Optimal Placement of Phasor Measurement Unit System on the Hungarian Transmission Network

Traditional Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems face significant challenges in accurately measuring dynamic changes in power systems, owing to their limited sampling rates and lack of time synchronization. Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs), with their high sampling rates (30–60 Hz) and GPS synchronization, offer a superior alternative for real-time monitoring and simplified state estimation. This study introduces a novel optimization algorithm designed to determine the optimal placement of PMUs in the Hungarian transmission network. The algorithm employs mixed-integer linear programming implemented using Python and MATLAB to achieve comprehensive network observability with minimal PMU deployment. The Hungarian network graph was constructed from data provided in the Union for the Coordination of Transmission of Electricity (UCTE) data exchange format, and the placement algorithm was applied. The results indicate that full network observability can be achieved by placing the PMUs at approximately one-third of the buses. Furthermore, the algorithm provides a strategic sequence for PMU placement, ensuring maximum information capture with each additional PMU while prioritizing critical buses such as those connected to major power plants and cross-border transmission lines. This method is scalable and can be adapted for any power network provided in the UCTE data exchange format.