Design and Construction of Distributed Control System (DCS) Based Power Distribution in University Campus

International Journal of Electronics and Computer Science Engineering 269

Available Online at www.ijecse.org ISSN- 2277-1956

ISSN 2277-1956/V3N3-269-277

Design and Construction of Distributed Control

System (DCS) Based Power Distribution in

University Campus

Yin Yin Winn

Hla Myo Tun

, Su Su Yi Mon

1, 2, 3

Department of Electronic Engineering

Abstract-

Due to the rapid development in automation system, control and monitoring are necessary for any modern

system. DCS provides this control and monitoring for industrial automation. The system is designed and constructed

Distributed Control System (DCS) based power distribution in university campus. The research has constructed

hardware and utilized Microsoft Visual Basic software in software environment using a communication network and

embedded controllers. All hardware and software components have been developed and integrated together. Data

exchange mechanism, USB cable has been developed between the host computer and the embedded controllers that

function in two way data exchanges between the two. This system uses PIC 18F4550 microcontroller to collect electrical

parameters of devices in each departments. The Graphical User Interface (GUI) uses Visual Basic Software under

Microsoft Visual Basic 2010 express to achieve data real-time display and status display for the loads.

Keywords – Distributed Control System (DCS), PIC microcontroller, Power Distribution System,

NTRODUCTION

Power distribution DCS is a computer based production process control and monitoring system. It uses the data

acquisition module to monitor and control the operation of field devices so as to achieve data acquisition, device

control. The power distribution DCS system has many advantages, such as information integrity, efficiency, correct

grasp of system running status, speeding up decision-making, and can help quickly detect the failure state of the

system. It has become an essential tool for power dispatching [1]. For power control and monitoring, many wire and

wireless technologies are discussed. These are GSM, zigbee, SCADA, DCS and Microcontroller. In [2], [3] and [4],

power monitoring module calculates power consumption for home appliances. Zigbee communication module is

used to send measured data of current and voltage to server module and store it in computer. Authors design the

GUI by using Visual Basic (VB) to provide user friendly environment.

The main aim of this paper is to design and construct a low cost controlling wired system between server and

clients for power distribution in university campus using microcontroller. In this paper, power control and

monitoring is designed by using DCS. DCS is suitable for power monitoring and control because it can control in

various control system. This design mainly uses visual basic software to conduct configuration design for the power

distribution monitoring system. By using DCS, the distribution system is made more secure, reliable and efficient

because it is widely used for modern power system and more popular than any other control system [5]. DCS refers

to a control system that available in manufacturing system, process or any kind of dynamic system, in which the

controller elements are not central in location (like the brain) but are distributed throughout the system with each

component sub-system controlled by one or more controllers. The entire systems of controllers are connected by

networks for communication and monitoring. DCS is a very broad term used in a variety of industries, to monitor

and control distributed equipment. DCS is connected to sensors and actuators to control the flow of materials

through the plant [6]. The architecture of the DCS is shown in Figure 1.

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Figure 1. Architecture of Distributed Control System

II.

YSTEM

ESIGN

A. System Architecture

The system architecture of the power distribution monitoring system can be divided into three portions, namely

system monitoring, communication, and field device. The overall block diagram of the system is shown in Figure 2

and simple block of DCS based power distribution process is depicted in Figure 3.

In this system, 300 KVA AC main transformer is used to distribute electric power to all departments in university

campus. This distribution system can be accomplished by using Distributed Control System (DCS). DCS includes

master station including server and clients. In this system, the power threshold will be predefined between 180 and

230 V by the microcontroller. These voltage parameters are recorded at the server computer using a data acquisition

device called Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) or PIC18F4550 Microcontroller. PIC will communicate with load to

control them. PIC captures the voltage that is used for loading in each department. The stored voltage is transmitted

using USB cable from PIC to client. Then server computer may know the condition of voltage that is distributed

electric power to all departments form the client computer because the Ethernet switch is communicated among and

clients and server. Based on the received information, controlling operation is performed. If the receiver receives the

parameter which is greater than the fixed threshold voltage, then server commands to respective client to cut off

power distribution.

Figure 2. Overall block diagram of the system

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Design and Construction of Distributed Control System (DCS) Based Power Distribution in

University Campus

ISSN 2277-1956/V3N3-269-277

Figure 3. Simple block diagram of DCS based power distribution system

III. P

OWER

SAGE IN

NIVERSITY

AMPUS

(MTU)

Electric energy enters the university with 11KV transmission line from the substation which is stepped

down to 400 V by using 300KVA transformer. In this system, the three-phase, 4-wires transformer is used for

power distribution to all departments in university campus. This transformer is distributed with the three

lines 1, 2, 3 to all departments in university campus. To balance the load, the three lines must be

shared equally. In distribution system, it is important to balance the load. As the load is not a constant one it

is always an unpredictable thing. If the load is unbalanced, the fuse that is installed at the outgoing side of

the transformer must be cut off.

The load power is the product of KVA and power factor (0.85). The lines that are used for all departments

are illustrated in Table1. The load data sheet of the power consumption for all departments is shown in Table

2 and pie chart for power consumption is illustrated in Figure 4.

ABLE

HREE PHASE

FOUR WIRES TRANSFORMER

Lines in Transformer Usage

Line 1 Sockets

Line 2

Lightings and Fans

Line 3

Aircons

Neutral

Ground

ABLE

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OAD DATASHEET OF POWER CONSUMPTION FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS AT

MTU

Departments power factor Rated voltage

Power Rating

(KVA)

Power Consumption

(KW)

Workshop 0.85 400 80.5 68.4

Mechanical 0.85 220 26.06 22.151

Civil 0.85 220 24.02 20.415

Chemical 0.85 220 24.96 21.215

Mechatronic 0.85 220 23.118 19.65

Electrical Power 0.85 220 34.74 29.526

Other Departments 0.85 220 68.6 18.474

Total 0.85 220 281.998 200

Figure 4. Pie Chart for power consumption of each department

IV. H

ARDWARE

MPLEMENTATION

After collecting all design related information which is necessary for power distribution, the next step is to

construct the perfect and compatible H/W components to control power distribution. The power supply circuit and

testing with proteus software is expressed in Figure 5 and Figure 6. The development PIC 18F4550 has been used

for programming through USB cable, also the development PIC 18F4550 microcontroller will be used as interfacing

tool to connect the PIC with the inputs and outputs signals of process and to connect the PIC with the PC which

contains a GUI through (USB) cable. The PIC deals with TTL level voltage (0-5) VDC, the (0) VDC represents

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Design and Construction of Distributed Control System (DCS) Based Power Distribution in

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logic (0) and the (5) VDC represents logic (1) to PIC. Thus the input voltage which has a voltage value more than

(6) VDC that might burn the PIC, hence each input signal to PIC from computer is rated on (5) VDC using USB

cable.

The output relay circuit is connected to provide signals from PIC to load. The relay is one of devices used in this

proposed design in order to ensure a flexible connection between PIC and the load. It’s switched ON or OFF

according to the level of signals generated from PIC microcontroller. Figure 7 shows the hardware output circuit

design for power distribution process for a department. The relay circuit replaces the manual switches of power

distribution with computerized switching, Such that the enable signal from PIC can handle a (230) VAC High

Voltage. The outputs allow command for switching ON or switching OFF each relay. The photo of the overall

circuit is shown in Figure 8.

Figure 5. 220V AC to 12 V Power Supply Circuit

Figure 6. Power Supply Circuit Testing with Proteus Software

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Figure 7. Circuit diagram of power distribution process for a department

Figure 8. Photo of Complete circuit for power distribution process

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Design and Construction of Distributed Control System (DCS) Based Power Distribution in

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V. S

IMULATION WITH

ROTEUS

OFTWARE

Before design and construct the compatible circuit, the simulation results are tested with virtual and 7 segment

LCD Display power level by using Proteus software. In this simulation variable resistor is utilized instead of sensor.

LED is used for relay. This is a simple voltage monitoring which measures 0-255V. When the input voltage is

between 180 and 230 V, LED will be ON and display the voltage on 4digits seven segment LCD. And then, if the

voltage level is below and above 180 and 230V, the relay will be OFF state. These results are shown in Figure 9.

1) Design procedures for microcontroller: In this simulation page, the procedure for the proposed system is

described as follows:

• Define the parameters for LCD and Data registers.

• Initialize the input and output ports of the microcontroller.

• Assign a value for relay.

• The function defined for capturing the voltage values is called and executed.

• The displaying function is called and the parameter values are displayed on LCD.

Figure 9. Voltage monitoring (OFF state) using Proteus

2) Voltage monitoring testing with virtual terminal: In this simulation, Virtual Terminal is utilized to monitor and

display the condition of power level as a PC before testing with real circuit and computer. This is shown in Figure

10.

Figure 10. Voltage monitoring (ON state) using Virtual Terminal

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VI. S

IMULATION

ESULTS

The proposed system has been tested for monitoring and control of a power distribution system. These windows

design are created by Visual Basic form in Microsoft Visual Basic 2010. The GUI design of DCS based power

distribution is presented in this section.

a. Simulation Result of main and hardware window

This window is essential for the overall process. It includes only one button. This bottom is used to show the

result for power distribution process. Figure 11 is the main page of this system.

Figure 11. Simulation result of the main page

b. Simulation result of the power distribution process

This simulation window is the main process for power distribution process. It shows the monitoring and control

of power distribution to all departments. This window form is considered and tested with the sample circuit for

power distribution. This window shows the conditions of the power distribution process by changing the colours of

LED. The start button is used to operate power distribution process. The stop button is pressed to end the power

distribution process. This window is shown in Figure 12 and photo of linking the hardware and software is depicted

in Figure13.

Figure 12. Simulation page for power distribution process

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Design and Construction of Distributed Control System (DCS) Based Power Distribution in

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Figure 13. Testing the Circuit using VB. Net programming by Linking with Hardware

VII. C

ONCLUSION

This research work is a development of DCS based electric power distribution system for the monitoring and

control of significant parameter (Voltage). In this research, design and implementation of the power distribution

process that used Visual Basic.Net programming for the monitoring and control of DCS system have been studied.

Communication system uses USB cable and hardware units for this process is designed and constructed and tested

by connecting both hardware and software. PIC microcontroller is used in this system instead of PLC. The use of

microcontroller has been shown to be a good platform upon which the distribution system can be developed. Its

flexibility in programming allows for easy future modification and implementations. The use of DCS for the

monitoring and controller of electric distribution system has been identified as one of the major way to provide

efficient and reliable electric power to electricity consumers. By using this system, it can be easily controlled and

monitored for the distribution of electric power not only all departments in university but also homes in cities or

towns.

REFERENCE

[1] I.A. Adejumobi, “Development of Microcontroller based Electric Power Distribution Automation System”, March, 2011.

[2] David L. Brown, James W. Skeen, Parkash Daryani, Farrokh A Rahimi,“Prospects for Distribution Automation at Pacific Gas & Electric

Company”,

[3] IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 6, No. 4, October 1991, pp 1946-1954.Kim, W.H. and Lee, S. and Hwang, J., “ Real-time

Energy Monitoring and Controlling System based on ZigBee Sensor Networks”, Elsevier Procedia Computer Science (PCS), 2011.

[4] Cheng, J.Y. and Hung, M.H. and Chang, J.W., “A zigbee-based power monitoring system with direct load control capabilities”, IEEE

International Networking, Sensing and Control (INSC), 2007.

[5] Hla Myo Tun, 2008, “Distributed Control System for Vehicle Spare Parts Manufacturing Plant (Real Time Graphical User Interface

Monitoring and Network System)”, Ph.D Thesis, Mandalay Technological University, Mandalaly, Myanmar.

[6] “Development of Distributed Control System using servo driven position control plant”.