Project Completion

Presentation

Monitoring of DTs Using

Cellular Communication
Technology
Presented by:
Vishal Garg
PSRC, IIIT Hyderabad
1

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

Table of Contents

Introduction
Highlights of the project
Overview of the system
Project activities:
Phase 1 Analysis phase
Phase 2 Design and Development phase
Phase 3 Deployment phase

Data collection & Analysis

Demo
Project outcome
Conclusions
Future Work

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

Introduction

Measuring and monitoring electric power consumption at a

Distribution Transformer.

Problems without monitoring

Failure rates 5 25 %
Damages known after they occur

Objective

The objective of the project was to design and develop a cellular

communication technology based distribution transformer monitoring system.

Total duration 1 year 4 months [ 6th Feb 2006 to 6th June 2007]

Project has been developed in 3 phases

Phase 1 : Analysis
Phase 2 : Design and Development
Phase 3 : Deployment

Grant amount Rs. 12.25 Lakh.

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

Highlights

GSM communication

Standard DLMS protocol

MODBUS protocol support for legacy systems

Utilities for:
Alarm Generation
Create and dump configuration file

User friendly GUI and database for data analysis

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

Overall System Architecture

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

Phase-1 : Analysis Phase

Study of different energy meters and identification of a

suitable energy meter

Extracting DT parameters from the energy meter

Communication with GSM modem

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

Study of Energy Meters

The study of meter was performed based on

Ease of availability
Cost
Support
Ready availability of meter for testing

A study of various meters available in the market

was conducted and two meters were shortlisted.

Actaris SL7000 range meters (DLMS Protocol)

Conzerv meters (MODBUS Protocol)

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

Extracting DT Parameters

The parameters of the DT are recorded by

the installed energy meter

These parameters are extracted using the

DLMS protocol

To communicate with legacy energy meters,

Modbus protocol based system was also
developed
IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

Communication with GSM Modem

The extracted parameters are communicated to the central

monitoring station through the GSM network

AT commands:
These are the commands that are used to perform the required functions. Command
AT initiates the modem in to ATTENTION mode.

Commands to

Establish the connection:

Receive SMS:

ATE0
AT+CNMI (TO CANCEL THE NEW MESSRGE INDICATION)
AT+CMGF (TO CHANGE MESSEGE IN TO TEXT)
AT+CMGR=Index

Send SMS:

AT+CMGS=Ph No
> MESSAGE cntr+z

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

Phase-2 : Design and Development

This phase includes the Design and development of:

Remote module (RM)

Protocol for sending SMS

Database at monitoring station

Program on microcontroller as well as server

Graphical user interface

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

10

Remote Module (RM)

The RM consists of an interface card at the DT site

The interface card facilitates sending and receiving of

data and fault identification in DT through energy meter

Interface board

Modem

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

11

Remote Module (Contd.)

The interface card measures voltage, current, power and

power factor of the DT, through the energy meter and
then transmit this data to the Central Monitoring Station
(CMS) over a GSM network

The hardware detects any faults in the transformer, and

transmits the message to the control station

Design specification includes following things

Semiconductor ICs
Design of the final schematic and PCB of the DT module
Program in microcontroller
Configuration table

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

12

PCB of the Interface Card

Tx/Rx
indicators

DC Jack

COM
port for
Modem

DIP switches for

programming

DS89C450
microcontroller

COM port
for Energy
Meter
Slot for
ADC

External
memory
DS1245Y

Analog
input

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

13

Flow Chart of the program in

microcontroller

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

14

Configuration Table

This table resides in the external memory of RM

The format of configuration table is as below,

Server Phone Number
Operator Phone Number
DT ID
Location
Minimum threshold values, Minimum threshold bandwidth values and maximum
threshold values, Maximum threshold bandwidth values of all the parameters in
sequence

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

15

Format of the SMS sent from RM to

CMS

Normal message
DT ID
DT Location
CxxxxVxxxxAxxxRxxxPxxxCxxxxVxxxxAxxxRxxxPxxxCxxxxVxxxxAxxxRxxxPxxx&
yy/mm/dd hrs:min:sec

Error message
EDT ID
DT Location
C<xxxxVxxxxAxxxRxxxPxxxCxxxxV>xxxxAxxxRxxxPxxxCxxxxVxxxxAxxxRxxxPxxx
&
yy/mm/dd hrs:min:sec

Junk message
JDT ID
DT Location
IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

16

Database at the CMS

There are two tables for each DT

DT parameter specification table

Parameter Code
Minimum threshold value
Maximum threshold value
Error flag

Table for actual values of DT

System date and time of message
Date and time from meter
Parameter values, one column for each parameter

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

17

Continued

There is one table called DT which saves the information about all
the DTs

DT ID
DT Phone Number
location
SMSstate : Number of SMS for which reply has not receive
Phone number of operator at DT
waitAfterNoOfSMS : On not getting reply for these many SMS stop sending SMS
Error state of DT

A table each for

error log
Junk messages

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

18

Program on server

SMS communication with DTs

Monitor the data and generate alerts

Sends a request to DTs for parameter values

Reads the data from the modem connected to serial port
Extracts the parameters from the SMS sent by RM
Identifies the DT ID and store the time of the message and parameter values
in the database

A thread runs continuously, to monitor the database while maintaining the

synchronization with the thread which is writing into the database
If any parameter exceeds the threshold values, an alert SMS is sent to the
operator

Provide graphical interface to the user

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

19

Graphical User Interface

Login Screen
IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

20

Level 1 & 2

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

21

Level 3

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

22

DT image on the google map

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

23

Level 4 Input Query

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

24

Level 4 Quick report generation

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

25

Level 4 - Report

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

26

Phase-3 : Deployment

Selection and deployment of DTs

IIIT Substation DLMS - uniform usage

HCU Street Light DLMS only night usage
ALVIN DLMS Domestic usage
Street light MODBUS only night usage
Lab MODBUS Demonstration and testing

Design and development of enclosure

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

27

Photograph of Installed Systems

Enclosure
MODBUS
energy meter

GSM
Modem
DLMS Energy
Meter
Interface
Board
Remote DT
system
enclosure

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

28

DT1:Substation Transformer

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

29

DT2: Street light Transformer

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

30

DT3: Domestic Transformer

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

31

DT4: Street Light Transformer

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

32

Data collection and Analysis

Once the monitoring unit was deployed in the field, data from the
field was collected and was stored in the database

A sample data from two transformers (DT street light transformer

and DT2 domestic Transformer) was analyzed for about one week
and relevant graphs were plotted to study the variation of DT
parameters and in turn monitor the DTs health

The graphs and their inferences for the two transformers are
explained

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

33

DT1: Street Light Transformer:

The load is not switched on during the morning time, that is from around 7:00 AM
to evening around 6:00 PM. This clearly indicates that the transformer supplies
only the street lights.
Another observation from the graph is that there is no load connected to phase-2
of the transformer at all. It indicates either a faulty line or an unused line and hence
required action must be initiated (unless it is left deliberately unused).
Phase 2 takes higher load than other phases. Hence due care has to be taken
during the next phase of expansion

The three phase hourly voltage variation of DT1

IIIT, Hyderabad

The three phase hourly current variation of DT1

CPRI, Bangalore

34

DT2: Domestic Transformer

The hourly averaged data of voltage and reactive power, for DT2 are as shown in
figure below.
The graph shows that the phase-3 of DT2 draws heavy reactive power, which in
turn affects the quality of power. Hence suitable action must be taken by the utility
and the consumers to reduce the reactive power consumption and improve the
power quality.

Variation of Active Power on DT2

IIIT, Hyderabad

Variation of Reactive Power on

DT2
CPRI, Bangalore

35

Demo

http://202.53.14.82/project3/login.php

Input queries for Report generation.

C1 C2 C3 V1 01/01 to 31/12 DT01 1 month

A1 A2 A3 R1 R2 R3 01/07 to 31/12 DT01 1 month
A1 A2 A3 R1 R2 R3 01/07 to 31/12 DT02 1 month
C1 C2 C3 A1 A2 A3 01/07 to 10/07 DT02 1 day

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

36

Related work done

Developing the system for meters supporting

MODBUS protocol

Development RS 232 to RS 485 level converter

Bypass the meter by developing a system to measure

the DT parameters

Tested data mode connectivity

Battery back up: Batteries were provided to supply

power in case power faliure
IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

37

Learning

DLMS meters are not used in the field

MODBUS (atleast the one we used in the project)
meter not having access to internal time
GSM signal reception in box is difficult, need external
antenna
No free SMS on special days
Need of a reliable Internet connection
Higher credit limit required for each connection
No theft and damage to equipment because of heat
and rains
Surge protection is must
Modem failures
IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

38

Project Outcome

The work done has been submitted for International Conference on

Power System Analysis, Control and Optimization" (PSACO), to be
held at Vishakapatnam, in March 2008, technically Co-sponsored by
the IEEE Hyderabad Section

An article on the project has been published CPRIs news letter

International Institute of Energy Conservation and PRAYAS, are

interested in the work

A meeting with some of the utility companies will be arranged shortly to

exchange the ideas regarding large scale implementation, advantages
and other issues of the system.

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

39

Conclusions

A cellular communication technology based distribution transformer

monitoring system has been developed and deployed on actual
distribution transformers

The developed system was tested on four distribution transformers

in the field and one under lab conditions for 10 months.

As the running cost of the developed system is only the SMS cost,
which can be about Rs.250 per month, the system can be deployed
at various Distribution Transformer and cheaper rentals can be
negotiated with service providers

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

40

Future work

The next step of project aims at developing one system which helps
the utility to reduce the losses and monitor the power consumption
accurately over the distribution network.

A cost effective communication network with automatic meter

reading can serve well for this purpose.

Since communication between the Utility (CMS) and the DT is

complete, the next logical step would be to extend this system to
monitor the individual customer loads and implement DSM.

A ZigBee based extension from DT to individual customers for

bidirectional communication is proposed.

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

41

Overview of the system.

User Interface

Central Monitoring station

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

42

GSM / GPRS

Remote DT
ZigBEE network

Wireless infrastructure with two-way communication which makes a real-time

relationship with our customers possible

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

43

Thank You!

IIIT, Hyderabad

CPRI, Bangalore

44