Optimum PMU placement considering one Line/ One PMU outage and maximum redundancy using genetic algorithm

Phasor measurement unit (PMU) is a power system device capable of synchronously measuring the voltage and current phasor in a power system. The ability to calculate synchronized phasors makes the PMUs one of the most important measuring devices. Due to the cost factor or due to nonexistence of communication facilities in some substations, it is difficult to place the PMU on each bus of the system. This paper presents the genetic algorithm (GA) method for obtaining the optimum placement of PMUs for complete observability of the system. The problem has been divided into two parts (i) obtaining minimum number of PMUs required for complete system observability considering one line/ one PMU outage, and (ii) obtaining the optimum location to place these PMUs for getting maximum redundancy in observability. Numerical results of applying this method to sample systems are given.