Optimal placement of PMUs using differential evolution

In the present paper differential evolution methodology has been proposed to place minimum number of phasor measurement units (PMUs) at strategic locations of the power system such that the system is completely observable. Concept of integer programming formulation has been utilized for ensuring the observability of the system configuration and to determine the optimal number and position of the PMUs differential evolution method is used in the present work. The proposed method has been applied on the seven bus system, IEEE 14-bus system and IEEE 57-bus system for optimal placement of PMUs with and without the consideration of zero injection bus pseudo-measurements. Results thus obtained have also been validated with other methods viz. integer programming method and particle swarm optimization.