Detection and Classification of Incipient Faults in Three-Phase Power Transformer Using DGA Information and Rule-based Machine Learning Method

Three-phase transformers (TPT) play a significant and crucial function in the power networks in order to connect the sub-systems and deliver the electrical energy to final customers. The TPT are one of the most high-priced equipment in modern power networks, and therefore their working condition should be constantly monitored to prevent their breakdown, power outages and huge financial damage. Accordingly, this paper presents a hybrid method for detection and classification of incipient faults in TPT using dissolved gas analysis techniques (DGAT) information and rule-based machine learning method. In the developed method, the most informative and important items of DGAT data out of 14 items selected by association rules mining technique (ARMT) are employed as the input of adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The ARMT is implemented to select the items, which have maximum information and can train the ANFIS more accurately. Furthermore, in order to enhance the accuracy of ANFIS and improve its robustness in different implementations, black widow optimization algorithm is applied for ANFIS training. In order to evaluate the performance of developed method on real issues, two industrial data collections obtained from Iran-Transfo Company chemical laboratory and Damavand power substations are used. The obtained results through MATLAB simulations proved that the developed method has high fault detection and classification accuracy, robust function in different implementations, short run time and simple structure.