Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal

Power Transformer Monitoring System

by Shreyansh Likhar
Chameli Devi Group of Institutions, Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Abstract – Monitoring and diagnosis of power as well as failure or earth fault. Apart from this, it can also monitor
distribution transformer is the most important process for temperature of oil, moisture level and oil level of transformer.
extending the life of transformer. A transformer monitoring At present the problem within India is regarding to the
system is already developed by Siemens which is based on monitoring and diagnosis of transformer. Regular monitoring is not
SCADA system. But that system can’t be used in small scale carried out by the employees. So to eradicate this problem an
industry because most of the industry lacks in automation. This automatic and efficient transformer monitoring system is
paper presents the details of a monitoring system which is a employed. This will help in reduction of duration of power failure.
standalone device equipped on every transformer individually It will also help in overcoming future faults.
and this device is able to detect phase failure, unbalanced voltage,
and earth fault. Apart from these, the device can also monitor the II. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
oil level and oil temperature. The main aim of research is to • To design a system this can compare the output of
develop this product and make available on economic rates. transformer with the reference output and conclude it
with healthiness or unhealthiness of transformer.
Index Terms – Power transformer, embedded systems, • To monitor the oil level of transformer in conservator.
transformer protection • To monitor the temperature of oil.

I. INTRODUCTION III. DESIGN METHODOLOGY

Power transformers are the important part of power system The system consists of –
which are used to step up and down the power to make usable for 1) Power supply
electricity consumers. Transformers are vulnerable to failure due to 2) Potential transformer
external fault or internal fault or general ageing of parts which can 3) Microcontroller AVR
lead to severe damage and results in replacement of the parts due
to which the consumer suffers from longer power outage as well as
high replacement of the part; it can also cause explosion and fire
which is threatening to lives and property.
At present following methods are used for fault detection of
Figure 1: Block diagram of system
transformer –
1) Frequency response analysis (FRA)
IV.I Power Supply Unit
2) Dissolved gas analysis (DGA)
A power supply circuit consisting of a transformer along with
However, this method requires disconnecting the system and
rectifier diodes, where the leads of the secondary winding are
isolating the transformer which leads to interruption of supply.
connected to first terminals of rectifier diodes whose second
While DGA is instead an online monitoring method, it has
terminals are connected to output of the power supply circuit. [3]
limitations of detecting faults which associated with partial
There are basically two types of power supply i.e. linear and
electrical discharge [1].
switched mode power supply. We are using a linear power supply
There are different kinds of faults in a transformer; the internal
here.
fault is divided into two i.e. short circuit faults and incipient faults.
The internal short circuit faults are caused by turn-to-turn shorting
or turn-to-earth shorting in the windings of transformer. The
incipient fault is developed over time as the transformer insulation
deteriorates. The factors affecting
Transformer failure and deterioration are the environment in
which the transformer is being operated, maximum load current,
lightening short circuits and switching surges. [2] Figure 2: Linear power supply circuit
In this paper the detailed working of the fault detection system
is explained. This system continuously monitors the Transformer IV.II Potential Transformer
in real time and compares the output of transformer with the P.T is an instrument transformer which usually transforms
reference values i.e. of a healthy transformer. This device can high voltages to a value easy to handle for relays and other
monitor the voltage values and determine whether it’s a phase instruments. It also insulates the metering circuit from primary
high voltages.

8

Instrument transformers are special kind of transformers used
to measure currents and voltages.

Figure 3: Arrangement of potential transformer

In this system three potential transformers are connected on

low voltage side of transformer each is connected on phase and
neutral.

IV.III Temperature Sensor

A temperature sensor is a device that collects data which
relates temperature from an object or environment and converts it Figure 5: Atmel AVR pin outs
to a form that can be understood by device. These sensors come in
many types and are used for a wide range of applications. [4] IV.V Conservator Oil Level Indicator
We are using TMP36 temperature sensor which is a digital IV.V.I Magnetic Oil Gauge
temperature sensor The TMP36 is low power consumption, precise Magnetic oil gauge is used indicate the oil level in conservator
temperature sensor. The Celsius temperature is linearly of power transformer. This is a mechanical device. Magnetic oil
proportional to voltage output provided by the sensor. It doesn’t gauge consists of mainly; float, bevel gear arrangement, indicating
require any calibration. Its accuracy is ±1°C at +25°C and ±2°C over dial and terminals. We are using two ways for indicating oil level
the −40°C to +125°C temperature. on device –
1) Connecting MOG with device – There are three terminals on
MOG; two are phases and one is neutral. On one of the phase we
are supplying single phase voltage to power the MOG. The other
phase along with the common neutral is connected to the relay of
the device. The working of this process is such that a MOG consists
of magnetic switch which is eventually activated as the level of float
falls which signals the relay to activate the alarm.
Figure 4: Temperature sensor TMP36

IV.IV Microcontroller
For carrying out a specific function microcontrollers are used.
A microcontroller is a device with processor and a memory that can
be used as an embedded system. Most consumer products or
machinery including mobile phones, automobiles and household
appliances or computers are equipped with a programmable
microcontroller. [5]

Figure 6: Connection diagram of MOG

2) Modifications in MOG and conservator – This method give the

real time level of oil. We are using laser and LDR sensors to detect
the level of oil and further which can be displayed by the device.

9
 Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal
Temperature sensor is interfaced with the microcontroller to
monitor the temperature of oil of transformer. The maximum
values of oil are fed in microcontroller. If the oil temperature
exceeds the safer value then the alarm is activated to alert the
authorities.
The output of Magnetic oil gauge is connected to the relay
which is then connected to microcontroller. It alerts the system if
the level of oil is minimum in the conservator.
The another modifications in the conservator tank for
Figure 7: Side view of conservator showing the arrangement of monitoring the real time level of oil in this 5 lasers are used to emit
laser and light sensor lights on light sensor. The level at which float of MOG interrupt the
laser penetrating the light sensor is defined as the level of oil in
There are 5 sets of laser and light sensor which are installed conservator.
circularly inside the conservator. The lasers are arranged in such a To display all this parameters LCD is used which is interfaced
way that the float interrupt the laser penetrating the sensor. with the microcontroller.
Suppose the conservator is half filled as shown in the diagram
above, the float will interrupt the laser penetrating the sensor which IV. CONCLUSION
is further sensed by the sensor and shown on the device. In this way In this research paper we have discussed how to detect faults
the level of oil can be indicated. of power transformer. This system provides an easy way to detect
faults and monitor the transformer health to avoid future major
shutdown.
The Power Transformer Fault Detector provides the following
advantages.
• A method that continuously monitor the faults or failures.
• Wide range of features.
• Simple to use.
The testing of power transformer fault detector is under
process. After that the device will then progress to product
development attached to the power transformers under the
Figure 8: Front inside view of conservator showing the collaboration with any company.
arrangement of laser and light sensor.
REFERENCES
IV.VI System Development and Connections [1] https://www.curtin.edu.au/research/local/docs/ip-
The functions of the system are to check phase failure, commercialisation/power-transformer.pdf
unbalanced voltages and earth fault. Apart from these It an also [2] Nweke Chisom. B (2014 august)Using GSM to Detect Fault in
monitor the oil temperature and oil level. Microcontroller Based Power Transformer [online] ISSN: 2321-
This can be carried out by connecting 3 potential transformers 9653 Available: http://www.ijraset.com/fileserve.php?FID=768
on the low voltage side of transformer to step down the voltage to [3] Ole S. seiersen, “Power supply circuit”, U.S patent 4899271 A,Feb
a safe level which can be read by microcontroller. The 6, 1990
microcontroller compares the output voltages of potential [4] http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-temperature-
transformer to the reference values which is already fed in sensor.htm#didyouknowout
microcontroller. Further according to that the microcontroller takes [5]
the decision about the healthiness of transformer which is then http://www.futureelectronics.com/en/Microcontrollers/microcontr
displayed on LCD. ollers.aspx

Figure 9: Connection diagram of system

10