Improving transformer failure classification on imbalanced DGA data using data-level techniques and machine learning

• Published in: ENERGY REPORTS
• Main Authors: Azmi, Putri Azmira R.; Yusoff, Marina; Sallehud-din, Mohamad Taufik Mohd
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: ELSEVIER 2025
• Subjects: Energy & Fuels
• Online Access: https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001386454100001

This study addresses the challenge of imbalanced dissolved gas analysis (DGA) data in transformer failure classification by assessing the impact of data-level balancing techniques on machine learning performance. Five data-level strategies - Random Under-Sampling (RUS), Edited Nearest Neighbors (ENN), NearMiss (NM), Random Over-Sampling (ROS), and ADASYN - were applied to balance the dataset and improve classification outcomes. The dataset includes key gas concentrations (H2, CH4, C2H6, C2H4, and C2H2) and a target defect variable (act). Three machine learning algorithms - Support Vector Machine, Decision Tree, and Random Forest - were tested, with results showing that ENN combined with SVM achieved the highest classification performance: 88% accuracy, 89.89% precision, 88.00% recall, 86.64% F1-score, and a runtime of 0.21 s. This approach demonstrates the effectiveness of data-level techniques in improving transformer fault diagnosis, offering a robust path forward for enhancing electrical power system reliability. Future research should refine these techniques and explore their integration with optimized models to enhance the accuracy of the proposed technique.