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International Journal of Electrical Engineering & Emerging Technology, Vol. 05, No. 02, DEC 2022, pp 11-14

Transformer Oil Temperature Monitoring with Automatic

Circuit Breaker Operation with SMS Alert
Ahsan Rasheed a, Tarique Ali b, Anwar Ahmed Memon c, Jawad Hussain d
Department of Electrical Engineering Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro
Corresponding author e-mail: ([email protected])
[Received on: 13/09/2022 Accepted on: 05/10/2022 Published on: 11/12/22 ]

heating and overloading of the transformer oil temperature and

Abstract: Distribution transformer is most important its windings. Distribution transformer life can be affected
component in power distribution system as it converts high badly by these factors. These factors play very important role
voltages to low voltages for consumption. It can operate in reducing the life of transformer.
efficiently and for a long time if it operates on rated and This research is to design a system that based on online
good conditions. But, due to overload current and monitoring of the transformer oil temperature and levels
unwanted conditions, their life reduced significantly and occasionally. This system will be able to provide us
unexpected failures will occur in the system. In information about various parameters of the transformer
distribution transformers, overloading and overheating health, and its working condition through which we can assess
are the main reasons for its failure. The aim of this the operating condition and parameters of the transformer for
research is to design a microcontroller-based device that long time of period [2].
can be used for the online monitoring and safety of
Before any disastrous failure in the transformer, many
distribution transformers. The system allows us to
operational problems can be recognized, thus, this will lead us
monitors the oil temperature, displays the fault status, and
to the long service life of the transformer. It has also
forwards the input to the automatic circuit breaker and
GSM module, which sends the information to the control advantaged of greater reliability and economical method.
department through the SMS warning. It tracks the oil The preferred monitoring system will be based on GSM
level at different time intervals. If it is above or below the module for mobile or any communication device to monitor
normal operating level, it automatically isolates the the system properly on regular basis, with ATmega32
distribution transformer from the distribution line. Before microcontroller and sensors packages. Data of the operating
any disastrous failure, many operational problems can be transformer can be received on the device on suggested time
recognized, thus, this will lead us to the long service life of interval and notify at some ranges of the temperature. This
the transformer. It has also advantaged of greater online method will help workers and engineers to make the
reliability and economical method. system reliable and to keep the transformer service for long
time.
Index Terms— Automatic circuit breaker, Distribution
transformer, GSM module, Oil temperature monitoring. II. WORKING OF THE PROTOTYPE
Regular monitoring of oil temperature will be done in short
I. INTRODUCTION
intervals of time through the level and temperature sensors,

D istribution transformer can operate for long time if it

operates on rated and good situation [1]. But, due to
unwanted conditions and faults their life reduced significantly.
collected data will be transmitted to the microcontroller to
conclude weather data is according to the safety standards or it
indicates a faulty condition, if the faulty condition is occurred
When they are overloaded due to excessive load current, then microprocessor will send the command to the circuit
losses will increase, and unexpected failures will occur in the breaker to isolate the transformer and also inform the operator
system. These losses and failures will affect the system and about the fault. This GSM module will send notification for
many consumers badly. These faults will also affect the high oil temperature or level of oil. If temperature or level of
system reliability. In distribution transformers, overloading oil increasing due to unavailability of any human being than
and cooling of the transformer is the main reasons for its after a commanded range, it will trip the automatic circuit
failure. breaker.
In present times, distribution transformers are operated To program the microcontroller, Bascom-AVR will be used.
manually by manpower. Where some persons monitored the The GSM module will be programmed in such a way that it
transformer on daily basis by visiting the site for recording the shows the name code and location of the transformer.
parameters of the transformer and its maintenance. Manual
monitoring of the distribution transformer cannot provide us III. WORKING OF GSM MODULE
instant and complete information about the transformer
If the temperature or oil level changes beyond the set point,
the microcontroller sends a signal to the GSM modem. These
signals include GSM modem AT commands and SMS of

Copyright ©2018 IJEEET, [ISSN: 2618-0014], www.ijeeet.com

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Ahsan Rasheed et al., Transformer Oil Temperature Monitoring with Automatic Circuit Breaker Operation with SMS Alert

authorized person. Microcontroller will collect all data from Detailed methodology for our project is to gain our
sensor and send input to LCD. Once oil temperature increases objectives of research under as:
above the limit value it will send signal to automatic circuit It consists of power transformer, thermistor, oil sensor,
breaker which will trip shortly [3]. microcontroller ATmega328 (Arduino Nano)’ converter, LCD
monitor, GSM modem and Automatic Circuit breaker.
IV. WORKING OF OTHER MAJOR COMPONENTS Generally, transformers will fail due to voltage and current
A. Arduino Nano fluctuations, overheating, oil level changes, etc. In this task,
we use microcontroller, temperature sensors, oil level sensors,
Due to its versatility, this device uses an AVR ATmega328
(Arduino Nano 3) [4]. It is a high performance low-power etc. to sense these faults.
computer with RISC architecture. It is faster than PIC and Both sensors are connected to the converter, and the
8051. The microcontroller device interfaces with temperature microcontroller ATmega328 (Arduino Nano) receives the
sensors 10k thermistor, LCD, oil level sensors, GSM modules, digital output from the converter. Microcontroller ATmega328
reed switches, and voltage sensors [5]. (Arduino Nano) has four ports: viz. We will connect to P1, P2,
P3 and P0 of the address block, GSM model and LCD,
B. Micro-switches respectively. If a malfunction occurs due to the above reasons,
When the transformer runs beyond its maximum rating, the oil the change in the rated value will be displayed on the LCD
temperature starts to rise, which will expand the oil volume. screen, and via the GSM modem, a fast SMS will enter the
Expansion will cause the oil to reach its maximum limit. The control room or to the specific person [6]. If temperature
proposed monitoring system will send an SMS to WAPDA increase continuously due to unavailability of person, it will
engineers on first limit to warn them. When second limit send signal to circuit breaker to cut the transformer from load
exceeds which is maximum value it will send SMS to concern to avoid the severe loss.
and open the switch to cut the transformer from load.
B. Flow Chart of working of the circuit
C. Bascom
Bascom-AVR is the original Windows Basic compiler for the
AVR microcontroller series [7]. It is a compiler built by
Atmel, powerful and easy to use. Bascom-AVR has four
programs in one toolkit, called Integrated Development
Environment (IDE). They all include program editors,
compilers, programmers and simulators. Such a development
environment facilitates the entire process from coding and
testing programs to programming the microcontroller used.
This article writes and burns Bascom commands into the
microcontroller flash memory so that the built-in circuit can
complete its tasks and achieve goals

V. METHODLOGY
A. Block Diagram

Fig.1. Block Diagram Fig.2. Flow Chart of Project

International Journal of Electrical Engineering & Emerging Technology, Vol. 05, No. 02, DEC 2022, pp 11-14
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Ahsan Rasheed et al., Transformer Oil Temperature Monitoring with Automatic Circuit Breaker Operation with SMS Alert

C. Components of Project
The components used in this project are following given
below:
1. AURDUINO NANO (ATmega328)
2. Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
3. LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
4. ZMPT101B AC Voltage Sensor
5. Magnetic oil level indicator
6. NTC Thermistor 10k
7. Bascom
8. Buck Converter
9. Relay Module
10. 220AC to 5DC Inverter
11. Battery
12. Connecting wires
13. Wires connector
D. Prototype Model
Fig.4. Fig of low oil level
B. Case 02: High Oil Level
If the oil level of the transformer is high, the high-level
sensor represented by the high-level button in the circuit will
feel it. The text message is " Oil Level is High in Tran ", and
"O: High" and reduce the load is displayed on the LCD
screen as shown in figure 5.

Fig.3. Prototype Model

VI. DISCUSSION AND RESULTS

The microcontroller will receive the input analog signal in
the circuit diagram and convert it into a digital signal in the
microcontroller, and the result of the transformer status will be
displayed on the display. Initially the value of the transformer
will be set, and if it reaches any value above this value, the
LED will be triggered and the SMS will be sent to the mobile
user who is feeding the GSM modem number at the same time
[6, 8]. Fig.5. High Oil Level
There are different cases depending on different conditions. C. Case 03: Oil Temperature Higher than 85°C
Here are some situations of different faults and protype
results, given as below. If the oil temperature in the transformer is higher than 85°C,
the Thermistor 10k will feel it, and the temperature is
A. Case 01: Low Oil Level expressed by temperature. Online sensor. As shown in fig 4.4
If the oil level of the transformer is low, it will be sensed by a LCD will displayed the warning. The text message is "Tran:
low-level sensor, which is represented in the circuit by a low- High oil temperature and supply is cutting off.
level button. Then text will be sent to the assigned person in
such a way it will show as “Oil Level is Low in Tran” and
LCD will show the “O: Low” and LED will also indicate it.
As shown in fig 4.

International Journal of Electrical Engineering & Emerging Technology, Vol. 05, No. 02, DEC 2022, pp 11-14
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Ahsan Rasheed et al., Transformer Oil Temperature Monitoring with Automatic Circuit Breaker Operation with SMS Alert

VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS
A very critical engineering concept is transformer protection.
Obviously, with population growth and economic growth,
electricity demand is increasing rapidly. This requires the use
of more advanced transformer safety methods in the future to
ensure the reliable power supply needed for economic growth.
Based on the work carried out in this project, some
adjustments will be required in the future.
i. A current sensor can be added to further extend the design
to calculate the current of the transformer and then measure
its overload value.
ii. In any ab normal situation that requires quick response from
the controller, this design can be enhanced by incorporating
control behaviors.
Fig.6. High Oil Temperature iii. Linking all transformers to the SCADA system may be an
If the oil temperature in the transformer is higher than 65°C, acceptable option in order to display its parameters in the
the Thermistor 10k will feel it, and the temperature is human machine interface (HMI).
expressed by temperature, Online sensor. As shown in fig 6 REFERENCES
LCD will displayed the warning. The text message is "Tran:
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International Journal of Electrical Engineering & Emerging Technology, Vol. 05, No. 02, DEC 2022, pp 11-14