Proposal on Power theft detection. Mehran UET Jamshoro

1. Prepared By. A.K
Automatic Theft Detection of Power in the
Distribution System
Abstract:
In all over the world the major problem is power theft which is illegal and must be
prohibited, In the Electrical Power System, the main reason of Electrical Power theft is Non-
Technical Losses (NTL). Power theft is defined as the usage of electrical power without any
interaction with the supplier. This Proposal is planned to provide with advance scheme for the
monitoring and detection of Power theft in Electrical Distribution system on the principle of
Differential protection scheme that can measure the current between two threshold values
(window discriminator function). And detecting the power theft in domestic energy meter by
using transformers arrangement.
Objectives
 This system would provide a simple way to detect an electrical power theft without any
human interference.
 It would indicate exact zone and distribution line on which unauthorized taping is done in
real time.
 It would be time saving if distribution company personnel take reading by this technique.
 It would provide a digital record in case of any judicial dispute.
Introduction:
In the electrical power system, the Non-Technical Losses (NTL) are the transmission
and distribution losses which are originated from power theft and other illegal usage of
electricity. These losses are change from the technical losses that can’t measure or detected
exactly. The Non-Technical losses contain illegal connection, meter tampering, etc. these
losses contribute higher % of loss of electricity.
1. PROPOSED THEFT DETECTION SYSTEM IN DISTRIBUTION LINE:
Through the relay technic we measure the current If I1= I2+I3 and so on, then we say
there is no theft otherwise theft is there. Through Arduino we set the programming if I1 is not
equal to I2+I3 then it gives signal to relay and the after sensing the signal relay trips the circuit
breaker. Advantage is that here we use to bars if theft is detected second bus bar the relay opens
the circuit of second bar first one bar is energize.

2. Prepared By. A.K
BLOCK DIAGRAM
Fig. 1 Power theft detection in Distribution line
2. PROPOSED THEFT DETECTION SYSTEM IN DOMESTIC ENERGY METER:
The typical layout for detecting power theft in domestic energy meter. We have supply
source connect with energy meter and current to the load we have a switch supply which be
drawn to the energy meter and we have one more load which is drawn before the meter and we
will see how behave when we are trying to detect the power theft. Now we are connecting the
transformer for detecting the power theft there are two transformer one can take 2 C.T or one
can take step down transformer while the secondary side of 1st
transformer which got low
impedance is to be connect with the series with supply and similarly the 2nd
transformer which
has also low impedance that is connected with load and while we trying to operate this and
what we find Now the load which in not connected from the energy meter we connect the load
there is no voltage appear AC voltmeter which is connected between the primary of two
transformers. but the moment we switch on the load which is before the energy meter we see
the voltage is appear this is because when the load 2 is open the potential difference between
two primaries of transformer is zero. Once any load 2 is connected the unbalanced and out of
phase happens. So, using this kind of sensing we can find the power theft in domestic energy
meter.
Block Diagram:

3. Prepared By. A.K
The project has the following execution cycle: using Arduino
 The project will be connected at the primary coil of an additional transformer which will have
its secondary coil connected between the main line and loads while the loads (a pack of bulbs
is used as load in the demonstration) will be connected to the main line via relay interfaced to
main line through secondary coil of the additional transformer. This additional transformer
shall work like a voltage sensor in the circuit.
 The Arduino based circuit will show the status of the main line as overloaded or not on an LCD
display. The LCD display section is however optional and added for testing and demonstration
purpose only.
 When system detects over load condition which will be transferred as a HIGH signal to the
voltage comparator interfaced pin of Arduino, the board will output signals to trigger the relay
circuit.
 The relay will cut off the power supply from the main line and the whole system will get shut
down.
 After a shut down the system will wait for conditions to normalize and will resume the power
supply as unauthorized loads are detached and relevant voltage is detected at the primary of
transformer-based sensor circuit.
Components Required:
 Arduino UNO
 Transformer 12 - 0v
 Buzzer
 16x2 LCD
 12v Relay
 BC 547 transistor
 1K ohm resisters -7
 Voltage regulator -7805
 LED -5mm RED- 2
 Wire to carry 2A, 230v AC
 Two pin Plug
 Bulb holder.

4. Prepared By. A.K
PROBLEMS DUE TO THEFT
(AN INCRESING THREAT FOR THE UTILITY COMPANIES)
Initially it affects the utility company& then its customers. Its results in overloading of
generation units of power sector. It makes difficult to supply the required power to the
genuine customers + illegal & fraud customers.
Effects of theft in regards with Technical point of view
This overload results in over voltages which directly affects performance & can damage
permanently to the appliances of customers. The huge amount of NTL can trip the generation
units. The unpredictable amount of additional load can cause brownouts & blackouts during
the periods of peak loads. For the correction & improvement of Power Factor & to maintain
the smooth voltage profile along the feeders, sufficient reactive power must be supplied besides
the supplied electricity. To calculate for VAR compensation is a difficult task without the
complete information of power theft.
Effects of theft in regards with Non-Technical point of view
Theft discourages the life standards, working &
progress of the country whose reason is unfair theft
of electric power. Due to theft of electricity utility
companies put detection charges on the regular
consumer. Due to which companies are forced to
impose excessive tariff on the regular customers.
Theft became a threat for the utility companies as
they are under the threat of this kind of uneconomical
losses. Theft causes power loss due to which the
continuity of the electrical power is badly affected in
the form of load shedding. Theft is directly the loss of
electrical power b/c it doesn’t earns back the profit. It
is directly the wastage of the resources of Generation
side. It badly affects the utilization for the regular
consumers. It includes in non-technical losses and
become one of the critical issues in power industry.
And illegal tapping for theft may affects the safety
parameters like electric shocks & deaths. Due to theft
a considerable amount of revenue is loosed by the
utility companies. Which results in the increasing
interest of the companies towards projects, designs &
control devices to protect the power from thieves? In
consideration to this culprit of the system we are
working for the project to present a model design to
protect the system.

5. Prepared By. A.K
CONCLUSION
The theft detection can be categorized here as
 Theft detection in distribution line.
 Theft detection in domestic energy meter.
For theft detection in distribution lines RELAYS (sensing device) can be used with two bus
bars whose opening/closing or energizing/de-energizing depends on the condition
I1=I2+I3
And for the theft detection in Domestic energy meter connecting supply with energy meter
having loads before and after this meter with two C.Ts one having low secondary impedance is
in series with supply & second C.Ts connected with load on switching “ON” load we
will find voltages appear on AC voltmeter b/c of zero potential difference in the primaries of
the T/Fs and if any other load is connected causes the unbalanced and out of phase. These are
two methods for detection of theft in distribution & domestic energy meter.