A Spanning Tree Approach in Placing Multi-channel and Minimum Channel PMU’s for Power System Observability

Abstract

Synchronized phasor measurements have become the measurement technique of choice for electric power systems. They provide positive sequence voltage and current measurements synchronized to within a microsecond. The objective is to use the spanning tree approach and tree search technique for optimal placement of multichannel and minimum channel synchronized phasor measurement units (PMUs) in order to have full observability of Power System. The novel concept of depth of observability is used and its impact on the number of PMU placements is explained.  The spanning tree approach is used for the power system graphs and a tree search technique is used for finding the optimal location of PMUs. This is tested on IEEE-14 and IEEE-30 bus system. The same technique is modified to optimally place minimum channel PMUs on the same IEEE-14 and IEEE-30 bus systems. Matlab tool has been used for fulfilling the objective.