Fault Detection Robot for Underground and Overhead Cables

Fault Detection zombi for Underground and Overhead CablesCAREER EPISODE 11.1 INTRODUCTIONDuring my voyage of engineering, I completed a ramble named Fault Detection automaton for Underground and Overhead Cables. It was completed in my 6th semester while pursue Bachelor of Technology in electronics and communication engineering from Guru Nanak Dev University, Gurdaspur, India. It was performed under the way of Prof. Anu Sheetal. The entire project was completed in six months from January 2012 to May 2012. Thus, my rattling first c beer episode is based on this project performed by me.1.2 BACKGROUNDNorm e very last(predicate)(a)y most of the companies prefer to lay wires through underground. Wires atomic number 18 laid underground for various purposes. The reason for doing this is to protect the wires from any climatic conditions and changes. But while considering this positive factor there ar cons of this system too. There occur problems while laying wires and during serv ice and maintenance it becomes actually costly, time consuming and difficult to fix and solve the issue. Also, telephone set contribute break payable to any reason then it gets difficult to nail down them and re stick it. Basically, in manual technique of replacement cables, approximate kettle of fish I found and the cables are dug out(a) and manual checking is through to find the exact point of problem.1.3To overcome much(prenominal)(prenominal) challenges, I name designed a automaton which tolerate find blurs and the place of complaint, qualification it easy for engineers and technicians to dig a hole at the diminutive place for error solving and fixation. The technology employ behind the working(a) of such robot is electro magnetized theory for detecting the discontinuity of the cable wires. Induced magnetic world is produced when a low frequency based signal brush aside pass through the wire with the assistant of signal injector, which assists in determi nation the place of possible defect. The robot can locate the position of the fault or pithy- term of enlistment issue from external surface and point out the exact place of discontinuity.1.4 OBJECTIVESThe main idea and goal behind employing such project is to benefit the industries laying wires underground for various electronics, electrical or other purpose. In this project an overhead wire fault signal detection and location system is introduced as the main or fundamental for industrially controlled computers. The project was executed to overcome the problem to repair faulty wires which unavoidable the help of experienced and practical trained operators. The accuracy and precision of short circuit fault detection is improved and upgraded by using the combinations of divergent methods like current rate of change and zero detection are used, along with using different and new technology based computer hardware and software. Features like 5th harmonic current and ground phase e lectric potential drop was integrated to it. The project was used and put to operation and it worked in good running condition.1.5 MY WORK DUTIESTo accomplish and achieve success in this project, I started planning on how to approach the problem statement and what could be the possible solution for it. which followed by initial consciousness on the working principle of the project. After making a work pass on the approach, I decided upon the components that were guided for its implementation. A budget was do and followed all the time and a safety level was maintained during the progress of the project. later(prenominal) staged involved in planning and designing of the PCB layout based on the prevent diagrams and the circuit diagram. Coding was done for the working of the project which was followed by performing certain tests and troubleshooting the whole device to find any faults and do them on time. The last stage involved preparation of the presentation and calculates. My duties in any case involved meeting the supervisor weekly and updating her about my project progress.1.6 PERSONAL ENGINEERING ACTIVITYThe execution type for my project began with outlining and understanding of all possible differences amongst industrial robots, service robots and their process of application or working. Along with that I in like manner analyzed the challenges that are confront due to its application and different methods that could be employed to detect the fault and assign the faults. I also included few examples for comparison of methods relating the situation. Based on their experimental results, I came up with my block diagram for the project. It has two part one for the robot and other about the remote.1.7After finalizing my initial block diagram, I listed out the components that were required for the hardware structure of the robot and the remote. The components used are described below1. For Power Supply Diodes of 1N4007, Capacitors of c0 and 100 f, I C7805, LEDs, Resistors, Push Buttons. Using these components, a powerfulness depict consisting of three part namely, the rectifier unit, filter unit and regulator unit is designed for giving supply to my device.2. LCD 162 for displaying the location of faults by displaying a message or menial compose signal3. Tx IC HT12E4. Transformer 0-12V and 500mA5. Motor driver IC L293D6. RxIC HT12E7. campana for alerting on finding a fault in the outfit8. Transistor BC5479. Motor 60rpm, to drive the robot10. Microcontroller ATMEGA16, the cryptology and the program is written and loaded into it for the cognitive operation and signaling of the robot.11. Magnetic correction sensor ZMY20, extremely sensitive sensor which is used for measurement of magnetic field or detection of magnetic ports. It has magneto-resistive effect of thin film perm alloy.1.8With the help of above components, I started to design and implement my hardware. I started with designing the power supply and then the robot. After completing the structure for the robot, I do a remote to operate it from a distance with the help of IR radiations. one time my whole device/robot was ready, I mapped a flow chart which described the working and the functioning of the device. The flow chart took plug of efforts as every small point had to be noted for the functioning of the robot. The flowchart can be seen below.1.9The core idea behind this robot was for short circuit detection that occur in the underground cable breaks. The continuity of the cables is first checked using a multimeter as the cables are laid across large areas. After detecting the stretch of wire where the problem of discontinuity occurs, the robot is made to use for detecting the final and precise location of the breakage or fault. External remote navigator circuit is used for the robot and it is placed on the cable. A wire is also connected to the signal generator unit. The robot is positioned in such a way that the discont inuity lies in the forward direction and the robot moves along that direction.1.10A 3KHz signal is passed through the wire and a power is supplied to the robotic unit. An electromagnetic field is supplyd as per the Faradays law, after the current starts receiving and moves around. This electromagnetic field leave alone generate a voltage that will be provided using the microcontroller RA0 pin and therefore controlling the movement of the robot. On reaching the point of discontinuity the robot will not generate electromagnetic field, which will trigger the buzzer circuit connected to it indicating the fault and location of the issue. The HALL sensor unit can be used and provided to get the exact distance that the robot moves in finding the discontinuity and the LCD module connected to it will display the details. Once the location of fault is found, the cable operators and technicians can dig that ground and make up ones mind the problem easily.1.11Based on the working, I planned the flowchart for the secret writing and programming part of the circuit. I used the software called BASCOM-AVR which supports the 8051 microcontrollers and Atemls AVR microcontrollers. Both coding and testing can be performed using this software. I wrote a label for the below flow chart and successfully loaded it into the microcontroller to check its working. Robokits AVR USB computer programmer is used to load the program that is made in BASCOM into the microcontroller after generating a HEX file of the program. The best advantage of working on BASCOM is that it has notice options specially for troubleshooting your program.1.12After completing both hardware and software part for this robot, I gave it a test run to see its functioning. I faced an issue while running the robot, initially it didnt detect or generate an electromagnetic field which was required to detect the faulty cables. So, I made use of magnetic read understudy which could generate magnetic field of 440V or ab ove and It was cheaper than the magnetic field sensors. On considering the safety perspective, there was a risk due to the use of high voltage of 440V. Thus, I decided to use a magnet to generate the require magnetic field and current instead of providing such high voltage supply. So, one time the robot senses the magnetic field around the magnetic read switch that is generated with the help of magnet, the buzzer will start to work. Another issue was replacing this component i.e. to replace the magnetic sensor with a magnet because all the connections were done and the circuit could get complicated. To do that, it took visual modality of patience and it had to be done carefully. This was the major problem I encountered during my project.1.13 SUMMARYThus, to save the men and wastage of time, I developed such robot that detects the faulty cables. I intrust it will be helpful to various companies. The robot is designed to be user-friendly and easy to access. It is also cost-effecti ve and controlling and maintenance is very easy. It has lot of scope for expansion, it can be used to detect faults at places which is not accessible by human hand or places which require large amount of safety.1.14This project was the first project of my bachelors degree, so it held lot of importance, and it taught me a lot. I gave a final presentation and a report document stating the work I did and the completed working and description of the project. I presented it to my faculty staff and in front of my classmates. I got good help and support from my guide in all difficult situations. It used my radical programming knowledge. It boosted my confidence in my field. I got motivated and inspired to implement and research new projects which would use more advance electronics and telecommunication knowledge.