International Journal of Advancements in Research & Technology, Volume 6, Issue 1, January-2017

ISSN 2278-7763 1

GSM & Microcontroller Based Three Phase Fault Analysis System

Md. Tanjil Sarker1, Md. Anisur Rahman1, Md.Timur Rahman1 Md. Arafat Sarker2,
Vidyut Kumar Sarker3 Prf. Dr. Zahid Hasan Mahmud4
1
Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Bangladesh University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2
Department of EEE, University of Information Technology & Sciences, Dhaka, Bangladesh
3
Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Independent University Bangladesh
4
Professor, Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Email: tanjilbu@gmail.com, rocky.bu@hotmail.com, shohan15aug@gmail.com,
arafatsarker2007@gmail.com, vidyut_kumar@live.com, zahid@du.ac.bd

ABSTRACT: The three phase fault detector and analysis system is designed for based on GSM & Microcontroller.
Using these types of device we could find automatically after a short-lived interruption in a provisional fault from
the tripped situation in case of eternal fault. All sorts of electrical substation that supply the electricity to their
clients such as: for residential, industrial and official using. This power supply may have failures due to some faults
that might be temporary or eternal fault. Due to arising these types of faults some accident might be occurred and
the power system equipment would be damaged. In developing countries as like Bangladesh it can be closely
observed that the power supply system is interrupted due to faults and transmission or distribution line is seriously
affected for the fault. There are two types of faults, that is denoted “Line to Ground and Line to Line fault. The
described system is constructed only for overcoming the stated difficulties that can senses those faults automatically
and will take an immediate action against the created faults. The system can be used three single phase transformers
those are wired in star input and star output also three transformers are connected in delta connections which

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having 220 volts input and 12 volts output. A 555 timers is used for detecting a short distance or long distance fault
also a set of switches is used to create Line to Line (L-L) and Line to Ground (L-G) or Double Line to Ground (L-L-
G) faults in the side of low voltage.

KEYWORDS: Three Phase Faults, GSM, Microcontroller, GSM Module Interface, Interfacing with
Microcontroller Chip, Printed Circuit Board, Line to Line fault, Line to ground fault.

I. INTRODUCTION
The research work promote us how to find a fault
either that will be Line to Line or Line to Ground.
When normally a fault is being detected that would
be generally unseen that means we could not find
where fault actually occurred. As a result we could
not take an action for fixing the problem. In
Bangladesh we have many hill tracks area such as
Sylhet, Bandarban, Khagrachory, Chitagong etc.
and a large amount of jungle is having there. This
is very difficult to maintain and find out the
problem where exactly occurred those types of
area. On account of the project and research work a
blessing word is introduced to us that is if a fault is
detected we can find easily find the suspect’s
region where fault is occurred. At this moment we
have no any alternative solution. Our project is
being firstly introduced to our nation for preventing
the problem through an accurate and acceptable
solution. By implementing the proposed research
work we can detect the fault easily by getting a
SMS from cell phone on blessing of using GSM
module. The authentic goal is that the sense of fault
in exact time and protecting the transformer at the
shortest possible time. It is important to note that
transformers are very costly the reason is that a
11KV transformer on an average costs 3500 US$.
If the respective person does not take an action in
an exact time the transformer will be damaged
within any notice within a second. But if this
system will use the transformer might be safe
without any doubt. So this research and authors are
developing a cost effective and fast response
system aiding in improving safety.
II. THREE-PHASE POWER SYSTEM
Three-phase electric power system is a common
method of alternating-current electric power
generation, transmission and distribution .It is a
type of poly phase system and is the most common
method used by electrical grids worldwide to

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International Journal of Advancements in Research & Technology, Volume 6, Issue 1, January-2017
ISSN 2278-7763
transfer power. It is also used to power large
motors and other heavy loads. A three-phase
system is usually more economical than an
equivalent single-phase or two-phase system at the
same line to ground voltage because it uses less
conductor material to transmit electrical power.
The three-phase system was independently
invented by Galileo Ferraris, Mikhail Dolivo–
Dobrovolsky , Jonas Windstorm and Nikola Tesla
in the late 1880s.
2.1 Methodology
Normalized wave of the instantaneous voltages in a
three phase system in one cycle with time
increasing to the right. The phase order is 123. This
cycle repeats with the frequency of the power
system.
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Figure 1: Three-phase electric power transmission
lines
In a symmetric three-phase power supply system,
three conductors each carry an a.c of the same
frequency and voltage amplitude relative to a
common reference but with a phase difference of
one third the period. The common reference is
usually connected to ground and often to a current-
carrying conductor called the neutral. Due to the
phase difference, the voltage on any conductor
reaches its peak at one third of a cycle after one of
the other conductors and one third of a cycle before
the remaining conductor. This phase delay gives
constant power transfer to a balanced linear load. It
also makes it possible to produce a rotating
magnetic field in a electric motor and generate
other phase arrangements using transformers (For
instance, a two phase system using a Scott-T
transformer. The symmetric three-phase systems
described here are simply referred to as three-phase
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systems because, although it is possible to design
and implement asymmetric three-phase power
systems (i.e., with unequal voltages or phase
shifts), they are not used in practice because they
lack the most important advantages of symmetric
systems. In a three-phase system feeding a
balanced and linear load, the sum of the
instantaneous currents of the three conductors is
zero. In other words, the current in each conductor
is equal in magnitude to, but with the opposite sign
of, the sum of the currents in the other two. The
return path for the current in any phase conductor is
the other two phase conductors. Compared to a
single-phase AC power supply that uses two
conductors .a three-phase supply with no neutral,
the same phase-to-ground voltage and current
capacity per phase can transmit three times as
much power using just 1.5 times as many wires
(i.e., three instead of two). Thus, the ratio of
capacity to conductor material is doubled. The
same (but not the other properties of three-phase
power) can also be attained with a center-grounded
single-phase system. Three-phase systems may also
utilize a fourth wire, particularly in low-voltage
distribution. This is the neutral wire. The neutral
allows three separate single-phase supplies to be
provided at a constant voltage and is commonly
used for supplying groups of domestic properties
which are each single phase loads. The connections
are arranged so that, as far as possible in each
group, equal power is drawn from each phase.
Further up the distribution system, the currents are
usually well balanced. Transformers may be wired
in a way that they have a four-wire secondary but a
three-wire primary while allowing unbalanced
loads and the associated secondary-side neutral
currents. Three-phase supplies have properties that
make them very desirable in electric power
distribution systems:
• The phase currents tend to cancel out one
another, summing to zero in the case of a linear
balanced load. This makes it possible to reduce
the size of the neutral conductor because it
carries little or no current. With a balanced
load, all the phase conductors carry the same
current and so can be the same size.
• Power transfer into a linear balanced load is
constant, which helps to reduce generator and
motor vibrations.
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• Three-phase systems can produce a rotating
magnetic field with a specified direction and
constant magnitude, which simplifies the
design of electric motors.
Most household loads are single-phase. In North
American residences, three-phase power might
feed a multiple-unit apartment block, but the
household loads are connected only as single
phase. In lower-density areas, only a single phase
might be used for distribution. Some large
European appliances may be powered by three-
phase power, such as electric stoves and clothes
dryers. Wiring for the three phases is typically
identified by color codes which vary by country.
Connection of the phases in the right order is
required to ensure the intended direction of rotation
of three-phase motors. For example, pumps and
fans may not work in reverse. Maintaining the
identity of phases is required if there is any
possibility two sources can be connected at the
same time; a direct interconnection between two
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different phases is a short circuit.
2.2 Three Phase Faults
Six numbers of steps down transformers are used
for forming star and delta secondary’s at low
voltage output. Fault condition is created with a set
of switches to input LL, LG, 3L fault to the circuit.
This triggers a 555 timer in monostable to reset
after fault clearance in a short duration temporary
fault or permanently trip the output in case of
prolonged fault. We know that if the fault accurse
then it creates many problems to the load. Many
times load is damaged. So it is very important to
protect the system again the faults. Different type
of fault in 3 phase are L-L fault (line to line
fault),L-G fault (line to ground fault) & 2L-G fault
(double line to ground fault) .Mostly L-G fault (line
to ground) fault is occurs in industries, substation
and any other places where three phase supply is
used, other fault is occur in bed condition compare
to L-G fault. This type fault is damage the load so
we prepared the protection circuit which is
presenting below:
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Three Phase Fault in a three phase fault, all three
phases (L1, L2 and L3) are shorted together.
To find the fault current at any point in the
network, a sum is made of the impedances in the
network between the source of supply (including
the source impedance) and the point at which the
fault is occurs.
To find the fault current Ik, the nominal applied
voltage, U0 is divided by the summed impedance
Z.
III. GSM Module for Faults Detection
Traditional modems are attached to a system to
allow dial-up connections to other systems. A GSM
modem operates in a similar fashion, except that it
sends and receives data through radio waves rather
than a telephone line. This type of modem may be
an external device connected via a Universal Serial
Bus (USB) cable or a serial cable or fixed
connection with microprocessor or
microcontrollers by back to back optocoupler
MAX 232. However, it is a small device that uses
mobile network and contacts with another. A GSM
modem is a generic communication device just like
its wired ancestors, but sincethe service is
subscription-based, it must have a SIM card
installed. This card connects the modem to the
proper provider and identifies the user of the device
to the carrier network. In this way, the GSM
modem operates just like a cellular phone; in fact,
most of the cellular phones use SIM cards for the
same purpose. Since the SIM card actually contains
all the subscription, membership, and user data,
these cards are usually interchangeable between
GSM modems and GSM cell phones. GSM
modems can also convert digital data to Short
Message Service (SMS) messages for sending and
receiving messages over the wireless network.
SMS messages are small bursts of data which are
sent and received like the data packets. In this
project the microcontroller device is going to be
interfaced with GSM module to read the incoming
message only. If the incoming message matches
with its program written in it then it will execute
some commands.
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3.1Block Diagram of GSM Module IV. MICROCONTROLLER

Interface
A microcontroller (sometimes abbreviated µC, uC
or MCU) is a small computer on a single integrated
circuit containing a processor core, memory, and
programmable input/output peripherals. Neither
program memory in the form of NOR flash or OTP
ROM is also often included on chip, as well as a
typically small amount of RAM. Microcontrollers
are designed for embedded applications, in contrast
to the microprocessors used in personal computers
or other general purpose applications.

4.1 Diagram of Printed Circuit Board

Figure 2: Block Diagram of GSM Module
Interfacing with Microcontroller (PCB)

When interfacing a GSM module how the

connections must be made is an important fact.
When interfacing a GSM module the GSM module

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will receive some data from the microcontroller, at
the same time give some data to the
microcontroller. To make this system work these
pins that will be used for data in and data out must
be configured properly. As the data send by the
GSM module is transmitted is ansmitted through
relays so it have to make sure that the
microcontroller pins that will be connected with
these relays is able to support them properly. How
these connections must be given is described the Figure 3: PCB Diagram of Three Phase Fault
block diagram below. Although it is not for the Analysis System
model of microcontroller that we used but the
process is identical. This system is built using three 4.2 Blue Print of The Proposed System
single phase transformers which are wired in star
input and star output, and 3 transformers are
connected in delta connections, having input 220
volt and output at 12 volt. This concept low voltage
testing of fault conditions is followed as it is not
advisable to create on mains line. 555 timers are
used for handling short duration and long duration
fault conditions. A set of switches are used to
create the LL, LG and 3L fault in low voltage side,
for activating the tripping mechanism. Short
duration fault returns the supply to the load
immediately called as temporary trip while long
duration shall result in permanent trip.The concept
in the future can be extended to developing a
mechanism to send message to the authorities via Figure 4: Blue print of Three Phase Fault Analysis
SMS by interfacing a GSM modem. System

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4.3 Description of Circuit
To run controller Circuit need power supply. The
mains power supply is 220v ac. In prevention
circuit six numbers of steps down transformers are
used for forming star and delta secondary’s at low
voltage output. Fault condition is created with a set
of switches to input LL, LG, 3L fault to circuit.
This triggers a 555 timer in monostable to reset
after fault clearance in a short duration temporary
fault clearance in short duration temporary fault or
permanently trip the output in case of prolonged
fault .The electrical substation which supply the
power to the consumers i.e. industries or domestic
can have failures due to some faults which can be
temporary or permanent. These faults lead to
substantial damage to the power system equipment.
In India it is common to observe the failures in
supply system due to the faults that occur during
the transmission or distribution. The faults might
be LG (Line to Ground), LL (Line to Line), 3L
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(Three lines) in the supply systems and these faults
in three phase supply system can affect the power
system. To overcome this problem a system is
built, which can sense these faults and
automatically disconnects the supply to avoid large
scale damage to the control gears in the grid sub-
stations. This system is built using three single
phase transformers which are wired in star input
and star output, and 3 transformers are connected in
delta connections, having input 220 volt and output
at 12 volt. This concept low voltage testing of fault
conditions is followed as it is not advisable to
create on mains line. 555 timers are used for
handling short duration and long duration fault
conditions. A set of switches are used to create the
LL, LG and 3L fault in low voltage side, for
activating the tripping mechanism. Short duration
fault returns the supply to the load immediately
called as temporary trip while long duration shall
result in permanent trip. In an electric power
system, a fault is any abnormal electric current. For
example, a short circuit is a fault in which current
bypasses the normal load. An open-circuit fault
occurs if a circuit is interrupted by some failure. In
three-phase systems, a fault may involve one or
more phases and ground, or may occur only
between phases. In a "ground fault" or "earth fault",
charge flows into the earth. The prospective short
circuit current of a fault can be calculated for
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power systems. In power systems, protective
devices detect fault conditions and operate circuit
breakers and other devices to limit the loss of
service due to a failure. In a poly-phase system, a
fault may affect all phases equally which is a
"symmetrical fault". If only some phases are
affected, the resulting "asymmetrical fault"
becomes more complicated to analyze due to the
simplifying assumption of equal current magnitude
in all phases being no longer applicable. The
analysis of this type of fault is often simplified by
using methods such as symmetrical components.
Design of systems to detect and interrupt power
system faults is the main objective of power system
protection.
V. OPERATION EXPLANATION
In the whole circuit process required for this
experiment was represented. Although for the
shortage of space it was not possible to represent
all the simulations for all kind of changes but it
seems the things that are represented here is
enough to make a clear concept about the whole
projects architectural structure
5.1Working Principles:
The project uses 6numbers step-down transformers
for handling the entire circuit under low voltage
conditions of 12v only to test the 3 phase fault
analysis. The primary of 3 transformers is
connected to a 3 phase supply in star configuration,
while the secondary of the same is also connected
in star configuration. The other set of 3
transformers with its primary connected in star to 3
phase have their secondary’s connected in delta
configuration. The outputs of all the 6 transformers
are rectified and filtered individually and are given
to 6 relay coils. 6 push buttons, one each connected
across the relay coil is meant to create a fault
condition either at star i.e. LL Fault or 3L Fault.
The NC contacts of all the relays are made parallel
while all the common points are grounded. The
parallel connected point of NC are given to pin2
through a resistor R5to a 555 timer i.e. wired in
monostable mode. The output of the same timer is
connected to the reset pin 4 of another 555 timer
wired in astable mode. LED‟S are connected at
their output to indicate their status. The output of
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the U3 555 timer from pin3 is given to an Op-amp VI. HARDWARE COMPONENTS AND
LM358 through wire 11 and d12 to the non IMPLEMENTATION
inverting input pin3, while the inverting input is
kept at a fixed voltage by a potential divider RV2.
In this chapter all the components which were used
The voltage at pin2 coming from the potential
for this project will be discussed elaborately. Also
divider is so held that it is higher than the pin3 of
there will be a step by step discussion if how all the
the Op-amp used as a comparator so that pin1
equipments were implemented and how they are
develops zero logic that fails to operate the relay
working. There will be full picture of fully
through the driver transistor Q1. This relay Q1 is
implemented hardware and a brief discussion on
„3CO‟ relay i.e. is meant for disconnecting the
how they are working. The components that will be
load to indicate fault conditions.
discussed are Quartz Crystal Oscillator,
PIC16F73B Microcontroller chip, LCD (16x2),
5.2 Operating Procedure:
Resistors, Capacitors, LED, Ultrasonic sensor
devices.
While the board is powered from a 3phase supply
all the 6 relay coils get DC voltage and their
common point disconnects from the NC and moves 6.1 Hardware Components
on to the NO points there by providing logic high
at pin2 of 555 timer U1 i.e. that is kept on Transformer, Voltage Regulator, 555 Timer, Diode, Relay,
monostable mode. While any push button across Resistor, Capacitor, Electric Bulb, switch, Plastic wiring
the relay is pressed it disconnects that relay and in Board, Chanel, Electric Cables, etc.

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the process in common contacts moves to the NC
position to provide a logic low at trigger pin of 555 6.2Interfacing with Microcontroller
timer to develop an output that brings the U3 555
timer which is used in astable mode for its reset pin Chip
to high such that the astable operation takes place
at its output which is also indicated by flashing
D11 LED. If the fault is off temporary in nature i.e.
if the push button pressed is released immediately
the U1 monostable disables U3 the output of which
goes to zero in the event of any push button kept
pressed for a longer duration the monostable output
provides a longer duration active situation for U3
the astable timer the output of which charges
capacitor C13 through R11 such that the output of
the comparator goes high that drives the relay to
switch off three phase load. The output of Op-amp
remains high indefinitely through a positive
feedback provided for its pin1 to pin3 through a
forward biased diode and a resistor in series. These
results in the relay permanently switched on to Figure 5: Interfacing Display with PIC 16F877A
disconnect the load connected at its NC contacts
permanently off. In order to maintain the flow of 6.3 Hardware Implementation
DC supply the star connected secondary set DC‟S
are paralleled through D8,D9& D10 for
uninterrupted supply to the circuit voltage of 12v The complete hardware implementation is shown
DC and 5v DC derived out of voltage regulator IC in the picture below. All the hardware components
7805. are tried to be visible. Firstly all the hardware
components are described step by step and
there implementation is shown by picture and at

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ISSN 2278-7763
last the whole hardware is shown at that time it is
fully functional and turned on.
6.4 GSM Module
Figure 6: GSM Modules and SIM Card
Implementation
Above figure shows the image of connected GSM
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module with SIM card along with the power on
switch. Once turned on it will search for the
network for few seconds and when it is connected
fully the LED connected with the module will start
blinking in a regular time interval. This condition is
showed in the next picture. In this case the module
is connected with the network successfully and
ready for operation.
6.5 Full Circuit Board Picture
Figure 7: Full Circuit Board When Circuit is
Turned On
Above figure shows that the full picture of the
circuit board. The power supply, display,
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microcontroller, GSM module, SIM tray and all
other circuit components.
Figure 8: Line to ground fault circuit Board Picture
& Line to Line fault circuit Board Picture
VII. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We are very thankful to Allah for encouraging the
authors to complete the research and project
successfully. Here, we wish to express our sincere
admiration to our supervisor for inspiring us to
implement this research perfectly. In particular, we
would like to be grateful all staffs and technicians,
for their collaboration, subsidiary or straight
support to complete the entire studies.
VIII. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION
8.1 Discussion
In this project two timers are used one is mono-
stable mode and other is stable mode. When any
push button is pressed for a short time the load is
disconnected only for that period which indicating
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a temporary fault. If the push button is pressed for
longer time then the stable timer s activated and it
causes a permanent fault and disconnects the load
permanently. It has more advantages, equipments
will safe from damage, Time to Time task completion
report, more efficiency, reduce losses and it is more
reliable. It could be applicable for substation,
Transformer, Drives or relay and transmission
lines. This system is easily handled three phase
control system because of using powerful functions
and hardware interfaces. GSM technology can help
us to control the faults by sending SMS via mobile
phone from any three phase faults.
8.2. Conclusion
The project is planned to develop an automatic
tripping mechanism for the three phase supply
system. Output of the project is resets
automatically after a brief interruption in the event
temporary fault while it remains in tripped
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condition in case of permanent fault .The concept
can be make longer to developing a mechanism for
sending message to the authorities via SMS by
interfacing a GSM modem.
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BIOGRAPHY OF AUTHOR
Mr. Md Tanjil Sarker is the corresponding author
of this paper. He successfully completed Bachelor
Degree from Bangladesh University in the
department of EEE and Studying post graduate
degreein the Department of CSE, Jagannath
University Dhaka Bangladesh. He conducted many
research works in the relevant field such as Design,
Inspection and Implementation of Solar PV Driven
Smart & Automated Irrigation Systems, Electricity
Load Calculative Method of an Inaccessible area of
Bangladesh, Analysis & Implementation of
Frequency Modulation in Order to make Frequency
Transmitter Etc. Now he is working as a Project
Engineer in Bangladesh Research and education
network (BdREN).
Md. Anisur Rahman born in 1989 in Bangladesh.
He accomplished his Bachelor degree in the area of
Electrical & Electronic Engineering from
Bangladesh University. He conducted many
research works in the relevant field. Mr. A Rahman
successfully invents a Robotic Arm named ASR K-
250. Now he is studying at Jagannath University in
Post Graduate program at Computer Science &
Engineering.
Md Arafat Sarker had completed BSc in Electrical
& Electronic Engineering from University of
Information Technology & Sciences, Dhaka. Now
he is working as an Engineer in a renawed
Company of Bangladesh.
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