The application of genetic algorithm in diagnostics of metal-oxide surge arrester

•Metal-oxide surge arrester (MOSA) diagnostics technique is presented.•The technique is based on operating voltage and leakage current measurements.•Genetic algorithm (GA) is used to determine equivalent MOSA model parameters.•Influence of voltage harmonics on the algorithm performance is examined.

This paper deals with the problem of metal-oxide surge arrester (MOSA) diagnostics. The proposed methodology is based on a genetic algorithm optimization technique. The genetic algorithm (GA) is applied to determine the parameters of MOSA equivalent model. According to the assessed parameters, which change during the lifetime of the MOSA, the MOSA condition can be determined. For this purpose, the realistic measurement data of the operating voltage and the leakage current is used. Additionally, computer simulations are conducted in order to demonstrate the influence of the operating voltage harmonics on the algorithm performance and dynamics. The proposed algorithm is tested on realistic MOSA in laboratory conditions.