Optimal PMU placement for small-signal stability assessment using Genetic algorithm

This paper proposes a multi-objective method-ology for optimal placement of Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) for small-signal stability assessment of a power system, through Prony analysis on the voltage signals measured by the PMUs, two objectives are considered: the optimal location with a minimum number of PMU and maximum SNR. The main idea behind the paper, is to use a multi-objective Genetic algorithm (MOGA) to find a good estimation of the eigen-values (frequency and damping) of both local and inter-area electromechanical oscillations in a power system, by finding the optimal number and location of PMUs giving system full observability and maximum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The proposed algorithm is tested in the IEEE 39-bus system, and the results have been validated with modal analysis from PSAT toolbox.