DEVELOPMENT OF AN MICROPROCESSOR BASED DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM

FOR SUBSTATION AUTOMATION

By
1 2
B.Srikanth M.Archana
Guided by
Ramesh babu. Darla

Abstract:
In high voltage transmission systems fault levels are generally high, which if not cleared
rapidly can cause system instability as well as extensive damages and hazards to
personnel. Speed of operation, selectivity, reliability and security of the trip decision
assume more importance at higher operating voltages as they handle bulk of the power.
Data Acquisition is the prerequisite to achieve the above stated objectives. The paper
deals with the designing and assembling of architecture, both hardware and software
design for data acquisition for automating a substation. A scaled down model of a
substation has been developed in this regard. The hardware mainly consists of signal
processing and data acquisition. An Intel 8086 microprocessor has been used to acquire
data. Software, developed in 8086 language, is written in modules for easy understanding
and implementation. This program acquires data like bus voltages and line currents from
the system. In order to demonstrate the use of data acquired we have developed a simple
fault detection scheme using over voltage and over current criteria. When a fault signal is
detected, the processor sends a trip signal to the appropriate circuit breaker to isolate the
faulted component from the system. The program also calculates the power factor of the
load present in the system. Possibilities of future developments to improve the design and
performance of the data acquisition schemes have been discussed.
Key Words: Power System Automation, Data Acquisition and Control, Microprocessor Based System, Fault Detection.
Introduction
Substations are switching and transforming stations, located between generating and load
centers. A modern substation is a complex structure, as it requires numerous items of
equipment and allied service. This equipment provides supervision, control and
protection of substation. In a typical substation, the control equipment can be either
analog or digital in nature. Their operation can be either manual or automatic. In either
case, the control equipment gives commands to circuit breakers to perform duties
such as switching, auto reclosure, bus bar protection etc. With the increase in the
complexity and size of the substation, automatic control or the automation of Substation
has assumed great importance.
I. SUBSTATION AUTOMATION
Substation Automation can be defined as automatic monitoring, regulation and control of
electric quantities like bus voltages and line currents and automatic isolation of faulted
areas from the main system with minimum human involvement. Substation Automation
helps us in ensuring uninterrupted power supply, minimize manual operations and hence
reduce hazards like electric shocks, quick identification and recovery of faulted areas and
also minimize the total expenditure
by reducing system losses.
The application of Substation Automation
can be enumerated as follows:
• Bus sectionalizing
• Bus deployment switching and auto sectionalizing
• Integrated voltage and VAR control
• Substation transformer load balancing
• Cold load pick up on loads on buses.
• Data Acquisition and processing
• Interface; Protection
• Load Management; Remote Metering
In view of the above of duties it becomes necessary to constantly monitor the sub-station
data i.e., the bus voltages, the line currents etc. Thus there is a necessity for a
comprehensive data acquisition system in all substations. The growth and expansion of
power systems poses a major difficulty in the increase of installation space for
instrumentation equipment. Thus it is absolutely necessary to have a remote data
acquisition System from where the sub-station data can be constantly monitored.
Objective: To design and assemble a hardware and software model to acquire data from a
model ubstation constructed.
Scope of the work:
1. Preparation of the working model of the substation circuit.
2. Monitoring the substation data such as bus voltage and line currents, bus powers and
line flows.
3. Processing the substation data.
4. a. Detecting the fault in the substation using over voltage and over current criterion.
b. Calculate the power factor of the load.
II. SUBSTATION DATA ACQUISITION USING DIGITAL TECHNIQUES
Microprocessor Based Data Acquisition
The possibility of using an online digital equipment to perform data collection, control
and switching functions of modern high voltage substation is attracting attention. Of
these functions data collection function is likely to be the most crucial in terms of
hardware and speed. Microprocessor based acquisition is a fast and efficient way of
acquiring data. An important advantage of microprocessor based acquisition system is its
scope of being used both as a protection system and data acquisition system.
Microprocessor based relays have assumed importance because of this advantage.
Microprocessor is now used for monitoring data, protection, fault recording, fault
locating and several other functions, which were earlier, performed by analog or digital
systems. Some desirable features of microprocessor-based system are described:
Features of Microprocessor -Based System
i) Memory of tripping value and time run:
The memory for the tripping value and time run contains the value of the current and the
time lag of the particular function at the time instant the last trip took place. If no trip
takes place the last time run of the particular function will be memorized. The memory
for the tripping values and time runs is volatile that is in the event of failure of the
auxiliary supply its contents are lost
ii) Monitoring:
The microprocessor-based system is provided with storing the faulted data. The relays
present in the system are continuously and comprehensively monitored by applying
necessary test software and data displaying techniques, any faults which do occur is
detected at once. Thus without adversely affecting the availability it is largely possible to
dispense with periodical testing of the relay.
iii) Setting and Memory
Settings can be made quickly and any time. Once values have been set and memorized
they are retained even of the auxiliary supply should fail. By using advanced memory
techniques like background memory and foreground memory (volatile RAM).
Advantages of Microprocessor-Based System
Programmable equipment like microprocessor can respond fast and can be used to
implement complex functions at low cost. They can also be self-checking in nature, there
by requiring less maintenance and providing greater reliability. One microprocessor
based data acquisition system will be able to provide several other functions like control,
protection etc.
III. PROPOSED SCHEME FOR DATA ACQUISITION
Acquiring data from a system is the primary step in automation. To acquire meaningful
and useful data, the input analog signals have to be sampled appropriately. A high
sampling rate allows the system to detect faults with short rise times. The more the
number of samples per cycle, the closer will be the acquired data to the actual value.The
sampling rate is limited by the processor speed, the time of conversion of the ADC and
the amount of processing done. With these limitations, the implemented Data Acquisition
System has a sampling rate of 10 samples per cycle for a three-phase system.
Microprocessor Based DAS
The implemented data acquisition system has the following basic components a) 16 x 1
MUX: This is used to select one of many analog inputs. The address lines are controlled
by the microprocessor.
b) Filter: A band-pass filter of center frequency 50 Hz is used to remove noise from the
incoming signal to prevent erroneous digital conversion.
c) Sample and Hold: The sample and hold circuit is used to sample the incoming
continuously varying signal. This then holds the value for enough time to allow the ADC
to convert the analog input to a digital value. If the input is continuously varying, the
ADC will not be able to convert properly.
d) Analog to Digital Converter: The ADC is the heart of the data acquisition system. The
ADC converts the analog input to an 8 bit digital output.
The ADC uses a successive approximation method for conversion, which is an excellent
compromise between accuracy and speed. An unknown voltage Vin is compared with a
fraction of the reference voltage. The output comparison is made eight times with
different fractions of the reference voltage and the corresponding bit is set to one if Vin is
greater than the fraction of the reference voltage else the bit is set to zero.
Input Signals
- 6 voltages from potential transformers with a maximum of 5V rms.
- 8 currents from current transformers which give the scaled voltage output with a
maximum of 5V rms.
- 7 status checks from the relays controlling the circuit breakers and isolators.
Output Signals
- 7 trip signals to each of the relays. The signals are given to n-mos chips which then
ground the respective relay line and trip it.
Working of the DAS
- The processor sends the address of the line for
which the voltage / current value has to be stored.
- The appropriate signal is then sent to the filter
which removes the noise.
- The signal is then passed on to the sample and
hold chip. The processor instructs the chip to sample
the incoming signal and hold it for 100µs, which is
the time required for the ADC to finish conversion.
- The SOC signal is given to the ADC. The ADC converts the analog signal to an eight
bit output which is sent to port A of the 8255a chip. After the conversion, an EOC signal
is sent to the processor, which then sends the address to the multiplexer for the next input
and the cycle repeats.
IV. SUBSTATION MODEL
A three-phase model substation was chosen, incorporating the essential features of a
substation.The supply to the substation is from two high-tension lines, ‘Mains’ and
‘Reserve’, which are connected to the Main High Tension Bus Bar (MHBB) and Reserve
High Tension Bus Bar (RTBB). Both MHTBB and RHTBB are connected to the High
Tension Bus Bar (HTBB). Under normal conditions ‘Main ‘ acts as the main source of
power supply and when the need arises ‘Reserve’ is connected to the HTBB by switching
‘ON’ the isolator separating the HTBB and RHTBB. This arrangement ensures
continuous power supply to the substation. The HTBB is
connected to a Low Tension Bus Bar (LTBB) through
a transformer. The LTBB is the service bus. The service
bus feeds into two load points. The entire substation is
equipped with circuit breakers and isolators at appropriate
points. Current transformers and potential transformers
are also provided at strategic points for measurement
purposes. In total 6 PT and 8 CT have been chosen in the
system. For easy understanding and operation the substation
model is divided into zones 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, S and T. The
division of the substation into zones is depicted in figure
indicated before.
Description of Substation Equipment and Parameters:
1. Circuit Breaker: In total 5 circuit breakers are used in the
system. The ratings of the circuit breakers used are as follows:
Nominal rating at 415 V (line), 50Hz, 10A
Operation: Break before make
Coil: 220 V, AC
Consumption: 40 VA
Hold on : 15 VA
All the C B are connected to relays and when signal is given to the relay, the appropriate
C B responds depending on the signal.
2. Relay: All the Circuit breakers and isolators are operated by relays. A bank of 7 relays
was used to operate CBs and isolators. The ratings of the relay:
Operational voltage: 12 V DC
Coil current for operation: 4.5mA
Maximum current through contacts: 5 A
All the relays are in “normally open position”. The relay has two pairs of contacts. One
pair is used for CB or isolator and the other pair is used for status check of the relays. To
the pair which is connected to CB(isolator), a 220V(12V) signal is passed and to the pair
that is used as status check, a 5V signal is passed through one of the pins. The other pin is
connected to the processor. When the 12V signal is passed through the coil of the relay,
the contacts are short and appropriate signal goes to the CB or isolator. The status check
pins are also short and as a result a 5V signal is passed to the processor. Depending on
the value of the pin connected to the processor we can know the status of the relay.
3. Potential transformers: Single-phase transformers, with voltage rating 230/10V and
1A capacity, were used.
4. Current transformers: Current transformers, with rating 100/5A and 5A burden, were
used.
5. Variac: As mentioned earlier, a three phase variac was used instead of a two winding
transformer. Its ratings are 415V/0-440V and 15A.
6. Load: Three single-phase loading rheostats of 230V rating were used as loads. In the
substation model the Hence, the results obtained from the model study can be
extrapolated to visualize the behavior of the actual substation.
voltage of the HTBB was chosen to be 380V (line to line)
and the voltage of the LTBB was chosen to be 110V
(line to line). Any voltage above 120V was decided as
a fault voltage. The voltage samples were constantly
checked with this reference value and whenever a
fault was detected, the appropriate relay was tripped
by the processor. The use of the above components is
justified since their characteristics are similar to the
components in an actual substation

VI. RESULTS
A data Acquisition System has been made to acquire data from a model Substation. In
order to check the efficiency of the system made, voltages and currents in the following
situations were taken. Voltages and currents were taken directly from a Digital
Oscilloscope and through the Data Acquisition system. The following data was taken to
test the acquisition system.
1. Voltage under normal condition:
Voltage from one of the potential transformers of the Low Tension Bus Bar was taken.
As, mentioned earlier, 110V was fed to the LTBB through the variac. Values from the
Oscilloscope and Data Acquisition system are given in figure 7.

2. Current under normal condition:

A load of 80 ohms was connected between the red and blue bus of load 1. Current
passing through the load was taken through the corresponding current transformer.
3. Incrementing the Voltage:
Voltage was incremented from 88V to 124V within 5 cycles with the help of the variac
and this increment of voltage was captured by the Oscilloscope and the Data Acquisition
system through the potential transformer at LTBB.
4. Incrementing of Current:
Voltage across the load was incremented from 88V to 124V. As a result the current
passing through it increased. This increment of current was captured by the Oscilloscope
and the Data Acquisition system through the current transformer.
5. Opening of Circuit Breaker:
The Circuit Breaker at the LTBB was opened and the change in the values of the voltage
and current were taken through both the sources. Graphs of the voltage and current are
given in figure8.
6. Calculation of Power Factor:
With the help of the values of voltage and current obtained in situation 1 and 2, the power
factor of the load was calculated through the program written to calculate the power
factor of load.
 VI. CONCLUSIONS
The microcomputer based substation data acquisition system was tested and used to
monitor the substation data and to calculate the power factor. The data acquisition system
has the following features:
i) Ability to monitor substation data from a remote site. ii) Precise and fast acquisition of
data. iii) It can be used to control the relays and thus control the system on the whole. iv)
The program written for calculation of Power factor gave the correct result. v) With the
help of the data acquisition system, the substation data, ie bus voltages and line currents
is monitored continuously.

Further Scope of Work

In order to take full advantage of digital system to perform the complete monitoring and
control functions of a substation, some more additional software has to be developed. 1.)
The active and reactive powers can also be measured using separate software from
instantaneous values of current and voltage. 2.) A dedicated software can be developed to
display the single line diagram and the values of voltages. Currents and loads at various
points can be shown. 3.) Software can be extended from monitoring and control of
multiple feeders very easily.
VIII. REFERENCES
1. Douglas.V.Hall, "Microprocessor and Interfacing", Tata McGraw Hill, 1991 edition
2. A.K.Mahalanabis, D.P.Kothari and S.I.Ahson,
"Computer Aided Power System Analysis and
Control", Tata McGraw Hill, 1988 edition
3. Helmut Ungrad, Wilibald Winkler and Andrzej
Wiszniewski, "Protection Techniques in Electrical
Energy Systems", Marcel Dekker, 1992 edition
4. Peter Abel, "Programming with Intel 8086"