An innovative method of fault detection in power transformers

The Bayesian classifier is a priori the optimal solution for minimizing the total error in problems of statistical pattern recognition. The article suggests using the classifier as a regular tool to increase the reliability of defect recognition in power oil-filled transformers based on the results of the analysis of gases dissolved in oil. The wide application of the Bayesian method for solving tasks of technical diagnostics of electrical equipment is limited by the problem of the multidimensional distribution of random parameters (features) and the nonlinearity of classification. The application of a generalized feature of a defect in the form of a nonlinear function of the transformer state parameters is proposed. This simultaneously reduces the dimension of the initial space of the controlled parameters and significantly improves the stochastic properties of the random distribution of the generalized feature. A special algorithm has been developed to perform statistical calculations and the procedure for recognizing the current technical condition of the transformer using the generated decision rule. The presented research results illustrate the possibility of the practical application of the developed method in the conditions of real operation of power transformers.

MODERN APPROACHES TO DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR OF LOW-POWER SWITCHING POWER SUPPLIES

Рассмотрены вопросы оптимизации технологических процессов поиска и устранения неисправностей маломощных DC-DC преобразователей, изготавливаемых ООО «АЕДОН». Перечислены наиболее характерные неисправности, встречающиеся у импульсных источников питания малой мощности. Рассмотрены основные методы поиска и устранения неисправностей, применяемые в процессе диагностики импульсных преобразователей. Предложен подход, основывающийся на комбинировании различных методов диагностики и ремонта, позволяющий увеличить эффективность поиска и устранения неисправностей импульсных DC-DC преобразователей. Рассматриваемый подход позволил повысить оперативность технической диагностики и ремонта в условиях серийного производства, а также был эффективно использован при первоначальной подготовке молодых специалистов участка регулировки и тестирования. В качестве примера представлена процедура поиска и устранения причин повышенного напряжения холостого хода в маломощных импульсных источниках питания. Рассмотрены причины появления дефекта как в одиночных модулях, так и во всей партии. Проведено экспериментальное исследование влияния обратной связи на выходное напряжение модуля в режиме холостого хода, показано влияние возможных неисправностей. В результате применения данной процедуры в короткий срок была произведена диагностика и ремонт маломощного импульсного источника питания (ИИП), выполнена регулировка обратной связи по напряжению The article considers the issues of optimization of technological processes for troubleshooting low-power DC-DC converters manufactured by company AEDON. We listed the most typical malfunctions that occur in low-power switching power sources. We considered the main methods of troubleshooting used in the process of diagnostics of pulse converters. We propose an approach based on the combination of various diagnostic and repair methods, which allows one to increase the efficiency of troubleshooting of pulsed DC-DC converters. The considered approach allowed us to increase the efficiency of technical diagnostics and repair in the conditions of mass production, and was also effectively used in training of young specialists of the adjustment and testing subdivision. As an example, we present the procedure for finding and eliminating the causes of increased idle voltage in low-power switching power sources. We considered the reasons for the appearance of the defect both in single modules and in the entire batch. We carried out an experimental study of the effect of feedback on the output voltage of the module in the idle mode. We showed the influence of possible failures. As a result of the application of this procedure, we performed diagnostics and repair of a low-power switching power supplies in a short time and adjusted the voltage feedback

Improvement of the traction current asymmetry control system

The article presents approaches that allow modernizing the system for monitoring the asymmetry of the traction current. The existing systems of technical diagnostics and monitoring of the technical condition of automation and telemetry control devices, which have found wide application on the railways of JSC Russian Railways, do not allow monitoring the condition of adjacent railway transport infrastructure systems that affect the performance of railway automation and telemetry control devices. Besides, information about the condition of the object being diagnosed is sent to the monitoring center, while the operational and repair personnel do not have the necessary information and start working only after receiving information about the malfunction from the dispatcher of the monitoring center. The mobile device, proposed in the article, allows reducing the time necessary for obtaining information about the unserviceable condition of the railroad line. The article presents the analysis of gadgets planned for use in a mobile device, and the concept of the interface of the mobile application for technicians. It is noted that the hardware intended for use in a mobile device must provide protection against unauthorized access to the application, as well as have a high degree of protection against penetration. Besides, the article identifies the areas for further improvement of the traction current asymmetry control system.

Determination of Parameters of Electronic Devices by the Method of Passive Radio-Sensor Technical Diagnostics

Introduction. Technical diagnostics (TD) as a nascent discipline is rapidly developing in the field of both software and hardware. Modern TD methods, such as vibrometry, thermal control, JTAG testing and optical control, either exhibit high inertia, consume processor time, require suspension of the electronic device, or demand a galvanic contact with the study object, which is often unacceptable. These disadvantages can be eliminated by passive radio-sensor TD. To date, little information has been published on the parameters of electronic devices provided by this method.Aim. Determination of the parameters of electronic devices, the assessment of which can be provided by passive radio-sensor TD.Materials and methods. Signal radio profiles were obtained experimentally using metrological equipment and software-numerical methods for modeling radio wave processes. The parameters of the signal radio profile were calculated by a mathematical method for solving differential equations.Results. The main principles and results of radio-sensor TD, as well as the simplest toolkit, are shown. An equation is obtained for the signal radio profile emitted by the electronic unit of the device, as well as an expression for its free components. An approach for assessing the TD correctness based on the number of free components of the received signal radio profile and the reference is described. The possibility of obtaining information about temperature, voltage drop, speed of emitting nodes, as well as the state of its components and modes of operation of p–njunctions is demonstrated. It is shown that this information is carried by the parameters of the basic equation for the signal radio profile.Conclusion. The derived basic equation allows a non-contact, remote passive radio-sensor TD to be conducted by correlation analysis of the received signal, providing a detailed examination of malfunctions in each electronic unit. The described TD method based on the presented parameters is promising for assessing the technical state of electronic devices.

COMBINATORY APPROACH TO FAILURE FINDING IN PASSENGER CAR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT SYSTEM

Maintaining a high level of maintenance of electrical equipment in passenger cars requires research in the field of improving methods and means of technical diagnostics. Electronic devices for automatic control and protection, which are located in the switchboard of the car, are one of the most critical elements in the electrical equipment system, ensuring its reliable, efficient and safe operation. If the automatic adjustment and protection devices are out of regulation during operation, the voltage and current in the electrical equipment network may exceed the permissible level, which leads to the failure of electricity consumers, a battery and a generator. In addition, the semiconductor devices themselves are very sensitive to short-term overloads, in which, even with minor overloads, a breakdown or breakage of the conductive layer occurs. Modern trends in the development of passenger car fleet indicate a sharp increase in the complexity of the element base of cars. This mainly concerns the electrical systems of cars, where all the functions of control, monitoring and diagnostics are performed by electronics. Maintaining a high level of service for such systems requires research in the field of improving methods and means of technical diagnostics. For these purposes, the authors have developed a method for constructing optimal control and diagnostic tests, which is based on a combinatorial approach. The method is easily implemented on a computer.

IMPROVEMENT OF METHODS OF TECHNICAL DIAGNOSIS OF PASSENGER RAILWAY CARS

Extension of the service life of a particular passenger railway car can be considered fully justified only if it is justified by the results of scientific and experimental research and approved by the relevant administrative documents of Ukrzaliznytsia the service life limit for wagons of this type. The existing method of technical diagnostics of passenger railway cars does not allow to fully assess the probability of extension of the service life of the car, because it does not take into account the peculiarities of damage to structural elements during operation. In the article the sequence of research of stresses in elements of a frame of a body of the passenger car of construction of KVN on the basis of standard tests is considered. The task of the study is to determine the sequence of calculation of stresses in the frame elements of the passenger car body of KСР (Kryukiv Carriage Plant) with a service life exceeding 41 years from the date of manufacture to assess strength and fatigue resistance by technical diagnostics and standard tests. It is concluded that the condition of the load-bearing metal structures of cars after long operation does not approach the limit. The residual resource was set at one of the minimum calculated values. If the results of calculations show that the resource is exhausted, the residual service life is determined by the results of bench tests for fatigue. The obtained practical and theoretical results make it possible to extend the service life of cars beyond that set by the manufacturer.

Motor oil spectral analysis for engine life-time prediction

Technical diagnostics of the internal combustion engines, transmissions and other high-loaded units is a process regulated by technical requirements. However, depending on the intensity of operation and maintenance regulations, it is possible to change the technical and operational parameters of machine parts and mechanisms, as a result of frictional interaction of surfaces, temperature, ingress of aggressive chemical compounds and abrasive contaminants, as well as low physical and chemical quality indicators. The substantiation of the technology of spectral motor oil analysis to determine wear products is given in the paper. Determining the masses of metals in the motor oil during wear allows to predict the residual life of the engine and assess both the quality of the oil and the quality of the fuel.

OPTIMAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE PATTERN MATRIX FOR PROBABILISTIC NEURAL NETWORKS IN TECHNICAL DIAGNOSTICS BASED ON EXPERT ESTIMATIONS

In the field of technical diagnostics, many tasks are solved by using automated classification. For this, such classifiers like probabilistic neural networks fit best owing to their simplicity. To obtain a probabilistic neural network pattern matrix for technical diagnostics, expert estimations or measurements are commonly involved. The pattern matrix can be deduced straightforwardly by just averaging over those estimations. However, averages are not always the best way to process expert estimations. The goal is to suggest a method of optimally deducing the pattern matrix for technical diagnostics based on expert estimations. The main criterion of the optimality is maximization of the performance, in which the subcriterion of maximization of the operation speed is included. First of all, the maximal width of the pattern matrix is determined. The width does not exceed the number of experts. Then, for every state of an object, the expert estimations are clustered. The clustering can be done by using the k-means method or similar. The centroids of these clusters successively form the pattern matrix. The optimal number of clusters determines the probabilistic neural network optimality by its performance maximization. In general, most results of the error rate percentage of probabilistic neural networks appear to be near-exponentially decreasing as the number of clustered expert estimations is increased. Therefore, if the optimal number of clusters defines a too “wide” pattern matrix whose operation speed is intolerably slow, the performance maximization implies a tradeoff between the error rate percentage minimum and maximally tolerable slowness in the probabilistic neural network operation speed. The optimal number of clusters is found at an asymptotically minimal error rate percentage, or at an acceptable error rate percentage which corresponds to maximally tolerable slowness in operation speed. The optimality is practically referred to the simultaneous acceptability of error rate and operation speed.

MULTIPARAMETRIC DIAGNOSTICS OF GAS TURBINE ENGINES

This article addresses the issue of diagnostics and maintenance of Gas Turbine Engines which are located in high Speed Ferries, Cruisers, Frigates, Corvettes, etc. Assurance of reliable operation can be performed only by using correct diagnostic methods and procedures of monitoring the condition of the devices and by selecting the correct strategy of maintenance. The issue of monitoring the technical condition of Gas Turbine Engines is treated through multiparametric methods of technical diagnostics incorporated into predictive maintenance, which is a part of proactive maintenance. There are methods of vibrodiagnostics, thermography, tribology, borescopy and emissions measurement. Each of these methods has lots of advantages and disadvantages; therefore it is very important to ensure their correct combination for trouble-free operation of those important facilities. Their suitability at work is discussed in the matrix of diagnostic methods application and the PF chart. The output of the work is a proposal of a suitable model of maintenance control which uses multiparametric diagnostic methods for small and big Gas Turbine Engines and optimizes maintenance costs.

Reasoning of additional diagnostic parameters for electric insulation diagnostics by absorption methods

The aim of this work is to analyze the inadequacies of the diagnostic parameters, in particular the absorption and polarization coefficients, which are manifested in their integral character and dependence on the ratio of values of several elements of the equivalent scheme of insulation replacement. This article contains the results of theoretical investigation of the extremе nature of the absorption diagnostic parameters, which leads to unambiguity of the diagnostics procedure. The ways of partial adjustment of this unambiguity have been proposed. Methodology. To determine the extremality of the absorption coefficients depending on the absorption time, absorption capacity and resistance, as well as the leakage resistance, the usual method of investigating the functions was used, detailed calculations have been obtained by using MATLAB software. Results. Has been shown that the ambiguity of diagnostic results is caused by the contradiction of the integral character of the diagnostic parameters and the local character of the isolation failures, in particular breakdown, by ambiguous dependence of the diagnostic parameters on the values of the elements of the insulation replacement scheme and the extremal nature of the diagnostic parameters. Based on the general expression describing all currently used absorption coefficients, it is shown that they all have an extremum, the value of which depends on the parameters of the insulation substitution scheme and the time interval between the measurements of the absorption current. The dependence of the extreme value of the absorption and polarization coefficients on the parameters of the insulation substitution scheme has been established. Has been shown that to eliminate the ambiguity caused by the extremity of the absorption coefficients, it is necessary to introduce additional diagnostic parameters, such as the ratio of leakage resistance to absorption resistance, as well as the critical value of the absorption time constant. Originality. The detailed analysis of the reasons of ambiguity of electric insulation technical diagnostics by absorption methods has been carried out. A method for eliminating the ambiguity caused by the extremity of the absorption coefficients has been proposed. Practical significance. To eliminate the ambiguity caused by the extremity of the absorption coefficients, additional diagnostic parameters are proposed – the ratio of leakage resistance to the absorption resistance and critical values of the absorption time constant. The applying of these parameters with the absorption coefficients will more adequately assess the technical condition of insulation.