Design of an Intelligent Monitoring System for Distribution Transformer Protection Systems for Rural Communities
Ebenezer Narh Odonkor, Albert K. Awopone, and P. N. Ayambire

Abstract
This paper presents an intelligent distribution transformer protective device monitoring system for rural power networks to improve the reliability of power supply. The aim is to design a cost-effective remote transformer protective device monitoring system for a low-voltage transformer in a rural distribution network. Analyzing the effect of protective device dropout, MATLAB was used to design a protective system. Proteus was used for data acquisition and transmission systems design. The code was written using Arduino programing language. Global System of Mobile Communication technology was used for fault reporting through SMS and call alerts. Reliability indexes such as the system average interruption duration index, and system average interruption frequency index was calculated. Results revealed that manual monitoring expenditures can be lowered by 15%, and production failure due to undiscovered protection device dropout can be decreased by 10%. Results show that manual monitoring is 70% more expensive than remote monitoring. The system will reduce downtime when implemented in real-time.

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