Optimal Placement of PMUs and Related Sensor-based Communication Infrastructures for Full Observability of Distribution Networks

Optimal installation of measurement units is an important issue in distribution systems. Phasor measurement units (PMUs) are used widely in wide area measurement system (WAMS). Transferring the measured data to the control center by a proper communication system is a key part of WAMS. In this paper, energy harvesting sensor nodes (EHSNs) are used as a communication infrastructure for connection of PMUs. The low cost and simple infrastructure of this system enable not only the full observability of communication system but also ensures adequate reliability levels. In the proposed model, the main objective is to minimize the number of EHSNs and PMUs considering the effect of conventional measurements and zero-injection buses with respect to the observability of the power system and communication network. A binary genetic algorithm is used for solving the proposed optimization problem. The proposed method is implemented on a sample 11 node and the IEEE 34 node test feeder to show the effectiveness of the method in the distribution network.