TITLE:
Design and Implementation of an Automatic Over/Undervoltage Protection System for Single-Phase Low Voltage Power Lines
AUTHORS:
Derek Ajesam Asoh, Lizette Nange Chia
KEYWORDS:
Overvoltage, Undervoltage, Simulation, Arduino Microcontroller, Tripping Mechanism, Sub-Saharan Africa
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Power and Energy Engineering,
Vol.10 No.8,
August
10,
2022
ABSTRACT: Today, many industrial
and domestic electronic appliances and equipment (devices) are exposed to power
disturbances such as voltage variations of the AC mains supply which often lead
to damage of the electronic devices. As these devices are quite sensitive to power
disturbances, there is a need for a tripping system that can help avoid any
damage to devices in use. The objective of this work is to build a system that
monitors line voltage and protects appliances from unacceptable voltage
variations. The system consists of a tripping mechanism that monitors the input
voltage and trips according to the limits provided. An Arduino Uno
microcontroller is used to determine the voltage level through a voltage
divider circuit. The system’s novelty and innovation lie in its flexibility. It
offers the user the ability to define different overvoltage and undervoltage
threshold values depending on the specific appliances used in the household. In
operation, the system displays the voltage state (overvoltage, normal voltage,
overvoltage) and alerts the user by sending an SMS via a GSM modem. The system
is valuable for industrial and domestic applications, especially in developing
economies such as those of Sub-Saharan Africa, where overvoltage and
undervoltage are acute problems.