Diagnostics of Technical State of Modern Transformer Equipment Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process

The new method of expert diagnostics of technical state for transformer power equipment at substations of power systems and facilities is proposed. It is based on the analytic hierarchy process. It was proved that it is possible to make a plausible prediction on the reasons of failures and faults for power equipment using some symptoms and pairwise comparisons of expert evaluations. The paper focuses on diagnostics of the current technical state of transformers with high temperature superconducting windings (HTS transformers). Reliability of the results of the proposed method is validated by calculations that demonstrate the adequacy of the model applied to HTS transformer. The new mathematical model developed using fuzzy relations of fault symptoms includes elements for predicting possible failures of power equipment, that can be used as a subsystem of on-line diagnostics. As a result, it allows implementing the HTS transformers as an innovative solution for electric power industry.