Detta arbete har genomförts på uppdrag av SCA Munksund, för att undersöka möjligheten att tillståndsövervaka hydraulpumpar med hjälp av smarta sensorer som mäter vibrationer och temperatur. Hydraulpumpar är svåra att tillståndsövervaka, och möjligheten att prediktera ett haveri i ett tidigt skede är väldigt svårt. Haverier på hydraulpumpar sker oftast inte direkt efter att ett fel har uppstått, utan efter en längre period, med däremot sker haverier på hydraulpumpar oftast utan förvarning och är mycket kostsamma för processindustrin, där materialkostnaden utgör en liten del jämfört med kostnaden som följd av produktionsförlusten. En möjlighet för bättre och effektivare tillståndsövervakning är att använda vibrationssensorer som i ett tidigt skede indikerar när pumpen avviker från sitt normaltillstånd, och på så sätt planera in underhållsarbete vid exempelvis nästkommande underhållsstopp, utan att behöva stoppa produktionen. Just därför har det valts att undersöka olika sensorparametrar för att identifiera hydraulpumparnas normaltillstånd, och utifrån det bestämma lämpliga larmgränser. Vibrationsmätningarna har genomförts under ca en månad på två hydraulpumpar, en som är relativt ny och en som är äldre. Huvudfokuset har varit att övervaka vibration och temperatur under varierande pumpbelastning/effekt och även att övervaka kolvslitage och lagertillstånd. Med användning av smarta vibrationssensorer har larmgränser kunnat identifierats för båda pumparna. Däremot måste fler mätningar utföras för att säkerställaatt de larmgränser som presenteras i denna rapport är korrekta och kan användas i framtiden. SCA Munksund har nu tillgång till alla mätningar och dokumentation som har utförts för båda hydraulpumparna, och kan nu arbeta vidare för att på sikt tillhandhålla mer specifika larmgränser. / This work has been carried out on behalf of SCA Munksund, to investigate the possibility of condition monitoring hydraulic pumps using smart sensors that measure vibrations and temperature. Hydraulic pumps are difficult to condition monitor, and the ability to predict a failure at an early stage is very difficult. Breakdowns on hydraulic pumps usually do not happen immediately after a fault has occurred, but after a longer period, but on the other hand, breakdowns on hydraulic pumps usually happen without warning and are very costly for the process industry, where the cost of materials constitutes a small part compared to the cost resulting from the loss of production. One possibility for better and more efficient condition monitoring is to use vibration sensors that indicate at an early stage when the pump deviates from its normal state, and in this way plan maintenance work at, for example, the next maintenance stop, without having to stop the production. Precisely for this reason, it has been chosen to investigate various sensor parameters to identify the normal state of the hydraulic pumps and based on that to determine suitable thresholds. Vibration measurements have been carried out for about a month on two hydraulic pumps, one that is relatively new and one that is older. The main focus has been on monitoring vibration and temperature under varying pump load/effect and also to monitor piston wear and bearing condition. With the use of smart vibration sensors, thresholds have been identified for both pumps. However, more measurements must be performed to ensure that the thresholds presented in this report are correct and can be used in the future. SCA Munksund now has access to all measurements and documentation that have been carried out for both hydraulic pumps and can now work further to provide more specific thresholds.

Vor dem Hintergrund einer messdatengetriebenen Instandhaltung und Prozessoptimierung gewinnen Konzepte wie Condition Monitoring zunehmend an Bedeutung. Zur schnellen inline-Bewertung insbesondere zerspanender Fertigungsverfahren ist dazu die Messung mechanischer Schwingungen erforderlich. Berührungslose optische Sensorik spielt aufgrund hoher Auflösungen und Abtastraten eine wachsende Rolle. In diesem Gebiet positioniert sich die vorliegende Arbeit und leistet einen Beitrag für die alternative Schwingungssensorik. Für den Anwendungsfall eines zu überwachenden Längsdrehprozesses wird die astigmatische Fokusdetektion als einfaches Messverfahren sowie als Ergänzung zum bestehenden Technikstand identifiziert. Die Eignung dieses in optischen Leseköpfen (Pickup-Einheiten) verwendeten Verfahrens kann durch eine multikriterielle Bewertung anhand der Literatur beurteilt werden. Simulationen sowie der Realaufbau eines prototypischen auf DVD-Pickup-Einheiten basierenden Vibrations-Messsystems lassen Erkenntnisse über die Skalierbarkeit und Handhabung des Ansatzes zu. Im Rahmen eines Feldtests des Pickup Messsystems werden Werkzeugschwingungen in einem Längsdrehprozess inline erfasst. Im Ergebnis lassen sich die entsprechenden Amplituden-Frequenz-Spektren des Messsignals mit nachträglichen Profilmessungen des Werkstücks vergleichen. Der vorgestellte Ansatz kann während der Bearbeitung einen Rückschluss auf die Werkstück-Welligkeit ermöglichen.

Partial discharge (PD) measurements have been widely accepted as an efficient online insulation condition assessment method in high voltage equipment. Two sets of experimental PD measuring setups were established with the aim to study the variations in the partial discharge characteristics over the insulation degradation in terms of the physical phenomena taking place in PD sources, up to the point of failure. Probabilistic lifetime modeling techniques based on classification, regression and multivariate time series analysis were performed for a system of PD response variables, i.e. average charge, pulse repetition rate, average charge current, and largest repetitive discharge magnitude over the data acquisition period. Experimental lifelong PD data obtained from samples subjected to accelerated degradation was used to study the dynamic trends and relationships among those aforementioned response variables. Distinguishable data clusters detected by the T-Stochastics Neighborhood Embedding (tSNE) algorithm allows for the examination of the state-of-the-art modeling techniques over PD data. The response behavior of trained models allows for distinguishing the different stages of the insulation degradation. An alternative approach utilizing a multivariate time series analysis was performed in parallel with Classification and Regression models for the purpose of forecasting PD activity (PD response variables corresponding to insulation degradation). True observed data and forecasted data mean values lie within the 95th percentile confidence interval responses for a definite horizon period, which demonstrates the soundness and accuracy of models. A life-predicting model based on the cointegrated relations between the multiple response variables, trained model responses correlated with experimentally evaluated time-to-breakdown values and well-known physical discharge mechanisms, can be used to set an emergent alarming trigger and as a step towards establishing long-term continuous monitoring of partial discharge activity. Furthermore, this dissertation also proposes an effective PD monitoring system based on wavelet and deflation compression techniques required for an optimal data acquisition as well as an algorithm for high-scale, big data reduction to minimize PD data size and account only for the useful PD information. This historically recorded useful information can thus be used for, not only postault diagnostics, but also for the purpose of improving the performance of modelling algorithms as well as for an accurate threshold detection.

Strukturüberwachung und Condition Monitoring spielen in vielen Gebieten der Technik eine große Rolle. Zur Überwachung von Leichtbaustrukturen aus faserverstärkten Kunststoffen bietet sich hierfür besonders die Körperschall-Analyse an. Am Markt etabliert sind hierfür piezoelektrische Signalaufnehmer. Diese Arbeit stellt eine kostengünstige Alternative in Form von mikromechanischen Körperschall-Sensoren vor. Eine Besonderheit stellt hierbei das Prinzip des mechanischen Bandpasses dar. Es wird die Elektronik- und Gehäuseentwicklung sowie die experimentelle Untersuchung dargelegt. / Structural health monitoring is of vital importance in many technical fields. For monitoring of lightweight structures made from fiber reinforced plastics especially acoustic emission testing is used. Commercially available transducers utilize the piezoelectric effect. This thesis introduces a cost efficient alternative in form of micromechanical sensors, in particular sensors using the principle of a mechanical bandpass. The design of electronics and the packaging as well as experimental investigations are provided.

A importância das novas tecnologias de informação, automação, monitoramento e sistemas eletrônicos inteligentes têm aumentado significativamente nos últimos anos. Essas tecnologias desempenham um papel fundamental na sociedade moderna e contribuem de forma decisiva para a resolução de importantes desafios para uma sociedade que quer ser mais próspera, internacionalmente competitiva, saudável, segura e sustentável. Como eixo de \"inovação\", essas tecnologias são fatores importantes para todos os setores produtivos da economia. O motor destas tecnologias, entretanto, é a energia, particularmente a eletricidade. Assim, em uma sociedade cujo estilo de vida é fortemente dependente dela, desenvolver tecnologias que permitam não somente a geração, mas também a distribuição de energia de forma barata e limpa e que garantam seu fornecimento ao longo do tempo com a máxima eficiência é uma questão prioritária. Os sistemas baseados em redes inteligentes (do inglês: Smart Grid) vêm, justamente, atender a esses requisitos, representando o que há de mais moderno no setor elétrico, com aumento e diversificação de fontes de geração distribuída na forma de pequenos geradores, maior interação consumidor-distribuidor de energia, integração de diferentes fontes de geração renováveis (ex.: solar, eólica etc.). O cenário energético nacional está avançando de forma muito rápida. Nas distribuidoras, o foco claramente está na redução de perdas comerciais e de custos operacionais, principalmente por meio da modernização dos ativos e da crescente instalação de dispositivos eletrônicos inteligentes nos clientes de baixa tensão (ex.: medidores eletrônicos, dispositivos eletrônicos inteligentes para monitoramento e diagnóstico, relés digitais etc.). Esta tese de doutorado apresenta uma solução com tecnologia nacional que disponibiliza todos os benefícios do Smart Grid através dos equipamentos mais importantes e estratégicos presentes na topologia das Redes de Distribuição Subterrânea Secundária Trifásica: os Protetores de Redes. A partir do centro nevrálgico das Redes de Distribuição Subterrâneas (RDS), cuja topologia está presente nos centros de alta concentração de carga das principais metrópoles do Brasil, a solução desenvolvida pode viabilizar técnica e economicamente a modernização da automação da RDS, com tecnologia nacional de baixo custo, proporcionando igualmente a incorporação dos avanços do Smart Grid e da Geração Distribuída. Este salto tecnológico significaria para as distribuidoras de energia elétrica entre outros benefícios: Melhor controle do processo para uma melhor otimização da rede, desde integração das intermitentes fontes renováveis até uma interação mais dinâmica com os consumidores; Maior flexibilidade às concessionárias em relação ao uso da energia para atingir o grande objetivo social de redução do efeito estufa e otimização do consumo de energia reduzindo perdas e desperdícios; No curto prazo, os benefícios diretos da melhoria do gerenciamento da indisponibilidade, gerenciamento otimizado dos ativos e do capital, melhoria no planejamento, processos e serviços de fornecimento e usos finais de energia, aumento de eficiência de manutenção, redução de perdas técnicas e comerciais, otimização do investimento na compra de novos protetores com menores custos podendo superar a demanda reprimida pelos altos custos de alternativas importadas. / The importance of new technologies in the field of, automation, monitoring, information technology and electronic systems have increased significantly in recent years. These technologies play a basic role in the modern society and contribute of decisive way for the resolution of important challenges for a society that is in search of a more prosperous life, internationally competitive, healthful, safe and sustainable. As a key of \"innovation\", these technologies are key factors for all the productive sectors of the economy in the society. The fuel for the engine of these technologies, however, is the energy, particularly the electricity. Thus, in a society whose life style is strongly dependent of electricity, to develop technologies that not only allow the generation, but also the distribution of energy in a cheap and clean way and which could guarantee its supply throughout the time with the maximum efficiency is a priority issue. The systems based on intelligent networks fully meet these requirements, representing what there is of most modern in the electric sector. The Brazilian energy scenario is quickly changing over the recent years toward modernization, with more distributed generation, in the form of smaller generators, more customer interaction, the integration of more variable resources such as wind and solar, and more renewables overall. For the Power Utilities, especially in the Distribution Sector, the focus is clearly in the reduction of commercial losses and operational costs, mainly by means of the modernization of the assets and an increase in the installation of intelligent electronic devices at consumers side (e.g.: electronic energy meters, intelligent electronic devices for condition monitoring, digital relays etc.). This work presents a solution developed based on Brazilian technology that incorporates all the benefits of smart grid to the most important equipment that is present in the topology of the Low-Voltage Secondary Network Distribution System: the Network Protector. From the neuralgic center of these Low-Voltage Secondary Network Systems, which topology is used in the most important cities in Brazil, which has a high load concentration, the solution presented here make it feasible technically and economically the use of smart grid topology profiting from its great benefits such as: Allow utilities to better optimize the grid to support a number of public policies, from intermittent renewable integration to more dynamic interfaces with customers; Offer utilities more flexibility relative to how they use energy toward the greater societal objectives of reducing greenhouse gases and energy consumption. In the short and mid term, a smarter grid offers utilities operational benefits (outage management, improved processes, maintenance and workforce efficiency, reduced losses, etc.) as well as benefits associated with improved asset management (system planning, better capital asset utilization, etc.), lower investment to acquire new Network Protectors.

Ce travail de thèse traite de la détection des défauts mécaniques des roulements à billes par analyse de grandeurs mécaniques et électriques dans des machines synchrones à aimants permanents haute vitesse. Le domaine applicatif de ce travail concerne l'aéronautique. Généralement, pour surveiller l'état des roulements à billes dans un actionneur électrique, des mesures vibratoires sont réalisées. Elles permettent, en exploitant le spectre du signal vibratoire, de mettre facilement en évidence la détérioration du roulement. Cette méthode de surveillance est cependant relativement couteuse en termes d'instrumentation et le placement d'un capteur vibratoire dans des équipements à fort degré d'intégration est parfois difficile. Nous proposons dans ce mémoire d'utiliser d'autres grandeurs physiques prélevées sur le système pour réaliser la surveillance de ces défauts. Il peut s'agir de grandeurs mécaniques (vitesse, position par exemple) et de grandeurs électriques (courant statorique, courant onduleur par exemple). L'utilisation de données déjà disponibles dans l'équipement pour les besoins de la commande permet ainsi de supprimer le système d'acquisition vibratoire. A partir d'enregistrements temporels de données réalisées au cours de campagnes d'essais, nous proposons des méthodologies de traitement du signal permettant d'extraire automatiquement des informations sensibles au défaut à surveiller. L'idée finale est de construire des indicateurs de l'état de santé des roulements permettant de prendre « juste à temps » des décisions fiables relatives à la maintenance ou à la sécurisation de l'équipement. Pour construire ces indicateurs, les signatures spécifiques aux défauts de roulements sont étudiées de manière théorique et expérimentale, pour l'ensemble des grandeurs prélevées. Leurs propriétés sont mises en évidence, permettant ainsi de définir les bandes fréquentielles les plus contributives au diagnostic. L'extraction de ces signatures est réalisée dans le domaine fréquentiel selon plusieurs méthodes. Deux types d'indicateurs automatiques différents sont proposés. Le premier est construit directement à partir du spectre d'amplitude des grandeurs par extraction de l'amplitude des harmoniques dans des bandes fréquentielles particulières. Le second intègre une dimension statistique dans l'analyse en exploitant le caractère aléatoire de certains harmoniques pour détecter la présence du défaut. Des critères de comparaison sont définis et utilisés pour étudier les performances des indicateurs proposés pour deux campagnes d'essais avec des roulements artificiellement dégradés, pour différentes vitesses de fonctionnement et pour différents paramètres de réglage des indicateurs. / This Ph.D. thesis deals with detection of mechanical bearings faults by analysis of mechanical and electrical signals in high speed permanent magnet synchronous machine. The application domain of this work concerns aeronautics. Generally, to monitor the ball bearings status in electrical actuator, the vibration measurements are used. They allow, by extracting the vibration spectrum, to easily detect the deterioration of the bearing. This monitoring method is relatively expensive in terms of instrumentation and placing a vibration sensor in equipment with a high integration degree can be difficult. We propose in this paper to use other physical quantities taken from the system to perform the monitoring of these defects. It may be mechanical quantities (for example speed, position) and electrical quantities (for example stator current, power inverter). From time recording of data carried out during test campaigns, we propose signal processing methodologies to automatically extract information sensitive to the monitored fault. The final idea is to construct indicators of bearings health and make decisions relating to maintenance or equipment security. To construct these indicators, specific bearing defects signatures are studied theoretically and experimentally, for all collected variables. The extraction of these signatures is carried out in frequency domain. Two different types of automatic indicators are proposed. The first is constructed directly from the amplitude spectrum by extraction of the harmonic amplitude of the spectrum in particular frequency bands. The second includes a statistical dimension analysis by exploiting the random nature of some harmonics to detect fault presence. Criteria of comparison are defined and used to study the proposed indicators performances for two trial campaigns with artificially degraded bearings, for different speed functioning and for different regulation of indicators parameters.

Cette thèse propose une méthode d'analyse des signaux triphasés pour la surveillance d'état des systèmes électromécaniques. La méthode proposée repose sur l'utilisation de la transformée en composantes symétriques instantanées et d'outils simples de traitement du signal pour détecter les défauts électriques et mécaniques dans de tels systèmes. Les avantages de cette approche triphasée par rapport à une approche monophasée pour la surveillance d'état sont étudiés en détail. Tout d'abord, pour les défauts électriques, l'utilisation de la transformée triphasée permet de séparer les composantes symétriques et asymétriques, et facilite ainsi la détection d'un déséquilibre électrique. Ensuite, pour les défauts mécaniques, l'approche par transformée en composantes symétriques permet de travailler dans des espaces avec un meilleur rapport signal à bruit. En effet, en appliquant le même traitement à la fois en monophasé et en triphasé sur les composantes symétriques, on observe que certains défauts mécaniques ne sont détectables qu’en utilisant la séquence positive des composantes symétriques. La méthodologie complète et les algorithmes pour calculer les indicateurs de défaut pour les défauts électriques et mécaniques sont donnés et les résultats sont validés sur signaux synthétiques et expérimentaux. En termes d'application, l'accent est mis sur la surveillance d'état des composants de turbines éoliennes. Toutefois, le procédé proposé peut être appliqué à des systèmes électromécaniques en général et peut facilement être étendu à des systèmes polyphasés. / This thesis proposes a three-phase electrical signals analysis method for condition monitoring of electromechanical systems. The proposed method relies on the use of instantaneous symmetrical components (ISCs) transform and simple signal processing tools to detect both electrical and mechanical faults in such systems. The advantages of using this three-phase approach for condition monitoring instead of single-phase ones are thoroughly detailed. Firstly, for electrical faults the use of the three-phase transform separates the balanced and unbalanced components thus making electrical unbalance detection easier. Secondly, for mechanical faults the ISCs approach has better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Indeed, by applying the same processing to both single-phase and ISCs, some mechanical faults are only detectable using the positive-sequence ISC. The complete methodology and algorithms to compute fault indicators for both electrical and mechanical faults are given and the results are validated using synthetic and experimental signals. In terms of application, the focus was on condition monitoring of wind turbine components. However, the proposed method can be applied on electromechanical systems in general and can easily be extended to poly-phase systems.

Für den zielgerichteten Einsatz von präventiven und mitigativen Notfallmaßnahmen sowie zur Beurteilung ihrer Wirksamkeit während auslegungsüberschreitender Unfälle in Druckwasserreaktoren aber auch für Hinweise zum Störfallverlauf und für die Abschätzung der Auswirkungen auf die Anlagenumgebung müssen geeignete Störfallinstrumentierungen vorhanden sein. Insbesondere der Zustand des Reaktordruckbehälterinventars (RDB-Inventar) während der In-Vessel-Phase eines auslegungsüberschreitenden Unfalls lässt sich mit aktuellen Störfallinstrumentierungen nur stark eingeschränkt überwachen, wodurch die o. g. Forderungen nicht erfüllt werden können. Die vorliegende Arbeit beinhaltet detaillierte Untersuchungen für die Entwicklung einer Störfallinstrumentierung, welche eine durchgängige Zustandsüberwachung des RDB-Inventars während der In-Vessel-Phase eines auslegungsüberschreitenden Unfalls ermöglicht. Die Störfallinstrumentierung basiert auf der Messung und Klassifikation von unterschiedlichen Gammaflussverteilungen, welche während der In-Vessel-Phase außerhalb des Reaktordruckbehälters auftreten können. Ausgehend von der Analyse zum Stand von Wissenschaft und Technik wird der modell-basierte Ansatz für Structural Health Monitoring-Systeme genutzt, um eine grundlegende Vorgehensweise für die Entwicklung der Störfallinstrumentierung zu erarbeiten. Anschließend erfolgt eine detaillierte Analyse zu den Vorgängen während der In-Vessel-Phase und eine daraus abgeleitete Definition von Kernzuständen für einen generischen Kernschmelzunfall. Für die definierten Kernzustände werden mittels Simulationen (Monte-Carlo-Simulationen zum Gammastrahlungstransport in einem zu dieser Arbeit parallel laufenden Vorhaben) Gammaflüsse außerhalb des Reaktordruckbehälters berechnet. Die Simulationsergebnisse dienen dem Aufbau von Datenbasen für die Entwicklung und Analyse eines Modells zur Klassifikation von Gammaflussverteilungen. Für die Entwicklung des Klassifikationsmodells kommen drei diversitäre und unabhängig arbeitende Klassifikationsverfahren (Entscheidungsbaum, k-nächste-Nachbarn-Klassifikation, Multilayer Perzeptron) zur Anwendung, um die Identifikationsgenauigkeit und Robustheit der Störfallinstrumentierung zu erhöhen. Die abschließenden Betrachtungen umfassen die Validierung der Störfallinstrumentierung mittels eines Versuchstandes zur Erzeugung unterschiedlicher Gammaflussverteilungen. Im Ergebnis der Untersuchungen konnte die prinzipielle Funktionsweise der entwickelten Störfallinstrumentierung nachgewiesen werden. Unter der Voraussetzung, die Gültigkeit der definierten Kernzustände zu untermauern sowie weitere, nicht in dieser Arbeit betrachtete Kernschmelzszenarien mit in die Entwicklung der Störfallinstrumentierung einzubeziehen, steht somit insbesondere für zukünftige Kernkraftwerke mit Druckwasserreaktoren eine Möglichkeit für die messtechnische Überwachung des RDB-Inventars während auslegungsüberschreitender Unfälle bereit. Die Arbeit leistet einen wesentlichen Beitrag auf dem Gebiet der Reaktorsicherheitsforschung sowie für den sicheren Betrieb von kerntechnischen Anlagen.

Les entraînements électriques à base de machine asynchrone sont largement utilisés dans les applications industrielles en raison de leur faible coût, de leurs performances et de leur robustesse. Cependant, des modes de fonctionnement dégradés peuvent apparaître durant la vie de la machine. L'une des raisons principales de ces défaillances reste les défauts de roulements à billes. Afin d'améliorer la sûreté de fonctionnement des entraînements, des schémas de surveillance peuvent être mis en place afin d'assurer une maintenance préventive. Ce travail de thèse traite de la détection et du diagnostic des défauts mécaniques et plus particulièrement des défauts de roulements dans une machine asynchrone. Généralement, une surveillance vibratoire peut être mise en place. Cette méthode de surveillance est cependant souvent chère du fait de la chaîne de mesure. Une approche, basée sur l'analyse et le traitement des courants statoriques, est alors proposée, afin de suppléer à l'analyse vibratoire. L'étude est basée sur l'existence et la caractérisation des effets des oscillations du couple de charge sur les courants d'alimentation. Un schéma de détection est alors introduit pour détecter différents types de défauts de roulements. De plus, des variables mécaniques, telles que la vitesse ou le couple, sont également reconstruites afin de fournir une indication sur la présence de défauts de roulements. Par ailleurs, un diagnostic des modulations des courants statoriques est proposé, en régime permanent et en régime transitoire, quel que soit le rapport entre les fréquences porteuse et modulante. Les méthodes étudiées sont la transformée de Hilbert, la transformée de Concordia, l'amplitude et la fréquence instantanées ainsi que la distribution de Wigner-Ville. / Asynchronous drives are widely used in many industrial applications because of their low cost, high performance and robustness. However, faulty operations may appear during the lifetime of the system. The most frequently encountered faults in asynchronous drives come from rolling bearings. To improve the availability and reliability of the drives, a condition monitoring may be implemented to favor the predictive maintenance. This Ph.D. thesis deals with detection and diagnosis of mechanical faults, particularly rolling bearings defects in induction motors. Traditionally, bearing monitoring is supervised using vibration analysis. Measuring such quantities is often expensive due to the measurement system. An other approach, based on stator current analysis, is then proposed. The characterization of load torque oscillation effects on stator currents is studied. A detection scheme is then proposed to detect several types of bearing faults. Moreover, mechanical variables, such as rotating speed or torque, are estimated in order to detect bearings defects. In addition, a diagnosis of stator currents modulations is proposed, in steady and transient state, whatever the career and modulation frequencies. Hilbert transform, Concordia transform, instantaneous amplitude and frequency are studied. The Wigner-Ville distribution is used in transient state.

Power and Generator Transformers are important and expensive elements of a power system. Inadvertent failure of Power Transformers would cause long interruption in power supply with consequent loss of reliability and revenue to the supply utilities. The mineral oil impregnated paper, OIP, is an insulation of choice in large power transformers in view of its excellent dielectric and other properties, besides being relatively inexpensive. During the normal working regime of the transformer, the insulation thereof is subjected to various stresses, the more important among them are, electrical, thermal, mechanical and chemical. Each of these stresses, appearing singly, or in combination, would lead to a time variant deterioration in the properties of insulation, called Ageing. This normal and inevitable process of degradation in the several essential properties of the insulation is irreversible, is a non-Markov physico-chemical reaction kinetic process. The speed or the rapidity of insulation deterioration is a very strong function of the magnitude of the stresses and the duration over which they acted. This is further compounded, if the stresses are in synergy. During the processes of ageing, some, or all the vital properties undergo subtle changes, more often, not in step with the duration of time over which the damage has been accumulated. Often, these changes are non monotonic, thus presenting a random or a chaotic picture and understanding the processes leading to eventual failure becomes difficult. But, there is some order in this chaos, in that, the time average of the changes over short intervals of time, seems to indicate some degree of predictability. The status of insulation at any given point in time is assessed by measuring such of those properties as are sensitive to the amount of ageing and comparing it with earlier measurements. This procedure, called the Diagnostic or nondestructive Testing, has been in vogue for some time now. Of the many parameters used as sensitive indices of the dynamics of insulation degradation, temporal changes in temperatures at different locations in the body of the transformer, more precisely, the winding hot spots (HST) and top oil temperature (TOT) are believed to give a fairly accurate indication of the rate of degradation. Further, an accurate estimation of the temperatures would enable to determine the loading limit (loadability) of power transformer. To estimate the temperature rise reasonably accurately, one has to resort to classical mathematical techniques involving formulation and solution of boundary value problem of heat conduction under carefully prescribed boundary conditions. Several complications are encountered in the development of the governing equations for the emergent heat transfer problems. The more important among them are, the inhomogeneous composition of the insulation structure and of the conductor, divergent flow patterns of the oil phase and inordinately varying thermal properties of conductor and insulation. Validation and reconfirmation of the findings of the thermal models can be made using state of the art methods, such as, Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Genetic Algorithm (GA). Over the years, different criteria have been prescribed for the prediction of terminal or end of life (EOL) of equipment from the standpoint of its insulation. But, thus far, no straightforward and unequivocal criterion is forth coming. Calculation of elapsed life in line with the existing methodology, given by IEEE, IEC, introduces unacceptable degrees of uncertainty. It is needless to say that, any conformal procedure proposed in the accurate prediction of EOL, has to be based on a technically feasible and economically viable consideration. A systematic study for understanding the dynamical nature of ageing in transformers in actual service is precluded for reasons very well known. Laboratory experiments on prototypes or pro-rated units fabricated based on similarity studies, are performed under controlled conditions and at accelerated stress levels to reduce experimental time. The results thereof can then be judiciously extrapolated to normal operating conditions and for full size equipment. The terms of reference of the present work are as follows; 1. Computation of TOT and HST Theoretical model based on Boundary Value Problem of Heat Conduction Application of AI Techniques 2. Experimental Investigation for estimating the Elapsed Life of transformers Based on the experimental investigation a semi-empirical expression has been developed to estimate the loss of life of power and station transformer by analyzing gas content and furfural dissolved in oil without performing off-line and destructive tests.