Intelligent Fault Detection of MV/HV Transformers Using Fuzzy Logic Based on DGA

Lone Larona Mogotsi, Akhtar Rasool, Edwin Matlotse, Sadaqat Ali, Ahmed Ali

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA) of power system transformers has emerged as one of the most effective transformer health diagnosing tools by analyzing the gases dissolved in the insulating oil. There are various traditional DGA techniques like Key Gas Method, Roger’s Ratio, IEC ratio, Dornenburg’s Ratio, and Duval Triangle method. However, these techniques have limitations such as inconsistent results, the inability to detect low-energy faults, and reliance on expert knowledge due to complex interpretation. To overcome these limitations, this paper introduces an integrated fuzzy logic system that enhances DGA interpretation by combining the diagnostic strengths of Key Gas Method, Roger’s Ratio, IEC ratio, and Duval Triangle methods. To obtain a final, human-readable diagnosis, the output of each technique is incorporated into a higher-level fuzzy inference system once each is modeled separately with fuzzy logic, having known membership functions and rule bases. To test this model, oil samples of known results of different transformers are used and compared to the results given by the proposed fuzzy inference system. The proposed method is easier and more feasible for practical use since it not only improves fault detection accuracy and reliability but also allows for easier interpretation by non-specialists. This study makes an additional contribution to a higher-level, more effective, and more accurate method for transformer fault detection by overcoming the interpretational difficulties and weaknesses of conventional DGA approaches.

Original languageEnglish
Article number228
JournalEng
Volume6
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2025

Keywords

  • Duval triangle method
  • IEC ratio method
  • Roger’s ratio method
  • dissolved gas analysis (DGA)
  • fuzzy logic system
  • integrated diagnostic model
  • key gas method
  • transformer fault diagnosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • Engineering (miscellaneous)

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