Novel method for overall condition assessment of power transformers

Abstract

Condition assessment is one of the key aspects behind the life cycle management of power transformers, as by means of condition assessment well-founded asset management decisions can be taken. For condition assessment different monitoring and diagnostic methods are applied. Thus, a systematic integration of all techniques is necessary. However, existing methodologies for condition assessment do not consider the required combination of all monitoring and diagnostic methods in a single approach. As a contribution to this necessity, in this paper a novel method for condition assessment based on multi-agent systems is presented. The application of the proposed method is also exemplified by means of a real case study. The obtained results are very encouraging as the proposed method allows combining systematically the outcome of the diagnostic methods and as a result a numerical value called condition index representing the healthiness state of a transformer is obtained.