19-09-2014, 09:57 AM
Automatic Change-Over Switch
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Abstract
Most industrial and commercial processes are dependent on electrical power. In the event of power interruptions, the change-over from power supplied by a public utility to a generator is usually performed manually, often resulting in wasted time. Moreover, machine damage sometimes occurs because of human errors. These can cause significant financial losses. This paper presents the design and construction of an automatic phase change-over switch that switches electrical power supply from public supply to generator in the event of a power outage or insufficient voltage. The system uses an electronic control circuit involving integrated circuits, transistor and electromechanical devices.
Introduction
Power instability in developing countries creates a need for automation of electrical power generation or alternative sources of power to back up the utility supply. This automation is required as the rate of power outage becomes predominantly high. Most industrial and commercial processes are dependent on power supply and if the processes of change-over are manual, serious time is not only wasted but also creates device or machine damage from human error during the change-over connections, which could bring massive losses.
The starting of the generator is done by a relay which switches the battery voltage to ignition coil of the generator while the main power relay switches the load to either public supply or generator. Fig 1 shows the general-ized block diagram of the system. The approach used in this work is the modular approach where the overall design was first broken into functional block diagrams, where each block in the diagram represents a section of the circuit that carries out a specific function. The functional block diagram of Fig. 1 also shows the interconnection between these blocks. Each section of the block is analyzed below.
A manual change-over switch consists of a manual change-over switch box, switch gear box and cut-out fuse or the connector fuse as described by Rocks and Mazur (1993). This change-over switch box separate the source between the generator and public supply, when there is power supply outage from public supply, someone has to go and change the line to generator. Thus when power supply is restored, someone has to put OFF the generator and then change the source line from generator to public supply.
In view of the above manual change-over switch system that involves manpower by using ones energy in starting the generator and switching over from public supply to generator and vice-versa when the supply is restored. The importance attached to cases of operation in hospitals and air ports in order to save life from generator as fast as possible makes it important for the design and construction of an automatic change-over switch which would solve the problem of manpower and the danger likely to be encountered changeover. The electronic control monitors the incoming public supply voltage and detects when the voltage drops below a level that electrical or electronics gadgets can function depending on the utility
Comparator/Voltage Sensor Stage
The comparator/voltage sensor compares two voltages and give an output, which tell if they are equal or unequal. The comparator stage in this system is used to sense when the public supply voltage has dropped below a certain level. The input public supply voltage is converted to DC in the power supply stage and regulated to 12V and 5V for the power supply needed in the circuit. The unregulated voltage varies as the public supply input varies.
Oscillator Circuit
The flip-flop is a synchronous device and requires clock pulse to operate in its SET and RESET modes. The unstable oscillator stage of 1 KHz using a 555 timer is used to clock the flip-flop. Fig. 3 shows the 555 timer oscillator stage
Logic Control
The logic control is built around a D- type flip-flop. It is the flip-flop that tells the system when to switch to generator or public supply. The operation of the system is described in the truth table below. The logic control circuit operates in its set and resetmode. When the rising edge of the unstable clocks the flip-flop, the flip-flop shifts data from the data (D) input to the Q output to OFF the generator and connect public supply to output. When the voltage drops the comparator sends a LOW to the flip-flop input which switches the generator ON and changes over the output to generator
Transistor Switching Circuit
The switching transistor switches the relay, which selects between the generator and the public supply. The transistor as a switch operates in class A mode as described by Theraja and Theraja (2002). The relay is switched on when the flip-flop is in SET mode. A base resistor is required to ensure perfect switching of the transistor in saturation. Diode D5 protects the transistor from back EMF that might be generated since the relay coil presents an inductive load. In this case Rc, which is the collector resistance, is the resistance of the relay coil, which is 400Ώ for the relay type used in this project. Hence, given that Rc= 400Ώ (Relay coil resistance).
Performance Evaluation
Table 1 shows the variation in DC voltage against the input public supply voltage. The Normal open and close of the relay were identified with the aid of a digital meter to avoid wrong connection of the relay contacts
Fig. 5 is the detail circuit diagram of the system. The output of the power supply unit which powers the relays was tested by making the relays to change-over immediately the power is supplied. With a generator, the system was tested with public supply sources. A single electric bulb was used for the testing. When the supply of public supply source is ON and the source of the generator OFF the bulb which is the load lights, when the source of public supply sources is OFF and the generator switched ON the load, which is the bulb light.
Conclusion
The various tests carried out and the results obtained demonstrate that the Automatic Phase Change-Over Switch achieved its design and construction aims. The system worked accordingly to specification and quite satisfactory. The automatic phase change-over switch is relatively affordable and reliable. It is easy to operate, and it provides a high level of power supply when there are power outages. Finally, it reduces stress associated with manual change-over.
[attachment=68138]
Abstract
Most industrial and commercial processes are dependent on electrical power. In the event of power interruptions, the change-over from power supplied by a public utility to a generator is usually performed manually, often resulting in wasted time. Moreover, machine damage sometimes occurs because of human errors. These can cause significant financial losses. This paper presents the design and construction of an automatic phase change-over switch that switches electrical power supply from public supply to generator in the event of a power outage or insufficient voltage. The system uses an electronic control circuit involving integrated circuits, transistor and electromechanical devices.
Introduction
Power instability in developing countries creates a need for automation of electrical power generation or alternative sources of power to back up the utility supply. This automation is required as the rate of power outage becomes predominantly high. Most industrial and commercial processes are dependent on power supply and if the processes of change-over are manual, serious time is not only wasted but also creates device or machine damage from human error during the change-over connections, which could bring massive losses.
The starting of the generator is done by a relay which switches the battery voltage to ignition coil of the generator while the main power relay switches the load to either public supply or generator. Fig 1 shows the general-ized block diagram of the system. The approach used in this work is the modular approach where the overall design was first broken into functional block diagrams, where each block in the diagram represents a section of the circuit that carries out a specific function. The functional block diagram of Fig. 1 also shows the interconnection between these blocks. Each section of the block is analyzed below.
A manual change-over switch consists of a manual change-over switch box, switch gear box and cut-out fuse or the connector fuse as described by Rocks and Mazur (1993). This change-over switch box separate the source between the generator and public supply, when there is power supply outage from public supply, someone has to go and change the line to generator. Thus when power supply is restored, someone has to put OFF the generator and then change the source line from generator to public supply.
In view of the above manual change-over switch system that involves manpower by using ones energy in starting the generator and switching over from public supply to generator and vice-versa when the supply is restored. The importance attached to cases of operation in hospitals and air ports in order to save life from generator as fast as possible makes it important for the design and construction of an automatic change-over switch which would solve the problem of manpower and the danger likely to be encountered changeover. The electronic control monitors the incoming public supply voltage and detects when the voltage drops below a level that electrical or electronics gadgets can function depending on the utility
Comparator/Voltage Sensor Stage
The comparator/voltage sensor compares two voltages and give an output, which tell if they are equal or unequal. The comparator stage in this system is used to sense when the public supply voltage has dropped below a certain level. The input public supply voltage is converted to DC in the power supply stage and regulated to 12V and 5V for the power supply needed in the circuit. The unregulated voltage varies as the public supply input varies.
Oscillator Circuit
The flip-flop is a synchronous device and requires clock pulse to operate in its SET and RESET modes. The unstable oscillator stage of 1 KHz using a 555 timer is used to clock the flip-flop. Fig. 3 shows the 555 timer oscillator stage
Logic Control
The logic control is built around a D- type flip-flop. It is the flip-flop that tells the system when to switch to generator or public supply. The operation of the system is described in the truth table below. The logic control circuit operates in its set and resetmode. When the rising edge of the unstable clocks the flip-flop, the flip-flop shifts data from the data (D) input to the Q output to OFF the generator and connect public supply to output. When the voltage drops the comparator sends a LOW to the flip-flop input which switches the generator ON and changes over the output to generator
Transistor Switching Circuit
The switching transistor switches the relay, which selects between the generator and the public supply. The transistor as a switch operates in class A mode as described by Theraja and Theraja (2002). The relay is switched on when the flip-flop is in SET mode. A base resistor is required to ensure perfect switching of the transistor in saturation. Diode D5 protects the transistor from back EMF that might be generated since the relay coil presents an inductive load. In this case Rc, which is the collector resistance, is the resistance of the relay coil, which is 400Ώ for the relay type used in this project. Hence, given that Rc= 400Ώ (Relay coil resistance).
Performance Evaluation
Table 1 shows the variation in DC voltage against the input public supply voltage. The Normal open and close of the relay were identified with the aid of a digital meter to avoid wrong connection of the relay contacts
Fig. 5 is the detail circuit diagram of the system. The output of the power supply unit which powers the relays was tested by making the relays to change-over immediately the power is supplied. With a generator, the system was tested with public supply sources. A single electric bulb was used for the testing. When the supply of public supply source is ON and the source of the generator OFF the bulb which is the load lights, when the source of public supply sources is OFF and the generator switched ON the load, which is the bulb light.
Conclusion
The various tests carried out and the results obtained demonstrate that the Automatic Phase Change-Over Switch achieved its design and construction aims. The system worked accordingly to specification and quite satisfactory. The automatic phase change-over switch is relatively affordable and reliable. It is easy to operate, and it provides a high level of power supply when there are power outages. Finally, it reduces stress associated with manual change-over.