Design And Construction Of Automatic Change Over With Generator Trip Off

ABSTRACT

As technological advancement has been on the increase in our society many have fallen in love with technology and world want to have a feel in virtually to every thing they do.

An Automatic Changeover Switch switches off the generator and automatically changes over to NEPA. An Automatic Changeover Switch will automatically switch off your generator and change over to MAIN ( Public power supply/NEPA) on resumption.

A design has been made in combination of electrical and electronics to change over from one power sources to the other automatically and trip off generator using a remote, and this remote can ON/OFF a generator from a far distance.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                       INTRODUCTION

1.1                          BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

This project is on the design and co of automatic change over and how it can be used to change from one power sources to the other automatically. The design comprises some arrangement that senses the power failure form either of the power sources and drives the electro mechanical switching device (relay) that is capable of changing two poles (live and neutral) to give out light or be on stand by to generator side.

Power instability or outage in general does not promote development in the public and private sector. The investors do not feel secure to come into a country with constant or frequent power failure. These limit the development of industries. In addition, there are processes that cannot be interrupted because of their importance for instance, surgery operation in hospitals, transfer of money between banks and lots more. Power instability and outage in developing countries (Nigeria) creates a need for alternative sources of power to backup the mains supply.

Automatic changeover switches find a wide application scope wherever the reliability of electrical supply from the utilities is low and it is used in lighting/motor circuits wherever continuity of supply is necessary, for switching to an alternative source from main supply and vice versa.

Electronic components such as relay transformer diodes were used thereby making the project less expensive for the implementation of the project and commercial application.

Moreover, the cost suitability and availability of the required components for the project circuitry were some of the major factors considered by the designer

1.2                                      AIM/OBJECTIVES

To design a circuit that will automatically change over from main power supply (PHC) to power generating set and vice versa, and using a remote control to ON/OFF the generator set with the help of electro mechanically switching device that is being controlled by electronics component

1.3                          SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT

The automatic change over switch, the switch aimed at achieving the following automatic actions;

• To change power over to generator
• To change back to PHC
• To change the generator.

The automatic change over unit can be operated in single or three phase system. The automatic change over switch has the following advantages;

• It minimizes damages to lives/equipment since it has its own monitoring system and its switching requires no human contact with the switch, thus eliminating human error.
• It reduces its change over timing to the minimum due to its fast response to power outage.
• It maintains high quality of service through its fast and prompt response.
• Moreover, the size and captivity of the unit will depend upon the load for which it will be used. The unit is also portable, easy, convenient and safe to install.
• Genset is put off automatically when main power resumes.
• Minimized physical activity is to start the generator.
• It can operate in low voltage.
• Fuel is saved due to auto stop facility.

1.4                           PROBLEMS OF THE PROJECT

In every home, office or industries, automatic power changeover  plays a vital role, that is, It provides a means of switching from utility AC mains to generator in the case of power failure; This project has been improved on the existing types of electromechanical device that has being in use over the years.

In the course of designing this project, different kinds of problem was notice such as:

• Difficulty in troubleshooting with circuit without the circuit diagram
• Difficulty in connecting the output without short-circuiting, until a multiplexing circuit was gotten.
• Difficult in wiring because of the strong wiring the project required.

1.5                SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This work covers only a one phase automatic changeover which can only be used for providing a means of switching from one phase of AC mains to another in the case of failure in public utility. It is limited to

•  Phase – one phase
• Capacity – single Phase
• Input Volt – 220v

1.6                                      APPLICATIONS OF THE PROJECT

1. This circuit can be used as a home lighting system with few modifications.
2. It can be used to drive other DC loads like a DC motor of any electronic appliance or other toy applications.

1.8                                            DEFINITION OF TERMS

CHANGEOVER: Generally, a changeover switch is a system which could be operated manually or automatically , that changes one source of power supply to another source in case of power failure from either of the two sources.

RELAY: relay is one of the major components used in this work which is an electrical device, typically incorporating an electromagnet, which is activated by a current or signal in one circuit to open or close another circuit.

POWER FLUCTUATIONS: is a periodic dip or spikes in the electrical current of any given circuit.

POWER FAILURE: is a short- or long-term loss of the electric power to an area.    

1.9                          PROJECT WORK ORGANIZATION

The various stages involved in the development of this project have been properly put into five chapters to enhance comprehensive and concise reading. In this project thesis, the project is organized sequentially as follows:

Chapter one of this works is on the introduction to changeover switch. In this chapter, the background, significance, objective limitation and problem of changeover switch were discussed.

Chapter two is on literature review of changeover switch. In this chapter, all the literature pertaining to this work was reviewed.

Chapter three is on design methodology. In this chapter all the method involved during the design and construction were discussed.

Chapter four is on testing analysis. All testing that result accurate functionality was analyzed.

Chapter five is on conclusion, recommendation and references.