An intelligent assistant for designing distribution transformers

Distribution transformers constitute the most numerous and varied types of transformers used on the electricity supply network. Its design is normally based on traditional calculations and empirical knowledge, which is on the hands of experimented design engineers. Consequently, the computer assisted design of distribution transformers is a particular need for manufacturers, who try to save experimented engineering-design man-hours, increase design capacity, reduce the delivery cycle and optimize the use of materials. In this paper, an intelligent design assistant (IDA) is proposed that consists in a knowledge-based system that combines object-oriented, rule-based, and procedural programming techniques to assist in the design of power distribution transformers. It was developed by a process of interviews, knowledge engineering and coupled with an assessment of the current state of the technology to bridge the gap between practice and theory. To illustrate the validation of the IDA, the results achieved by a novice engineer to design a 1500 kVA, 13.2/0.22 kV distribution transformer are presented.