Fuzzy Expert System for Condition Assessment of Medium-Voltage Distribution Cable Insulation in Saline Environments
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33019/Keywords:
Arduino, Cable Insulation, Electrical Treeing, Expert System, Fuzzy LogicAbstract
One cause of damage to medium-voltage cables is electrical treeing. This forms channels resembling tree branches in the cable insulation due to excessive electrical voltage. Electrical treeing can harm cable performance and cause short circuits between phase conductors. Short circuits in medium-voltage power networks increase fire risk and endanger electrical operators. This study aims to develop a non-destructive method for detecting defects in medium-voltage cables. The Arduino Mega and ESP32 microcontrollers were used because of the numerous parameters used to determine cable health and the need for a portable diagnostic tool that can be controlled from a safe distance for the user. This method enables faster damage identification, uses more accessible technology, and achieves greater accuracy through multi-parameter measurements. The research output is a prototype system that assesses the quality of medium-voltage cable insulation into six test parameters and six fuzzy rules based on mechanical and chemical data, resulting in a total of 216 unique rule combinations. The tested cable samples are assessed by an expert system with an accuracy rate of 95% from actual conditions and show a decrease in insulation quality from mechanical and electrical perspectives, which affects the distribution cable's service life.
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