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International Journal of Electrical, Electronics ISSN No. (Online): 2277-2626
and Computer Engineering 6(1): 100-103(2017)

Programming of Ultra Fast Acting Electronic Circuit Breaker

Santosh R. Rao1, Aakash A. Rasal1 , Mayur A. Patil1 and Prof. Vikram S. Patil2
1
UG Student, Department of Electrical Engineering,
Sandip Institute of Engineering & Management, Nashik, (Maharashtra), India
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering,
Sandip Institute of Engineering & Management, Nashik, (Maharashtra), India
(Corresponding author: Santosh R. Rao)
(Received 27 January, 2017 Accepted 23 April, 2017)
(Published by Research Trend, Website: www.researchtrend.net)
ABSTRACT: The steadily increasing population has more demand and consumption of electric energy in the
market as raised and that of equipment’s used like electrical and electronics are also costlier. So to protect the
electrical system from overload or short circuit here is one possibility, which is by ultrafast acting electronic
circuit breaker. A circuit breaker is automatic operated switch designed to shut down the power supply when
overloaded. The tripping depends on the current passing through the CT’s which is connected in series with
load. Here, the research work has been carried out to design a power supply which shuts down when it is
overloaded by using a super-fast electronic circuit breaker.
The concept of electronic circuit breaker came into focus realizing that the conventional circuit breakers such
as MCBs take longer time to trip. Therefore, for sensitive loads, it is very important to activate a tripping
mechanism at the shortest possible time, preferably instantaneously. The electronic circuit breaker is based
on the voltage drop across a series element proportional to the load current, typically a low -value resistor.
This voltage is sensed and rectified to DC, and then is compared with a preset voltage by a level comparator
to generate an output that drives a relay through the MOSFET to trip the load. The relay use in place of a
semiconductor switch is preferred because such solid state switches would invariably fail in case of accidental
short circuits. It uses the arduino into which program is dumped for the operation, The unit is extremely fast
and overcomes the drawback of thermal type circuit breaker like MCB based on a thermal bimetal lever-trip
mechanism which is very slow.
Here an electronic circuit breaker is designed which is based on the current sensing across a series
element typically a CT (current Transformer). The current sensed which is compared against the preset value
proportional to the voltage by comparator which is inbuilt in arduino to generate an output that drives a
relay through a MOSFET to trip the load very fastly.
Keywords: Arduino, Current transformer, comparator IC, MOSFET, relay, transistor, voltage regulator.
I. INTRODUCTION the over current is drawn by load the circuit will be
tripped. To trip the circuit we are using one relay which
An electrical system can be protected from the overload will be controlled through arduino. When overload
condition. Industrial instruments or home appliances occurred the relay will trip the total circuit. And it will
failures have many causes and one of the main causes is be monitored on the LCD. LCD displays are used to
over load. The primary of the distribution transformer display the status of circuit breaker. For protection from
or any other transformer is designed to operate at overcurrent condition first we have to measure the total
certain specific current, if that current flowing through load current[11]. Here we are using CT for measuring
that instrument is more than the rated current, then the load current and the output of CT is given to ADC
immediately the System may burn because of overload, for converting analog output of CT into digital data.
through this project we are going to protect the system Hence ADC output is given for monitoring purpose.
from overload conditions [7]. When current increases behind certain limit then we are
In this research paper work for generating high current going to trip the load by using relay. In this project we
or overload current more loads are applied to the are using 230v bulbs as a load. We are going to increase
circuit; so that the current will be increased. Whenever the load by increasing the number of bulbs ON.
 Rao, Rasal, Patil and Patil 101
When we ON more bulbs it causes over load condition In the 1980s, the development of power
and arduino will detect that and it will trip the total load semiconductor devices took an important turn when
by using relay through MOSFET which acts as new process technology was developed that allowed
switching circuit [1]. integration of MOS and bipolar junction transistor
(BJT) technologies on the same chip. Thus far, two
II.SYSTEM MODEL AND EXPLANATION
devices using this new technology have been
The main power supply is given directly to load introduced: insulated bipolar transition (IGBT) and
through CT and step down transformer. 230 volt is Step MOS controlled thyristor (MCT). Many integrated
down to 12v and supplied to regulated supply unit circuit (IC) processing methods as well as equipment
which consist of bridge rectifier to convert ac to dc and have been adapted for the development of power
passed through 7805 regulator to get 5v supply for devices. However, unlike microelectronic ICs, which
working of arduino, capacitor filters are used to remove process information, power device ICs process power
the ripples to get pure constant dc voltage[8]. The and so their packaging and processing techniques are
current passing to load is sensed by the current quite different [6]. Power semiconductor devices
transformer and output of CT will be in analog form is represent the heart of modern power electronics, with
given to the ADC pin of arduino for converting the two major desirable characteristics of power
analog output to digital data. The current sensed is semiconductor devices guiding their development;
compared with the inbuilt comparator of arduino which 1. Switching speed (turn-on and turn-off times)
as pre-set reference value[10]. 2. Power handling capabilities (voltage blocking
If the current sensed is less than the pre-set and current carrying capabilities)
value than MOSFET will be in OFF state and relay will Improvements in both semiconductor
not trip the supply to load. As we increase the load processing technology and manufacturing and
current drawn is more so if the current is increased than packaging techniques have allowed power
the pre-set value than MOSFET will turn ON and semiconductor development for high-voltage and high
energizes the relay. Thus LED used as an indicator is current ratings and fast turn-on and turn-off
properly biased, and it glows. The relay coil gets characteristics[4].
energized, causing the armature to shift its position to Today switching devices are manufactured
the normal open point from the normal closed point[2]. with amazing power handling capabilities and
The AC supply to the load is thus cut off from the load switching speeds as will be shown later. The
and the load is tripped. Once the circuit is tripped it availability of different devices with different switching
must be reset for further use using reset button. In either speeds, power handling capabilities, size, cost etc.,
case, the arduino is programmed so as to show the makes it possible to cover many power electronics
status of the output on the LCD interfaced to it. In case applications. As a result, trade-offs are made when it
of normal operation arduino will pin will receive 5v dc comes to selecting power devices[3].
from regulator and accordingly displays the status on
IV. HARDWARE IMPLEMENTATION
the LCD[9].
The figure 2 shows the hardware implementation of
III. LITERATURE SURVEY
ultra fast acting electronic circuit breaker using
The history of power electronics is very much arduino.The unit is extremely fast and overcomes the
connected to the development of switching devices and drawback of thermal type circuit breaker like MCB
it emerged as a separate discipline when high-power based on a thermal bimetal lever-trip mechanism which
and MOSFET devices were introduced in the 1960s and is very slow.
1970s.Since then, the introduction of new devices has Here an electronic circuit breaker is designed
been accompanied by dramatic improvement in power which is based on the current sensing across a series
rating and switching performance[5]. element typically a CT (current Transformer). The
Because of their functional importance, drive current sensed which is compared against the preset
complexity, fragility, and cost, the power electronic value proportional to the voltage by comparator which
design engineer must be equipped with a thorough is inbuilt in arduino to generate an output that drives a
understanding of the device operation, limitation, relay through a MOSFET to trip the load very fastly.
drawbacks, and related reliability and efficiency issues.
 Rao, Rasal, Patil and Patil 102

IV. MATLAB PROGRAMMING CODE

#include<at89x52.h>
#include<lcd.h>
short int u1,u2;
void main( )
{
P0=0x00;P2=0xFF;
P3_2=1;P3_3=1;P3_4=0;P3_5=0;
LCD_INIT();LCD_CMD(0x0C);
LCD_WRITE(" *WELCOME* ");DELAY(2000);
LCD_CMD(LCD_CLEAR);LCD_WRITE(" over
load");
Fig.1. Block Diagram of Proposed System. LCD_CMD(0xC0);LCD_WRITE(" SYSTEM
NORMAL");
Table 1: Trip Current Setting. P3_4=1;P3_5=1;
while(1)
{
if(P3_2==0&&u1==0)
{
LCD_CMD(0xC0);LCD_WRITE("LOAD 1
DISCONN"); P3_4=0;u1=1;
}
else if(P3_2==1&&u1==1)
{
LCD_CMD(0xC0);LCD_WRITE(" SYSTEM
NORMAL");
P3_4=1;u1=1;
}
if(P3_3==0&&u2==1)
{
LCD_CMD(0xC0);LCD_WRITE(" LOAD 2
DISCONN");
DELAY(2000);
while(P3_3==0){P3_5=0;DELAY(2000);P3_5=1;DEL
AY(20
00);}
}
if(P3_3==1&&u2==0)
{
LCD_CMD(0xC0);LCD_WRITE(" LOAD 1
CONNECTED");
P3_5=1;u2=0;
}
}
}}
VI. CONCLUSION
Nowadays the protection and control of equipment
plays a very important role. To avoid electrical failure
we use fast responding circuit breakers because of its
considerable accuracy in fault detection and cut off-
time, and also its smooth operation compared to
conventional type.
Fig. 2. Hardware implementation.
 Rao, Rasal, Patil and Patil 103
Comprehensive experiments conducted by constructing [3]. International Journal of Scientific Engineering and
the necessary circuit yielded successful results. The Technology Research, Ultra Fast Acting Electronic Circuit
main advantage of this circuit is that over all tripping Breaker, Volume.04, Issue No.11, May-2015, Pages: 2130-
time is less as compare to conventional circuit breaker. 2131.
[4]. Raj Kamal –Microcontrollers Architecture, Programming,
It was proved that electronic circuit breaker is very Interfacing and System Design. Mazidi and Mazidi–
useful circuit for sensitive loads. The experiment is Embedded Systems.
successful and energy saving. Further research on [5]. A M S Almadji & J G J Sloot review of Current limiting
improving the load capacity and tripping time is being IEEE.
undertaken. [6]. T. Genji, Nakamar: high speed circuit Breaker for electric
power system.
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“Electronic Circuit Breaker”, Patent# Wo 2004/082091 [9]. Jeremy Blum- Exploring Arduino: Tools and Techniques
A1 September 2012. for Engineering Wizardry.
[2]. J. Meyer, A Rufer, “DC Hybrid CB with ultra fast contact [10]. John Baxall- Arduino Workshop: A Hands-On
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