Design and implement a micro-controller GSM based system to notify protection engineers of vandalized remote terminal unit on a distribution line
Abstract
According to statistical data at protection department of Umeme on routine checks by Protection Engineers on Load Break Switches (LBSs) and Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), RTU’s go offline mainly from unnoticed vandalism of AC supply powering the RTU's. with the RTU offline, engineers at SCADA aren’t able communicate with it and operate physically connected devices to RTU such as Load Break Switches. Hence the need to have a notification and monitoring system in place that notifies protection engineers for faults in AC supply powering the RTU and vandalism around the RTU panel. To achieve this goal, first and foremost we needed to model a voltage sensor circuit that detects voltage on the lead from voltage transformer powering the RTU, also modelled a PIR motion sensor to detect motion on the VT output lead. We then programmed a microcontroller to interface between this voltage sensor circuit, motion sensor, GSM, Alarm system and LCD, and then developed and implemented a hard-wired prototype that can be used to simulate real life scenario. We expected the results from the prototype as follows, with AC supply on, the LCD displays power on and no call or notification is sent to protection Engineers. When AC supply is off, LCD displays power off, when no motion is detected, the GSM does not send an SMS and doesn’t call the protection engineers phone, but when motion is detected, the GSM calls protection engineers phone, sends a warning text message about vandalism happening. We concluded that with this system in place, vandalism on RTU’s will be detected and attended to by protection engineers on time and faults on the AC supply to the RTU will be attended to on time before the standby batteries are used up, this will enable remote control of LBS’s from SCADA in event of isolation of feeders. We also added putting electrified barbered wires around poles associated with RTU boxes and adding an alarm system to RTU systems to scare off vandals.