature sensor which also provides an
measured in the microcontroller. In the communicating part ADC output as voltage varies 10mV for every degree Celsius
GSM module is connected. This module is used for the data change of temperature [5]. Equation to measure temperature
communication from transformer to the control room unit [3] in Celsius unit,
[4]. In the message receiving section an operator can take steps
by reading the message about what fault occurs. Thus the ܶ݁݉‫ ݌‬ൌ ‫݁݃ܽݐ݈݋ݒ̴ݐݑ݌ݐݑ݋‬ȀͲǤͲͳ (1)
controller can isolate the faulty transformer before any
massive accident. Oil level measured using ultrasonic sensor, which provides
pulse whose width varies according to the distance between
head of oil level. The pulse width of the received signal is
measured using TIMER 0. Time measured by counting

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overflow then multiplying by the overflow time.

ܿ݊‫ ݐ‬ൌ ‫ʹ כ ݎݒ݋‬ͷ͸ ൅ ‫Ͳݎ݉ݐ‬ (2)

ܶ݅݉݁ ൌ ܿ݊‫Ͳ כ ݐ‬ǤͲͲͲͲͲͲʹ ‫ʹ כ‬ͷ͸ (3)

Then the acquired data converted into distance for oil

level by using the formula
‫ ܦ‬ൌ ܸ݈݁‫ݕݐ݅ܿ݋‬ሺ‫݀݊ݑ݋ݏ‬ሻ  ‫݁݉݅ݐ כ‬Ȁʹ (4)

After measuring all four the system checks for the

conditioned applied. For transformer condition within the
given range system remains checking again. In case of any
fault condition microcontroller sends signal to the GSM
modem providing the fault type and place by AT command and
then modem sends a text message to a given authorized cell
no to inform and to take necessary steps and modem does send
this repeatedly until the fault is removed . After fault clearing
the total system again starts to monitor the condition of the
transformer.
AT command to send a text message,

‫ ܶܣ‬൅ ‫ ܵܩܯܥ‬ൌ൏ ݊‫ ݎܾ݁݉ݑ‬൐൏ ‫ ܴܥ‬൐൏ ݉݁‫ ݁݃ܽݏݏ‬൐

൏ ‫ ܮܴܶܥ‬െ ܼ ൐

൏ ‫ ܴܥ‬൐ൌ ‫͵ͳݎ݁ݐܿܽݎ݄ܽܿܫܫܥܵܣ‬
൏ ‫ ܮܴܶܥ‬െ ܼ ൐ൌ ‫ʹݎ݁ݐܿܽݎ݄ܽܿܫܫܥܵܣ‬͸

Fig. 4: Output Data Unit in Mobile Device

Fig. 3: Practical circuit arrangement of Transformer Health Monitoring
System
III. Performance Analysis
II. Output Data Unit in Mobile Device Table I and II is produced to analyse the performance of
The output information data which is extracted and this project. Data is been taken from both multimeter and this
calculated by microcontroller is then transferred through GSM project output; where a resistor bank is used as load.
Module (SIM 900) to desired mobile device. Photograph of TABLE I. CURRENT MEASUREMENT
output data unit in mobile device is shown in Fig. 4.
Ammeter Test 1 Test 2 Test 3
Reading
1A 1.19A 1.197 A 1.24 A
2.9A 2.91A 2.95 A 3.02 A
3.9A 3.74A 3.89 A 3.88 A
4.8A 4.56A 4.79 A 4.77 A

TABLE II. VOLTAGE MEASUREMENT

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 Supply Test 1 Test 2 Test 3
Voltage
220V 218.3V 222.5V 215.75V
220V 219.7V 222.7V 217.49V
220V 220.7V 223.5V 217.99V

4. CONCLUSION

The final stage of Electricity distribution is the delivery

of electricity from generating power plants to end users.
Distribution system's network carries electricity by the
transmission system and delivers its load centers. Thus, it is
very essential to have high efficiency, high reliability and high
service quality in a distribution system. This study gives
remedies from the difficulties of determining fault occurring
causes in transformer and it overcomes the drawbacks of
previous working methods. The project focuses mainly on the
efficiency of monitoring process of the transformer by using
wireless communication that eliminates the use of large cables
which are of high cost, low reliability and maintenance[6][7].
The GSM networking helps in better way of communication
which enhances the improvement steps in this process. So, use
of PIC16F877A microcontroller makes the system real time
embedded system and aids very much in industry needs. The
designed system is connected to a distribution transformer and
is able to send abnormal operating parameters information to
a mobile device using a GSM network. The system hardware
was constructed from the available components [8]. The
experimental results came out as expected.

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