Design and Implementation of Automatic Transfer Switch for Power System Management

Abstract

Power system management is such that electrical power never goes off in the facility for a definite period of time. The operation of the system is such that when power goes off, the system will automatically detect it, sends information to its module. This module will send signals to a generator for it to start and send its power status (weather it started or not), back to the module and the module, the module checks the availability of this power and if it finds suitable, it will send signals to an automated change over switch that will switch over source of power supply from mains power to generator power. The generator is controlled by two relays which are in turn receiving signals from the microcontroller via resistors and transistors, these relays are connected directly into the kick-starter of the generator, one is connected to the terminal that starts the generator while the other is connected to the terminal that stops it, the changeover circuits are built using electromechanical contactors which are in turn controlled by the microcontroller. A reliable circuit was developed and implemented to switch the power source automatically from the public mains to the generator and vice versa, ensuring uninterrupted power supply.