International Journal on Applications in Information and Communication Engineering

Volume 9 : Issue 3 : August 2023, pp 11 – 15 www.aetsjournal.com ISSN (Online) : 2394 - 6237

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An Enhanced Method of Design and Implementation

of IoT-based Underground Cable Fault Identification
and Fault Estimation Circuit
T. Mahalakshmi1, K. Muthusamy2, L.S. Karthick3
1
Student, Rathinam Technical Campus, Coimbatore
2,3
Assistant Professor, Rathinam Technical Campus, Coimbatore
Abstract: - Underground cables serve as vital alternatives to overhead lines in power applications where safety, practicality, or feasibility are
concerned. They find extensive use in densely populated urban zones, and industrial settings, and for delivering electricity from elevated posts to
consumer premises. Compared to overhead lines, underground cables offer benefits such as reduced voltage drops, lower fault susceptibility, and
economical maintenance. However, their manufacturing costs are higher and can vary based on construction and voltage rating. These cables are
susceptible to various faults due to underground conditions, wear and tear, and rodent interference. Diagnosing faults is challenging, often
requiring the complete extraction of the cable for inspection and repair. This project aims to detect fault locations within underground cable
systems from a base station, using an ATmega328 controller to measure distances in kilometers. The prototype employs the fundamental principle
of Ohm's law, where current fluctuations correspond to fault lengths. In urban areas, electrical cables are predominantly laid underground instead
of overhead lines. Detecting fault locations within these underground cables for timely repairs is a complex task. The proposed solution introduces
a prototype with resistors representing cable length in kilometers. Faults are simulated using switches at predetermined intervals to validate
accuracy. When a fault occurs, the voltage across series resistors changes and this alteration is processed by an ADC and a programmed PIC IC,
which then displays fault location, distance, phase, and time on a 16x2 LCD screen. The system utilizes IoT via the ESP8266 Wi-Fi module to
present this information over the Internet.

Keywords: Underground cables, open circuit fault, short circuit fault, earth fault, fault detection, fault location identification, Internet of Things,
PIC controller.

1. INTRODUCTION Nevertheless, when faults arise within these systems,

determining their precise location becomes intricate due to
In underground electrical distribution systems, the cables are the concealed nature of the cables beneath the ground. Unlike
typically installed within the ground or enclosed in ducts. overhead systems where faults can be more visible,
This construction enhances cable durability and minimizes underground faults demand specialized techniques and
the occurrence of faults. However, pinpointing and repairing technologies for accurate detection and resolution.
faults in these concealed cables becomes challenging due to
their hidden conductors. Locating these faults can be likened Several types of electrical supply faults that can occur in
to searching for a needle in a haystack. Various methods, underground cables are given as follows.
coupled with emerging fault detection technologies and
electrical tools, have been developed to streamline this task,  Open circuit faults
reducing its time and complexity. It's important to note that  Short circuit faults
there isn't a universally superior method or combination of  Earth faults
methods. Instead, a range of techniques is available, each  Insulation breakdown
tailored to specific fault types. This diversity ensures both the  Cable damage
safety and efficiency of fault detection without  Cable joint and insulation failures
compromising cable integrity. Consequently, the subsequent  Water ingress
list outlines common electrical supply faults encountered in
underground cables. II. PROPOSED HARDWARE MODEL

Underground electricity distribution systems present benefits The fundamental principle of Ohm's law is effectively
such as aesthetic appeal and heightened resistance to applied in the development of a fault location tracking
environmental elements like weather and vandalism. system.

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 International Journal on Applications in Information and Communication Engineering
Volume 9 : Issue 3 : August 2023, pp 11 – 15 www.aetsjournal.com ISSN (Online) : 2394 - 6237
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According to Ohm's law, cable resistance is directly

proportional to its length under consistent conditions of
temperature and cross-sectional area. Therefore, by applying
a low DC voltage at the feeder end via a series of resistors in
cable lines, the resulting current fluctuates based on the
fault's position within the cable. The system development
comprises essential components such as a microcontroller, an
LCD, a Fault Sensing Circuit Module, an IoT Wi-Fi Module,
and a well-structured regulated power supply.

This system is designed to detect short circuits, specifically

line-to-ground faults in any phase. In such instances, the
voltage across series resistors undergoes alteration,
consequently generating an analog signal denoting a voltage
drop through the fault-sensing circuit of the system. This
analog signal is then directed to the microcontroller's inbuilt
ADC, which, upon processing, translates the data into precise Fig. 1Block Diagram of the proposed model
digital form.
The procedure commences by stepping down the 230V AC
The resulting information is showcased on a connected LCD voltage via a transformer. This reduced voltage undergoes a
screen, displaying both the precise fault location in transformation into pulsating direct current via a stable 4-
kilometers from the source station and the corresponding R, diode bridge rectifier configuration, effectively converting
Y, and B phases where the fault emerged. Simultaneously, the alternating current from diagonally opposite terminals.
this processed information is also transmitted via an IoT Wi- Subsequently, the resultant pulsating direct current is
Fi Module, displaying the same information on a webpage, directed through a Filter to eliminate any residual alternating
enhancing accessibility and monitoring. Thus, the system current components. To emulate faults, resistors, and
offers a comprehensive solution to detect, process, and switches are strategically employed. The modifications in
communicate fault location data in real time. current resultant from these emulated faults are discerned by
monitoring the corresponding voltage drop.
The system employs an ATmega328P microcontroller for its
operations. The current sensing circuit, constructed using a This voltage drop signal is then conveyed to an Analog to
mix of resistors, interfaces with the ATmega328 Digital Converter (ADC) for conversion into digital format.
microcontroller. The microcontroller's internal ADC is The resulting digital data is transmitted to the
utilized to transform the analog input from the current microcontroller, which processes the fault's location and
sensing circuit into digital data. This fault-sensing circuit is manages the relay driver. This relay driver, in turn, operates
created using a set of series resistors coupled with a set of the relays responsible for circuit control. Upon fault
switches positioned adjacent to each resistor. Effective relay detection, the relay is triggered, transmitting a trip signal to
control is facilitated through the relay driver. A 16x2 LCD the circuit breaker and thus isolating the defective segment.
display is seamlessly integrated with the microcontroller to An automatic relay, integrated within a control room panel,
provide an output showcasing fault phase(s) information orchestrates circuit transitions, whether within the same
along with fault location in kilometers. circuit or an alternative one. Furthermore, a Liquid Crystal
Display (LCD) connected to the microcontroller furnishes
Block Diagram of proposed Hardware Model visual feedback, displaying cable statuses or fault locations
for the R, B, and Y phases. The system works mainly on the
The block diagram of the proposed hardware model is
principle of Ohm's Law where a low DC voltage is applied at
illustrated in Fig. 1.
the feeder end through fault sensing circuit. The system's
operation is contingent on the current passing through the
fault-sensing circuit module.

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 International Journal on Applications in Information and Communication Engineering
Volume 9 : Issue 3 : August 2023, pp 11 – 15 www.aetsjournal.com ISSN (Online) : 2394 - 6237
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The resulting current alteration hinges on the cable's length The hardware model depicted in Fig. 2 is designed for a
from the fault location in scenarios of a Single Line to single-phase power supply configuration. The power supply
Ground fault, Double Line to Ground fault, or Three Phase to is established through a step-down transformer, followed by
Ground fault. Consequently, the voltage drops across series rectification and regulation. The cable's current sensing
resistors shift correspondingly, and the fault signal is routed circuit gauges the voltage drop magnitude across the
to the microcontroller's internal ADC for digital data resistors, transmitting this information to the microcontroller.
conversion. Subsequently, the microcontroller processes this By evaluating the voltage, the microcontroller determines the
digital data, which is then showcased on the connected LCD. distance of the fault location. the operator to monitor and
The output indicates fault location in kilometers and phase, locate the cable fault.
adapting to distinct fault conditions. Moreover, this output is
replicated on a webpage through the IoT Wi-Fi Module Fig.3 to Fig.6 show the hardware results for fault locations at
ESP8266 integrated with the system 1 Km, 2 Km, 3 Km & 4 Km respectively. The output is also
updated onto the IoT cloud using the Blynk Application. By
The system is powered by a 230V AC supply, which is using this application, the operator can monitor and
directed to the Adapter Module. This module converts the determine the fault location from the base station or any
AC voltage into DC. To eliminate the ripple in the output remote area using his/her mobile phone provided the phone is
from the adapter module, a 1000 microfarad electrolytic connected to the Internet.
capacitor is employed. Since a stable 5V voltage is necessary
for the system components like the Microcontroller
(ATmega328), 16x2 LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), Relay
Drivers, Relays, Fault Sensing Circuit Module, and IoT Wi-
Fi Module, three 7805 voltage regulators are utilized. These
voltage regulators ensure a consistent 5V supply. The first
voltage regulator (VR1) delivers the 5V supply to the
microcontroller, LCD, and series resistors. The second
regulator (VR2) powers the relay driver IC ULN2003A and
three relays. The third voltage regulator caters to the IoT
ESP8266 Wi-Fi Development Board Module, providing it
with a 5V DC supply. The circuit consists of three relays
which are driven by a relay driver IC ULN2003A. The relays
used here switch off/on the bulb loads R, Y, and B to indicate
the fault being occurred in corresponding phases. Fig. 3 LCD and IoT displaying the fault at 1Km distance

Fig. 4 LCD and IoT displaying the fault at 2Km distance

Fig. 2 Hardware model of IoT Based Underground Cable
Fault Distance Detection System

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 International Journal on Applications in Information and Communication Engineering
Volume 9 : Issue 3 : August 2023, pp 11 – 15 www.aetsjournal.com ISSN (Online) : 2394 - 6237
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Fig. 5 LCD and IoT displaying the fault at 3Km distance III.INTERNET OF THINGS

The integration of IoT in the electrical Power Industry has

revolutionized conventional operations. IoT has harnessed
wireless technology to connect power industry assets and
infrastructure, aiming to reduce power consumption and
costs. Its applications span diverse domains including energy
systems, residential spaces, industries, cities, logistics,
healthcare, agriculture, and more. Over a span of more than
13 decades since 1881, the power grid system has
progressively evolved to meet surging energy demands.
Power grids now stand as crucial infrastructure components
underpinning modern society's functionality. Considering the
intricate interplay of power generation and consumption,
ensuring an uninterrupted, outage-free power supply is
paramount.

These devices can function as data collection units, equipped

with various sensors like temperature, humidity, and light
sensors. Alternatively, they can operate as data actuation
devices, connected to actuators such as relays. In essence,
IoT creates an ecosystem where devices with unique
capabilities collaboratively contribute to seamless
communication, data sharing, and the execution of specific
tasks. The utilization of IoT (Internet of Things) for
identifying underground cable faults encompasses the
integration of sensors, communication devices, and data
analytics. This integration facilitates the continuous
Fig.6 LCD and IoT displaying the fault at 4Km distance
monitoring, detection, and pinpointing of faults within
Fig.7 and Fig. 8 are images of the Blynk application underground electricity distribution systems. By harnessing
displaying the fault distance along with other cable IoT technology, the process of fault identification is
parameters allowing the operator to monitor and locate the augmented with real-time data insights and remote
cable fault. monitoring capabilities. This advancement significantly
enhances both the efficiency and precision of underground
cable fault detection and localization. Deploying a range of
sensors along the underground cable's length enables the
monitoring of diverse parameters that signal potential faults.
These sensors encompass:

 Temperature Sensors: Detect abnormal

temperature rises, indicative of heat generated by a
fault.

 Acoustic Sensors: Listen for sounds emitted by

partial discharges or arcing at fault points.

 Vibration Sensors: Identify mechanical stresses

caused by cable movement or physical harm.

Fig. 7 IoT application displaying the fault at 1Km and 2Km  Current and Voltage Sensors: Monitor electrical
distance parameters for irregularities that hint at a fault.
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 International Journal on Applications in Information and Communication Engineering
Volume 9 : Issue 3 : August 2023, pp 11 – 15 www.aetsjournal.com ISSN (Online) : 2394 - 6237
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