Electrical Engineering Project: Competency Demonstration Report - CE 2

This report details a student's competency demonstration for an electrical engineering project focused on monitoring distribution transformers using Power Line Communication (PLC). The project involved implementing the X10 protocol for data transfer. The report outlines the project's background, objectives, the student's role in implementing the X10 protocol, and the engineering knowledge applied. It describes the various modules, including voltage, current, and temperature sensing circuits, and the transmitter and receiver components. The report also identifies challenges such as data security and phase incompatibility, along with the solutions employed. Furthermore, it discusses the innovative use of X10 technology for cost-effectiveness and future retrofitting, as well as collaborative efforts within the project team. The report concludes with a project review, highlighting the suitability of the PIC microcontroller for the X10 protocol and potential applications in airports and railway stations.

COMPETENCY
DEMONSTRATION REPORT
Career Episode 2
AKSHAY KIRAN MURALIDHARAN

CE 2.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Monitoring Of Distribution Transformer Using PLC
Location of the project: [PLEASE FILL]
Project Duration: [PLEASE FILL]
Organization: [PLEASE FILL]
Role and Designation during the time: Team Member
CE 2.2 Project Background
CE 2.2.1 Characteristics of the project
The Power line communication (PLC) is the use of the existing power distribution model
to send communication data. The power lines communication procedure was slow in the
evolving rate due to the fact that the lines were originally created to transfer power at the rate pf
50Hz. However after the implementation of the X10 protocol it became easier to use the power
lines for the transmission of the data. The modern system of power electric systems is compiled
of different modules like the alternators, transformers, transmission lines and the station bus bars
and several other equipment’s. A module of the project is the use of a transformer do the
transferring of the electrical energy form one electrical circuit to a consecutive electrical circuit
with the help of electromagnetic induction.

CE 2.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
The following objectives were developed for the completion of the project and to deliver
the best quality project to my university:
 To use the power lines for the communication of data
 To compose a system which should be small in size and also complete the min objective of
the working procedure.
CE 2.2.3 My area of work
I had taken up the work for the implementation of the X10 protocol of the project. This
was the main module without which the project would be ineffective in usage. The X10 protocol
would be responsible for the transferring of the data through the use of the power transfer lines.
CE 2.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: Team Member associated in this project

CE 2.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
For the completion of the project I was in charge of implementing the X10 protocol into
the project module. The project module would not be able to work without the protocol. This
protocol is the main device which helps in transferring of the data through the power line where
it is to be installed. Apart from this I also helped in the completion of the test run of the devices
and also the compilation of the documentation of the complete project.
CE 2.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 2.3.1 Comprehending the theory of the project
The project has been divided up into different parts which would help in the
understanding of the project easily. The following parts the modules of the project:
 Voltage sensing circuit: the phase voltage in the secondary portion of the circuit is supplied
as the input of the potential transformer. The receiver voltage is clamped to a power of 2.5V.
This has been done for all the three phases present in the connecting lines.
 Current sensing circuit: the secondary portion of the distribution circuit is able to take the
input from the transformer and then produce the current transformer. The reference voltage is
calibrated to a voltage of 2.5V. The amplification has been achieved with the help of the Op-
amp circuit. The similar procedure has been done on all the three phases of the current line.
 Temperature sensing circuit - LM35: the LM35 is a series of precision calculating sensors
who are able to conduct the better conduction of the temperature from the project module.
The sensors are able to provide the temperature in terms of Celsius. They can also be
converted into kelvin upon better circuitry.

 Oil level sensing circuit: the procedure is done using a float. The movement of the float will
determine the working of the level of the oil in the sink.
 Transmitter: the transmission section of the project which send the parameters like voltage,
temperature, current and the oil level of the receiving station through the power line.
 Receiver: this is used to detect the presence of the signals from the power line of the system.
This is achieved by the use of a decoupling capacitor in the high pass filter.
CE 2.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
The engineering knowledge which I had applied in the completion of this project is
related to the theories taught to me during my bachelor degree in the field of electrical and
electronics engineering. The basics of the topics were already known to me. For extensive study
of the topic and the working of the different modules of the project I had found and studied
different journals and articles. The journals taught me to the working procedures of the project
and was able to successfully implement the working of the project.
CE 2.3.3 Accomplishment and task performed
The X10 module protocol helps in the provision of the transferring of the data and
information through the power lines. The data needs to be transferred using the power lines of
the power house and then need to be transferred to the receiving end of the product. The X10
protocol send the data along with the address of the final destination of the data. This when
received by the receiver of the sensors will be able to decode the address and then perform work
on the data received . the details of all the portions of the project was compiled and saved to a
data base resource where the data would be later used for the analysis portion of the data.

Figure 2: the block diagram of the project
CE 2.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
2.3.4.1 Issues
During the implementation of the devices I found that the X10 protocol provided very
less amount of security to the data that is being transferred through the lines. The distance of
working of the PL devices were much larger than expected. The other major problem which I
had faced was the incompatibility of the phases of operation of the devices.
2.3.4.2 Solutions
The security protocol had to be manually configure during the initial implementation of
the process. If the device is to be used for billing process and with the implementation of the
TCP/IP protocol of data transfer then the device will not be able to be used. The distance factor
was overcome by the use of a long range multiplier into the project system which helped in

connecting devices on a longer range. The problem of the phase difference was easily solved
because of the past implementation of the same protocol in the previous project. The same found
solution of using a passive phase coupler with the transmission process.
CE 2.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
During the development of the project I had used the X10 technology as it can be used at
a very low cost and can be easily implemented into different home automation systems. The
protocol can also be retrofitted in the future with the original wiring kept intact. This would save
cost and time for the future implementation of the project. The signalling system had been
implemented to use the digital spread spectrum to make the signals passing through the line to
make the system more cost effective as well as easy to implement in to the system.
CE 2.3.6 Collaborative work
The project had been completed with the help from my team mates and my project
supervisor. The basics of the project was taught to us during our bachelor degree of the electrical
and electronics. The additional theories which was applied and used for the completion of the
project was studied from different research journals which helped us to gain more knowledge on
the working procedure of the different modules of the project.
CE 2.4 Project Review
CE 2.4.1 Project Overview
The production of the embedded system has become one of the most important portion
for the development of the modern era. The PIC microcontroller which had been implemented
into the system is the best suited microcontroller for the X10 protocol application. The PIC

microcontroller is the best suited for the process as it has many additional features and resources
which would help in the future for the implementation of the future prospective of the X10
application procedures. The project developed by us will be able to be used in the airports for the
benefit of the signalling purpose as well as the railways stations and lines for the power line
communication procedures.
CE 2.4.2 My contribution to work
For the project I had taken up the portion of implementing the X0 protocol module of the
project which was the main working model of the project. Apart from this I had helped my
fellow team mates in the completion of the project and also studied different journals ad research
papers to understand the working of the different modules of the project. At the end I had
compiled the project and conducted different test runs on the project using different scenarios to
compile the project documentation. I had worked hard for the completion of the project and
motivated my team mates to work.