AUTOMATION SYSTEM DESIGN FOR FAULT DETECTION IN STREET LIGHTING

Abstract

Today, with the Industrial 4.0 revolution, industrialapplications are being designed with information technology. Substantialproperties such as decision making, action taking and traceability forindustrial applications are achieved with usage of information technology. Justas in all areas of industry, lighting applications are evaluated within thisscope. In this study, a fault detection system is developed to find thelocation of faults in street lighting. A transformer center provides energy formany street lighting fittings. In some cases, many of the lighting columns arefed by a single distribution transformer. Detection of a faulty lamp in a largenumber of lighting fittings is often not possible, and the user is adverselyaffecting comfort. Generally, the authorities are aware of the situation bymeans of the complaints of the neighborhood residents. With the proposedalgorithm given in this study, it is possible to predict which lighting fittingis faulty with the help of the current sensors placed in the transformercenter. Current values of each lines connected to the transformer is evaluatedin the proposed fault detection system. As it is known how many lightingcolumns are in each line, it can be determined by making calculations how manylighting fittings are defective on one line. Then, the proposed systemcalculates the equivalent resistor value and estimates location of the faultylighting fitting. For example, 15 lighting columns fed by same line are dividedinto 3 groups such as 1-5, 5-10 and 10-15, and the location of the faultylighting fitting can be estimated within a certain range (groups). This allowsdetermining the location of the faulty lighting column within a 100-meter zoneinstead of within lighting columns located in hundreds of kilometers zone. Inthis regard, intervention to the fault is possible in a short time and withgreat certainty. This situation provides both reducing of the workforce andimproving user comfort.