Fault detection for power cable protection systems (pilot cable termination block improvements)

• Main Author: Tok, Edwin Keen Xin
• Other Authors: Foo Yi Shyh Eddy
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/167094
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

To avoid adverse effects on a country's economy and defence due to the continuous increase in global electricity demand, it is essential to ensure a consistent power supply, which has been made possible by implementing protection systems. These systems, including overcurrent protection, earth fault protection, and pilot wire differential protection, are designed to isolate faults that could impact other consumers. The pilot wire termination block is a critical component of the protection system, serving as a connection between protection relays and pilot cables and a termination point for engineers to test and check the pilot cable. This report discusses on improving the pilot termination block that aims to improve maintenance work process and better aid engineers with sitework. Additionally, the report explores current industrial practices of using a shorting kit to perform tests and various circuit models, including manual switching, Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT), relays, and relays with BJT, and how Arduino programming software and components enhance their functionality. Thereafter, the report provides a detailed insight into 3D models developed using Solidworks and explains how they are integrated to create a prototype that significantly reduces the time required to connect all the lines of the pilot termination block. Finally, the prototype is tested and evaluated for its effectiveness and efficiency, which has the potential to minimize human error, increase accuracy and efficiency, and ultimately improve the reliability of power systems in Singapore.