AUTOMATED TOLL PLAZA USING RFID AND GSM

AUTOMATED TOLL PLAZA USING RFID AND GSM

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research paper is to illustrate the convenience and versatility of an automatic toll plaza system using RFID technology and its advantages over toll plazas using other techniques. With the number of vehicles increasing every year, the time and fuel wasted on waiting at the toll plazas is ever increasing. Automatic toll plazas can eliminate this wastage of time, fuel and enhance the vehicle security by providing a host of other features such as sending a text message to the registered mobile number of the owner, displaying the information about the vehicle on the display in addition to automatic opening and closing of the barricade. The toll is deducted from the vehicle owner’s prepaid account. A 125 KHz RFID reader is used for detecting the passive tags by the reader module. The motor for the barricade, on-site LCD display and GSM modules have been interfaced with the microcontroller (ATMega328). This system will cut down time and fuel wastage at the manually controlled toll plazas, provide a layer of security because the SMS sent and will ensure a smoother travel experience for the travelers.

Key words:-  ATMega328, GSM, LCD, RFID, Toll Plaza

INTRODUCTION

The project mainly focuses on the Automation of the Toll Plazas for smoother movement of the traffic to in turn benefit the people by saving their time and money. Suppose the manual toll collection system is very efficient, then Time taken by 1 vehicle at the plaza = 60 sec (approx.) Time taken by 1 vehicle/year = 60 X 365 = 21900 sec = 6 hours Suppose 10000 vehicles are passing through a toll plaza 60000 fuel hours get wasted per year and thus equivalent amount of fuel. By making the toll plaza fully automatic using the RFID technology, the cars can pass through the plaza at around 55 mph i.e. 86 kmph. The time and fuel wastage can be drastically brought under control by this. We here, are interfacing the RFID receiver to the microcontroller. The receiver is Active and the RFID tags are passive. The receiver will be fixed at the toll plaza constantly trying to search for the tag. As soon as the tag comes in the range of the receiver, the unique code from the tag is identified by the receiver and transmitted serially to the microcontroller.

The controller then matches the unique code to the Central Database and checks if the owner of the tag is in good standing with respect to the balance in his account. Stipulated price of the toll will be deducted from his account. Hence a complete cashless operation is made possible. Then an SMS will be sent to the owner using the GSM module about how much money has been debited from his account OR if there is insufficient balance. Moreover, the owner will be sent the information regarding the location of the toll plaza from where the vehicle has passed. In this way he will get a warning to maintain sufficient balance in his account and also be able to track his vehicle in case of theft. Also as he passes the portal he will be able to see his details on site on the LCD on site. Accordingly, if the toll is paid properly the gate will automatically open for him.

LITERATURE SURVEY

In [1], the automation of toll plaza has been done based on image processing. ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) system has been employed which uses a camera to capture the number plate of the vehicle and deducts the toll by matching it with the owner database. In [2], the system is based on infrared sensors. In this, the user has to get the IR transmitter from the main toll office. The transmitter will be charged by the store office and the data of the user will be stored in the microcontroller. When the car arrives at the toll plaza the user will have to mount the transmitter on the car and press a button to turn it on. It must be in the line of sight of the receiver. The receiver will confirm the data from the transmitter with the database and the amount of toll will get deducted. It uses a stepper motor for gate control. In [3] also the system is based on the RFID technology. The controller used is PIC 18F4550 and has been connected with the system using USB. The RFID receiver senses the tag coming in its range and the amount gets deducted from the account of the owner after all the related information is checked from the database. The IR senses the vehicle motion for controlling the opening and closing of the gate. A stepper motor is used to control the gate. The rest of the references mentioned below have also employed the RFID technology and the working is quite similar to [3] except the database creation methods. The authors have put the GSM interfacing in their future scopes which we have implemented in our project.

System Design And Implementation

Figure 1: Block Diagram of the system

 

Figure 2: Circuit Diagram

The major components of the gate control system are as follows:

• ATMega328PU microcontroller
• EM-18 (RFID reader module)
• SIM900 (GSM module)
• DC Motor with driver(L293D)
• LCD display
• Power supply unit

1. ATmega328-PU μC:

Features: 28 Pin I/O RESET Pin NO. 1 (ACTIVE LOW) Crystal Pins at 9-10 PIN Software Declarable Serial Ports We have selected this controller because it has programmable UARTs required for both RFID and GSM modules.

2. EM-18 (RFID reader module):

Features: Operating Distance – 10cm Operating Voltage – 5V Operating Frequency – 125 KHz Current Consumption - <50 mA This is the stationary Active RFID receiver module situated at the toll plaza. It continuously keeps monitoring for the RFID tags. As soon as the tag comes in the range of the receiver, the buzzer on the module gives an indicative beep and sends the data serially to the microcontroller.

3. SIM900 (GSM module):

Features:

• Quad-Band GSM/GPRS 850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900 MHz
• Built in RS232 Level Converter MAX3232)
• Configurable baud rate
• SMA connector with GSM L Type Antenna.
• Built in SIM Card holder.
• Built in Network Status LED
• Inbuilt Powerful TCP/IP protocol stack for internet data transfer over GPRS.
• Normal operation temperature: -20 °C to +55 °C
• Input Voltage: 5V-12V DC

4. DC Motor with driver(L293D):

L293D contains two inbuilt H-bridge driver circuits. In its common mode of operation, two DC motors can be driven simultaneously, both in forward and reverse direction. The L293D is a Dual Full Bridge driver that can drive up to 1 Amp per bridge with supply voltage up to 24V

Two H bridges of L293D can be connected in parallel to increase its current capacity to 2 Amp. Motor drivers act as current amplifiers since they take a low-current control signal and provide a higher-current signal Input logic 00 or 11 will stop the corresponding motor. Logic 01 and 10 will rotate it in clockwise and anticlockwise directions, respectively. Technical Specification: Power Supply: Over FRC connector 5V DC External Power 9V to 24V DC Temperature Range: 0°C to +70 °C

5. LCD display:

20X4 lines display 5X7 dot matrix display 4 bit data interface

6. Power supply unit:

Specifications: 12 V, 2A

FLOW CHART

 

ADVANTAGES

• RFID system does not need Line Of Sight (LOS) unlike bar-codes or image processing based system. Thus it can be installed inside the car from where it is not visible, which saves tampering with the process in case of theft.
• As in [1], the cars need to be at a specified position for the system to scan the number plate which is not required in RFID based system. Also, the number plates can easily be exchanged which has no way to get detected.
• High speed passage of car is possible (55 mph or 86 kmph).
• Wastage of fuel is substantially reduced.
• Traffic jams are avoided to a great extent.
• Security is an added advantage - The location of a stolen car can be notified to the concerned owner through the GSM module.
• The owner will also be informed about the amount deducted and the remaining balance which will help him to maintain a sufficient balance in his account.

CONCLUSION

We can reduce the prevalent problem of skipping the payment of toll at toll plazas because of automatic deduction and enhance the security of the vehicle due to GSM interfacing. The long queues at the toll plaza and need for human intervention is reduced greatly. This system will ensure a smoother and safer journey for the passengers.

FUTURE SCOPE

In addition to the current work, image processing can be combined with the RFID system to make the system more reliable and secure. By combining the positives of the two we can eliminate any possible discrepancies in the system. Internet banking as well as SMS banking can be used for recharging the account of the user to make it convenient.

REFERENCES

www.silicontechnolabs.in

[1] Priyanka Chhoriya, “Image Processing Based Automatic Toll Booth in Indian Conditions” http://www.ijetae.com/files/Volume3Issue 4/IJETA E_0413_71.pdf

[2] Shilpa Mahajan, “Microcontroller Based Automatic Toll Collection System” http://www.ripublication.com/irph/ijict_spl/09_ijict v3n8spl.pdf

[3] Aung Myint Win, “RFID Based Automated Toll Plaza System” http://www.ijsrp.org/research-paper- 0614/ijsrp-p3009.pdf

[4] Khadijah Kamarulazizi “ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION SYSTEM USING PASSIVE RFID” TECHNOLOGY http://www.jatit.org/volumes/researc h- papers/Vol22No2/1Vol22No2.pdf

[5] Sachin Bhosale, “AUTOMATED TOLLPLAZA SYSTEM USING RFID” http://ijsetr.org/wp content/uploads/2013/07/IJSETR-VOL-2-ISSUE-2- 455-460.pdf

[6] Vinay Kumar Bachu, “RFID Based Toll Plaza” http://www.ijert.org/view.php?id=5567&title=rfid-based-toll-plaza

[7] Simple toll plaza system using low frequency RFID interfaced with 8051 microcontroller (AT89C51) http://www.engineersgarage.com/microcontroller/805 1projects/simple-toll-plaza-rfid-interface-at89c51- circuit

ON-LINE MONITORING AND ANALYSIS OF FAULTS IN TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION LINES USING GSM TECHNIQUE

ON-LINE MONITORING AND ANALYSIS OF FAULTS IN TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION LINES USING GSM TECHNIQUE

ABSTRACT

Increase in demand of electricity for entire applications in any country, need to produce consistently with advanced protection system. Many special protection systems are available based on volume of power distributed and often the load changes without prediction required an advanced and special communication based systems to control the electrical parameters of the generation. Most of the existing systems are reliable on various applications but not perfect for electrical applications. Electrical environment will have lots of disturbance in nature, Due to natural disasters like storms, cyclones or heavy rains transmission and distribution lines may lead to damage. The electrical wire may cut and fall on ground, this leads to very harmful for human beings and may become fatal. So, a rigid, reliable and robust communications like GSM technology instead of many communication techniques used earlier. This enhances speed of communication with distance independency. This technology saves human life from this electrical danger by providing the fault detection and automatically stops the electricity to the damaged line and also conveys the message to the electricity board to clear the fault. An Embedded based hardware design is developed and must acquire data from electrical sensing system. A powerful GSM networking is designed to send data from a network to other network. Any change in parameters of transmission is sensed to protect the entire transmission and distribution.

Keywords: Global System For Mobile Communication (GSM),Special Protection System (SPS), Embedded Systems

INTRODUCTION

With the growing population of India and its rising electric power needs, the demands on the power grid continue to rise. This demand necessitates additional grid reliability. Special protection systems (SPS) are an example of a class of protection schemes that can benefit from the use of communication to increase their accuracy and reliability. The job of an SPS is to detect system faults and take corrective action. Faults can be broadly classified into two main areas which have been designated “Active” and “Passive”. Types of faults in three phase system is shown in fig-1.

 

Fig-1 Types of Fault in Three phase system.

(A) Phase-to-earth fault.

(B) Phase-to-phase fault.

(C) Phase-to-phase-to-earth fault.

(D) Three phase fault.

(E) Three phase-to-earth fault.

(F) Phase-to-pilot fault.

(G) Pilot-to-earth fault.

The “Active” fault is when actual current flows from one phase conductor to another (phase to phase) or alternatively from one phase conductor to earth (phase-to-earth). This type of fault can also be further classified into two subgroup, namely the “solid” fault and the “incipient” fault. The solid fault occurs as a result of an immediate complete breakdown of insulation. Passive faults are not real faults in the true sense of the word but are rather conditions that are stressing the system beyond its design capacity, so that ultimately active faults will occur. Typical examples are: Overloading - leading to overheating of insulation

(Deteriorating quality, reduced life and ultimate failure). Over voltage - stressing the insulation beyond its limits.

FAULT CHARACTERISTICS WITH & WITHOUT FAULT CURRENT LIMITER:

Fig-2 shows the wave shape of a typical unlimited fault current [16] as well as the influence on this wave shape if FCL devices with and without fault current interruption capability are applied to the system. A distinction among the different types of FCL is made between passive and active fault current limiting measures. Passive measures make use of already initially high source impedance both at normal and at fault conditions whereas active measures bring about a fast increase of the source impedance at fault conditions only.

 

Fig-2. Typical fault current wave shape and characteristic data

Traditional SPS or special devices works with preplanning on load shedding. Many technologies were used in different periods like carrier power line communication, Radio frequency based control system, and Supervisory control and data acquiring systems, Distributed control systems and Internet based communications. Each of the above has merits and demerits. This paper is based on Robust GSM technology meets safety reliability and fastest in design. GSM is an open, digital cellular technology used for transmitting mobile voice and data services. It divides each 200 kHz channel into eight 25 kHz time-slots. GSM operates in the 900MHz and 1.8GHz bands. It has an ability to carry 64 kbps to 120 Mbps of data rates.

BACKGROUND AND LITERATURE REVIEW:

Many special protection systems are available based on volume of power distributed and often the load changes without prediction required an advanced and special communication based systems to control the electrical parameters of the generation.

CONVENTIONAL METHODS:

1. 1 The conventional remote operating and monitoring system:

 

Fig.3: The conventional remote operating and monitoring system

Fig.3 shows the example of a conventional remote operating and monitoring system (agent technology is not applied). In this system, the protection relay equipment serves as a server, the PC in an office serves as a client, and the PC and relay equipment communicate by 1 to 1. We can perform and follows some personal computer in an office; download of the voltage and current data stored in the relay equipment when relay equipment is activated by some power failure; checking and changing the setting values of the protection relay; detecting an abnormal occurrence and the relay activation caused by power system faults. As an excellent information terminal which can acquire the real time data from a power system. It is important that the information in a relay can be easily accessed from an office and of which mechanism for performing the function described above is simple. Because of the reason described above, the remote operating and monitoring system has expanded steadily. Thus, although the remote operating and monitoring system has outstanding features, the PC and protection relay equipment are connected with the relations of 1 to 1, and while operating this system, it is necessary that the operator looks at the PC browser continually all the time. Moreover, in order to acquire information from a numbers of relay equipment, an operator must specify the address of each relay to access them in turn, which is complicated and time consuming. Furthermore, in this system, even when relays are connected within the same network, the relays cannot communicate and cooperate with each other. That is to say, relay equipment works only as a server providing data to PCs located in the remote office.

1.2 POWER LINE COMMUNICATION (PLC):

It offers the possibility to use the well-developed infrastructure of the electrical energy distribution grid for data transmission. For the time being, there is no harmonized international standard for broadband PLC. But IEEE started standardization of PLC physical and MAC layer in June 2005. In Europe, broadband PLC is limited to frequencies between 1 and 30 MHz, because of restrictions regarding electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Future communication systems are expected to use much higher data rates as today’s wireless local area networks (WLANs). In this paper, we study an approach to boost high data rate wireless communications by using existing power lines in a flexible and cost-efficient way. In wireless networks, spatial diversity and spatial multiplexing gains are achieved by multiple antennas at the transmitter and at the receiver. Using cooperative relaying strategies these gains are also possible for single-antenna nodes. Spatial multiplexing is mandatory to achieve the high bandwidth efficiency that is necessary for future Gigabit/s wireless Communication systems.

1.3 RADIO FREQUENCY (RF):

Radio frequency (RF) is a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents which carry radio signals. Electric currents that oscillate at radio frequencies have special properties not shared by direct current or alternating current of lower frequencies. The energy in an RF current can radiate off a conductor into space as electromagnetic waves (radio waves); this is the basis of radio technology. RF current can easily ionize air, creating a conductive path through it. One of the biggest disadvantages to radio communication technology is the limited range of a radio signal.

PROPOSED METHODOLOGY:

The proposed methodology is based on Robust GSM technology meets safety reliability and fastest in operation. It consists of a sensing system, signal conditioning electronic circuits, advanced embedded hardware for middle level computing, a powerful computer network for further transmission of data to various places. The above said system can able to communicate with one grid and its subsequent related actions. This system is an Advanced intelligent Electronic device (AIED). The Whole system must be employed to make perfect grid control system. The system design is shown fig 2. The Sub elements of proposed system are

• Sensing Transformers.

• Signal Conditioners.

• Embedded based electronic Hardware.

• GSM technology for Data transfer.

• Powerful software to generate control signal

 

Fig 4: Block diagram of robust communication based SPS for power system

Control switchgear refers to the combination of circuit breakers, fuses and other electrical disconnections to isolate electrical equipment.

The purpose of switchgear is to shut down or deenergize specific equipment, which will then allow work to be carried out further down the line. It is shown in Fig.4

 

Fig 5: Control switchgear

Signal conditioners are essential to improve received signals. Removing the unwanted frequencies during amplification. It consumes very low current from the source. It consists of voltage sensing, current sensing, Frequency sensing. The voltage sensing will senses any changes in the input voltage and output of the circuit is given to PIC. Shown in Fig 6.

 

Fig 6: Block Diagram of voltage sensing

Current Sensing will senses any changes in the input current converted in to voltage and given to the PIC shown in Fig 7

 

Fig.7: Block Diagram of Current sensing

Frequency Sensing will sense any changes in the frequency is converted into voltage and given to the ADC. Schmitt trigger is used to convert any waveform in to square waveform. XOR gate is used to double the frequency Shown in Fig 8

 

Fig 8: Block Diagram of Frequency sensing.

 

Fig 9: PIC Block diagram

Design Features

Fig 9 shows the block diagram of PIC 16F877A. Individual power supply for Analog and Digital circuits is required to avoid drift on analog portion. Double regulated filtered reference source is needed to ensure safest ADC operation. External clock source must be used which enables the user to design the required speed. External CPU Synchronous circuit must be designed in case of PC requirement. External RS-232 is used for data transmission. Power Supply Unit to Embedded consist of step down transformer to reduce the voltage, rectifier to convert AC to DC, filter to remove unwanted AC signal and voltage regulator to avoid the incoming voltage fluctuation and Keeps the output voltage(5V) as constant for embedded controller.

To perform the various operations and conversions required to switch, control and monitor the devices a processor is needed. The processor may be a microprocessor, micro controller or embedded controller. In this work an embedded controller has been preferred because of its industrial advantages in power electronics like built in ADC, RAM, ROM, ports, USART, DAC. And also the speed of embedded controllers is more compared to other processors. The embedded controller selected for this work is PIC16F877A due to its various features.

A Relay driver is an Electro-magnetic Switch which is useful for a low voltage circuit. The relays used in this work are compact, self-contained devices, which respond to abnormal conditions.

In personal computer, data transfer takes place serially. RS-232standard is used for serial communication. PIC Micro controller is linked to PC through the RS-232 port. The hardware design of the above system is shown Fig 10.

 

Fig. 10: Hardware Implementations of special protection systems

Algorithm without GSM

Step1: Initializing the PIC values i.e analog and digital values

Step2: Get voltage, Temp, Freq from PIC

Step3: Analog values from PIC will be read and display in the system

Step4: Plot voltage, Temp, Freq values

Step 5: Press the switch either in Kit or System

Step 6: If it checks for switch1 is pressed or not if sw1 is pressed then it is on otherwise it goes or switch2 conditions

Step7: Plot current values

Step8: It will check for overload condition, if it is overload and the circuit is tripped and shows the corresponding message in the system

Step9: If it is exists then end otherwise it goes to the step2

Algorithm with GSM

Step1: Initializing the PIC values i.e analog and digital values

Step2: Initializing the corresponding components of the GSM settings

Step3: Get voltage, Temp, Freq from PIC

Step4: Analog values from PIC will be read and display in the system

Step5: Plot voltage, Temp, Freq values

Step 6: Press the switch either in Kit or System

Step 7: If it checks for switch1 is pressed or not if sw1 is pressed then it is on otherwise it goes for switch2 conditions

Step8: Plot current values

Step9: It will check for overload condition, if it is overload and the circuit is tripped and then send the corresponding message to the mobile through the GSM

Step10: If it is exists then end otherwise it goes to the step2.

RESULTS

 

Fig 11: shows without GSM when the feeder1 is ON, in green color and the corresponding values are displayed

 

Fig 12: shows with GSM when the feeder2 is ON, in the green colour and the corresponding values are displayed.

 

Fig.13: shows the database results of voltage, incoming current, frequency, kvA, light and temperature for every second.

 

Fig 14: shows with GSM when the feeder2 is Tripped ; it shows in pink color and the message will be send to the mobile through the GSM when feeder2 is over loaded.

CONCLUSIONS:

This paper shows that a GSM technique can be successfully apply to the earlier developed communication based special protection systems to increase its reliability during network interruptions. The GSM enhances speed of communication with distance independentancy. A suitable authenticated hardware is designed to meet the credibility of the networking. An Embedded based hardware is designed to acquire data from electrical sensing system; it sends from one network to other and change in parameters of transmission to be sensed to protect the entire transmission and distribution. GSM enables bi-directional communication as a message or data.

Visual Basic software is used as interpreter among various tools and systems.

REFERENCES

[1].Luis A. Oquendo Class, Kenneth M.Hopkinson, Member, IEEE, Xiaoru Wang, Senior Member, IEEE,Todd R. Andel, and Ryan W. Thomas “A Robust communication based –special protection systemize transactions on power delivery, vol. 25, no. 3, july 2010.

[2]. Takay Shono Katsuhiko Sekiguchi, Tatsuji Tanaka Member, IEEE, and Shigeki Katayama. A Remote Supervisory System for A Power system Protection and Control Unit Applying Mobile Agent Technology.

[3].Using key performance indicators to manage power system reliability,john vangroup,Schneider electric.

[4]. key performance indicators of a transmission system, Omar H. Abdalla*, Masoud Awlad-Thani, Mohamed Al- Wardi,Khalfan Al- Qaidi, Saqar Al-Farsi, Ibrahim Al-Balushi, and Saeed Al-Mahdhooriaman electricity transmission company, sultanate of a oman.

[5]. K. Hopkinson, G. Roberts, X. Wang, and J. Thorp, “Quality of service considerations in utility communication networks,” IEEE Trans. Power

[6]. Kenneth Hopkinson, Member, IEEE, XiaoruWang, Member, IEEE, Renan Giovanini, James Thorp, Life Fellow, IEEE,Kenneth Birman, and Denis Coury, Member, IEEE EPOCHS: A Platform for Agent-Based

Electric Power and Communication Simulation Built From Commercial Off-the-Shelf Components IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER SYSTEMS, VOL. 21, NO. 2, MAY 2006

[7]. Perz, M. “A Method of Analysis of Power Line Carrier Problems of Three-Phase Lines.” IEEE Transactions, Paper No. 63-937. June

1963.

[8] M. Gebhardt, F. Weinmann, and K. Dostert, “Physical and regulatory constraints for communication over the power supply grid,” IEEE Commun. Mag., vol. 41, no. 5, May 2003.

[9] Proc. IEEE Special Issue on GigabitWireless, vol. 92, no. 2, Feb. 2004.

[10] N. Laneman, D. Tse, and G.Wornell, “Cooperative diversity in wireless networks: Efficient protocols and outage behavior,” IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory, vol. 50, pp. 3062–3080, Dec. 2004.

[11] A. Sendonaris, E. Erkip, and B. Aazhang, “User cooperation diversity—Part I and II,” IEEE Trans. Commun., pp. 1927–1948, Nov. 2003.

[12] I. Hammerström, M. Kuhn, and A. Wittneben, “Cooperative diversity by relay phase rotations in block fading environments,” in Proc. IEEE Workshop Signal Process. Advances Wireless Commun., Jul. 2004, pp. 293–297.

[13] R. U. Nabar, O. Oyman, H. Bölcskei, and A. Paulraj, “Capacity scaling laws in MIMO wireless networks,” in Proc. Allerton Conf. Commun.,Control and Comp., Oct. 2003, pp. 378–389.

[14] A. Wittneben and B. Rankov, “Distributed antenna systems and linear relaying for gigabit MIMO wireless,” in Proc. IEEE Veh. Technol.Conf.-Fall, Los Angeles, CA, Sep. 2004, pp. 3624–3630.

[15] Solid State Electronic Fault Current Limiter to Limit the Fault Current in Power System Vinod Gupta, U. C. Trivedi, N. J. Buch Electrical Research & Development Association, Vadodara-390010,NPEC-2010.

[16] Fault current limiters – application, principles and experience, CIGRE WG A3.16: H.Schmitt*, J. Amon, D. Braun, G. Damstra, K.-H.Hartung, J. Jäger, J. Kida, K. Kunde, Q. Le, L.Martini,M. Steurer, Ch.

Umbricht, X. Waymel and C. Neumann.

GSM BASED AUTOMATED EMBEDDED SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING OF SMART GRID

GSM BASED AUTOMATED EMBEDDED SYSTEM FORMONITORING AND CONTROLLING OF SMART GRID

 Electrical and Electronics Project by Ravi Devani

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to acquire the remote electrical parameters like Voltage, Current, and Frequency from Smart grid and send these real time values over GSM network using GSM Modem/phone along with temperature at power station. This project is also designed to protect the electrical circuitry by operating an Electromagnetic Relay. The Relay can be used to operate a Circuit Breaker to switch off the main electrical supply. User can send commands in the form of SMS messages to read the remote electrical parameters. This system also can automatically send the real time electrical parameters periodically (based on time settings) in the form of SMS. This system also send SMS alerts whenever the Circuit Breaker trips or whenever the Voltage or Current exceeds the predefined limits.

Keywords—GSM Modem, Initialization of ADC module of microcontroller, PIC-C compiler for Embedded C programming, PIC kit 2 programmer for dumping code into Micro controller, Express SCH for Circuit design, Proteus for hardware simulation.

INTRODUCTION

The time complicated interlocking and operation controlling requirements usually noticed in the Smartgrid working, which lead to necessity of automation of the undergoing process. In this respect, Smartgrid automation, which is the creation of a highly reliable, self-healing power system that rapidly responds to real time events with appropriate actions, ensures to maintain uninterrupted power services to the end users.

PROPOSED METHOD

This research paper aims at continuously monitor the load conditions of the Smartgrid. It also monitors the temperature of the devices present in the Smartgrid. If the load increases beyond the Smartgrid’s rated capacity, the microcontroller will automatically shut down the Smartgrid and intimates the same to the operator by sending a message through a GSM modem. A modem provides the communication interface. It transports device protocols transparently over the network through a serial interface. A GSM modem is a wireless modem that works with a GSM wireless network. A wireless modem behaves like a dial-up modem. The main difference between them is that a dial-up modem sends and receives data through a fixed telephone line while a wireless modem sends and receives data through radio waves. If the temperature of the Smartgrid increases, then the microcontroller will automatically starts the cooling system for the Smart grid. At any point, if the operator wants to know the loads conditions and the temperature, he has to send a predefined message to the modem which is interfaced with the microcontroller and the controller acknowledges the operator with the required information.

1. Sensing different electrical parameters (voltage, current, temperature).

2. Forwarding the electrical parameters over GSM network.

3. Producing buzzer alerts (if necessary).

4. Automatic circuit breaking operation.

An embedded system is a combination of software and hardware to perform a dedicated task. Some of the main devices used in embedded products are Microprocessors and Microcontrollers. Microprocessors are commonly referred to as general purpose processors as they simply accept the inputs, process it and give the output. In contrast, a microcontroller not only accepts the data as inputs but also manipulates it, interfaces the data with various devices, controls the data and thus finally gives the result.

The research paper GSM Based Embedded System for Smartgrid Monitoring and Control System using according to the instructions given by the above said microcontroller. Distributed transformers are prone to damages due to the rise in oil temperature when there is an overload or huge current flows through the internal winding of the transformer. When the oil temperature rises, it increases the probability of getting damages in the transformers. The transformers are to be monitored very cautiously during these situations. The proposed system consists of a monitoring unit that is connected with the distribution transformer for the purpose of monitoring the same. Hence, we introduce a simulation model which details the operation of the system to rectify the mentioned problem. The monitoring system is constituted by three major units, namely,

1. Data processing and transmitter unit

2. Load and Measurement Systems

3. Receiver and PC display unit

We have designed a system based on microcontroller that monitors and controls the voltage, current and oil temperature of a distribution transformer present in a Smartgrid. The monitored output will be displayed on a PC at the main station that is at a remote place, through RF communication. The parameters monitored at the distribution transformer are compared with the rated values of the transformer. Additionally the breakdowns caused due to the overload and high voltage are sensed and the signals are transmitted to the main station using RF communication. The software in the PC compares the received values with the rated measurements of the distribution transformer and shuts down the transformer so that it can be prevented from damages and performances can be enhanced quiet to a remarkable level. The controller consists of a sensing unit which collects the essential parameters such as current, voltage and the oil temperature within the distribution transformer. The digital display connected to the processing unit displays corresponding parameter values at the Smartgrid for any technical operations. The controller also senses the overload and high current flow conditions in the internal windings that may lead to breakdown of the corresponding unit. The microcontroller is programmed in such a manner so as to continuously scan the transformer and update the parameters at a particular Time interval. The parameter values sensed by the microcontroller are transmitted through the RF transmitter connected to the microcontroller unit. The transmitted signals are received at the main station using the RF receiver. The received signals are then passed to the PC. The software loaded in the PC is used to monitor the changes in the parameters that are measured from the distribution transformer. When a remarkable change is noticed in the measured values it controls the unit by ending it from any serious damages. The values of voltage, current and temperature of the transformer is directly applied to Port A (one of the input ports of the microcontroller). Along with this, a display is connected in the Port B (another input port of the microcontroller). The RF transmitting section and the load variation control are connected to the Port C (one of the output ports in the microcontroller).

The monitoring PC is connected to the main station. The microcontroller at the Smartgrid monitors and captures the current, voltage and temperature values for a particular period of time interval. The captured values are stored in the data register and displayed using the LCD display. The monitored voltage, current and temperature values of the transformer are transmitted using the RF transmitter for each and every time interval. Any antenna tuned for the selected RF frequency can be utilized for the transmission of the RF signal but the antenna has to exhibit a unidirectional radiation pattern. In the receiver side of the proposed system, the receiver antenna converts the RF signal into electrical signal and acquires the information which has been transmitted by the transmitter. Based on the received information, controlling operation is performed. If the receiver receives the transformer parameters which is greater than the fixed threshold level, then immediately the units is shutdown so as to protect the same. The voltage level is reduced using transformers and power is transferred to customers through electric power distribution systems. Power starts from the transmission grid at distribution Smartgrid where the voltage is stepped-down (typically to less than 10kV) and carried by smaller distribution lines to supply commercial, residential, and industrial users. Novel electric power systems encompassing of power transmission and distribution grids consist of copious number of distributed, autonomously managed, capital-intensive assets.

Electrical and Electronics Project by Ravi Devani

A. Real Time System Design

Real time systems have to respond to external interactions in a predetermined amount of time. Successful completion of an operation depends upon the correct and timely operation of the system. Design the hardware and the software in the system to meet the Real time requirements. Designing real time systems is a challenging task. Most of the challenge comes from the fact that Realtime systems have to interact with real world entities. These interactions can get fairly complex. A typical Realtime system might be interacting with thousands of such entities at the same time. Real time Response, Recovering from Failures, Working with Distributed Architectures, Asynchronous Communication, Race Conditions and Timing

B. Architecture and Working of GSM Networks

A GSM network consists of several functional entities whose functions and interfaces are defined. The GSM network can be divided into following broad parts. The Mobile Station (MS), The Base Station Subsystem (BSS), The Network

Switching Subsystem (NSS), The Operation Support Subsystem (OSS). The added components of the GSM architecture include the functions of the databases and messaging systems: Home Location Register (HLR), Visitor Location Register (VLR), Equipment Identity Register (EIR), Authentication Center (AuC), SMS Serving Center (SMS SC), Gateway MSC (GMSC), Chargeback Center (CBC), Transcoder and Adaptation Unit (TRAU) The MS and the BSS communicate across the Um interface, also known as the air interface or radio link. The BSS communicates with the Network Service Switching center across the A interface. In a GSM network, the following areas are defined:

Cell: Cell is the basic service area: one BTS covers one cell. Each cell is given a Cell Global Identity (CGI), a number that uniquely identifies the cell.

Location Area: A group of cells form a Location Area. This is the area that is paged when a subscriber gets an incoming call. Each Location Area is assigned a Location Area Identity (LAI). Each Location Area is served by one or more BSCs.

MSC/VLR Service Area: The area covered by one MSC is called the MSC/VLR service area.

PLMN: The area covered by one network operator is called PLMN. A PLMN can contain one or more MSCs.

C.Debugging Tolls

Embedded debugging may be performed at different levels, depending on the facilities available. From simplest to most sophisticate they can be roughly grouped into the following areas [1], [2]:

1. Interactive resident debugging, using the simple shell provided by the embedded operating system (e.g. Forth and Basic)

2. External debugging using logging or serial port output to trace operation using either a monitor in flash or using a debug server like the Remedy Debugger which even works for heterogeneous multi core systems.

3. An in-circuit debugger (ICD), a hardware device that connects to the microprocessor via a JTAG or Nexus interface. This allows the operation of the microprocessor to be controlled externally, but is typically restricted to specific debugging capabilities in the processor.

4. An in-circuit emulator replaces the microprocessor with a simulated equivalent, providing full control over all aspects of the microprocessor.

5. A complete emulator provides a simulation of all aspects of the hardware, allowing all of it to be controlled and modified and allowing debugging on a normal PC.

6. Unless restricted to external debugging, the programmer can typically load and run software through the tools, view the code running in the processor, and start or stop its operation. The view of the code may be as assembly code or source-code.

Because an embedded system is often composed of a wide variety of elements, the debugging strategy may vary. For instance, debugging a software (microprocessor) centric embedded system is different from debugging an embedded system where most of the processing is performed by peripherals (DSP, FPGA, and co-processor). An increasing number of embedded systems today use more than one single processor core. Embedded development makes up a small fraction of total programming. There are also a large number of embedded architectures, unlike the PC world where 1 instruction set rules, and the UNIX world. Where there are only 3 or 4 major ones. This means that the tools are more expensive. It also means that they're lowering featured, and less developed. On a major embedded project, at some point you will almost always find a compiler bug of some sort. Debugging tools are another issue. Since you can't always run General programs on your embedded processor, you can't always run a debugger on it. This makes fixing your program difficult. Special hardware such as JTAG ports can overcome this issue in part. However, if you stop on a breakpoint when your system is controlling real world hardware, permanent equipment damage can occur. As a result, people doing embedded programming quickly become masters at using serial IO channels and error message style debugging.

 Electrical and Electronics Project by Ravi Devani

BLOCK DIAGRAM OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH PAPER

The circuit was designed using electronic workbench software. This software was used to design a sample for the power supply which was incorporated on the receiver system. The receiver sections were designed by this computer aid. In designing the power supply, the software has a menu that contains the various components of the circuit. One has to identify which menu contains the component for the power supplies were selected. The components that were selected are: diodes (1n4001) capacitor (220μF and 10μF) and regulator 7805. A step down transformer of 240/12V AC Was also selected was also selected. These components were laid out and their pins were joined appropriately with lines. These lines are similar to the conductors on the printed circuit board (PCB). The same procedure was followed in the design of the receiver circuit. The receiver was constructed on printed circuit board (PCB) of 30mm x 14mm x 1.5mm dimensions. The PCB was etched in accordance with the receiver circuit shown below with various integrated circuit (IC) pin hole drilled. The microcontroller chip PIC16F877A, circuit breakers and the relays were all inserted on the board to form a complete receiver unit. The implementation of the system involves two steps which are: Setting up the system and inter facing with graphic user interface (i.e. application software). The application software for the system has been developed by using a high lever language C-programming debugger. The debugger contains a high speed simulator and a target debugger that let you simulate an entire PIC16F877A system including on chip peripherals.

The SI unit for magnetic field strength H is A/m. However, if you wish to use units of T, either refers to magnetic flux density B or magnetic field strength symbolized as μ0H. Use the center dot to separate compound units, e.g., “A·m2.”

 

Fig1. Schematic diagram

 

Fig2. Communication system

WORKING PRINCIPLE

The system was tested by connecting a GPRS modem and RS232 cable to the PC. The RS232 cable is connected to microcontroller PIC16F877A is connected to the circuit breaker through a relay. When the circuit is powered by connecting it to 240V AC supply, the incoming AC voltage is rectifier by bridge rectifier. The voltage s than reduce to 5V by a regulator which serves as an input to the microcontroller. The system was tested manually by pressing a knob on the software to activate the circuit breaker. Secondary, the system was tested remotely by sending a sms message to the GPRS or modem through the PC to RS232 cable to the micro controller PIC16F877A and it also worked. Below is the screen shot of the system control panel with circuit breakers turned ON. Thus the automation of electrical power smartgrid is designed and implemented using GSM technology. This brings out the efficient way of power transmission and distribution in electrical Smartgrid though it is carried out using wireless mobile communication the GSM modem and the microcontroller. Cellular phones enable people to communicate over a wide area by using a network of radio antennas and transmitters arranged in small geographical area called cells. By using a rooming facility provided by cellular phone providers, communication could be effective wherever you are on a globe. Technology can explore more benefit on the utilization of cellular phones. The GPRS was able to read the data sent by cell phone at a frequency of 900MH. The GPRS uses packet switching method to transfer data. This means that data is sent over the time, which has less traffic. The microcontroller PIC16F877A is a low power, high performance CMOS 8-bit computer. It provides high-flexible and cost effective solution to the control application. The above schematic diagram GSM based Embedded system for Smatrgrid monitoring and control system explains the interfacing section of each component with micro controller and GSM module. 

The crystal oscillator connected to 13^th and 14^th pins of micro controller and regulated power supply is also connected to microcontroller and LED’s also connected to microcontroller through resistors and motor driver connected to microcontroller. 

 

Fig. 3 Screen shot of control Panel with circuit breakers turned ON

SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH

Our research paper “GSM Based Embedded System for Smartgrid Monitoring and Control System” is mainly intended to operate the devices like fans, lights, motors etc.., through a GSM based mobile phone. The system has a GSM modem, temperature, current, voltage sensors and the devices to be operated through the switches like Relay which are interfaced to the microcontroller. The micro controller is programmed in such a way that if a particular fixed format of SMS is sent to GSM modem from mobile phone, which is fed as input to the microcontroller which operates the appropriate devices. A return feedback message will be sent to the mobile from GSM modem. The temperature at the place where devices are being operated can be known. In future we can use this research paper in several applications by adding additional components to this research paper. This research paper can be extended by using GPRS technology, which helps in sending the monitored and controlled data to any place in the world. The temperature controlling systems like coolant can also use in places where temperature level should be maintained. By connecting wireless camera in industries, factories etc. we can see the entire equipment from our personal computer only by using GPRS and GPS technology. The monitoring and controlling of the devices can be done from the personal computer and we can use to handle so many situations. By connecting temperature Sensor, we can get the temperature of dangerous zones in industries and we can use personal Computer itself instead of sending human to there and facing problems at the field. The temperature sensor will detect the temperature and it gives information to the micro controller and micro controller gives the information to the mobile phone from that we can get the data at pc side.

RESULT

The research paper designed such that the devices can be monitored and also controlled from anywhere in the world using GSM modem connected to mobile phone. The proposed system which has been designed to monitor the transformers essential parameters continuously monitors the parameters throughout its operation. If the microcontroller recognizes any increase in the level of voltage, current or temperature values the unit has been made shutdown in order to prevent it from further damages. The system not only controls the distribution transformer in the Smartgrid by shutting it down, but also displays the values throughout the process for user’s reference. This claims that the proposed design of the system makes the distribution transformer more robust against some key power quality issues which makes the voltage, current or temperature to peak. Hence the distribution is made more secure, reliable and efficient by means of the proposed system.

REFERENCES

[1] www.silicontechnolabs.in

[2] Embedded Automobile Engine Locking System, Using GSM Technology, Jayanta Kumar Pany1 & R. N.Das Choudhury2 International Journal of Instrumentation, Control and Automation (IJICA) ISSN : 2231-1890 Volume-1, Issue-2, 2011.

[3] PIC Microcontroller Manual, Microchip Technology Inc. (2003), Page no 3-41-49.

[4] PIC Microcontroller and Embedded Systems, Mazidi, Muhammad Ali; Mckinaly, Rolin D; Causey, Page no 99-112.

[5] www.allaboutcircuits.com.

[6] Microcontrollers Architecture, Programming, Interfacing and System Design, Raj kamal, (2011), Page no 34-52[10] PCB Designe Tutorial. Page no 17-25, David.L.Jones (2004)

[7] GSM based Automated Embedded System for Monitoring and Controlling of Substation, Amit Sachan, M.Tech. Thesis, Page no 7-9 June 2012.

Electrical and Electronics Project by Ravi Devani