Parameter Tuning Analysis for Phase Identification Algorithms in Distribution System Model Calibration

The recent growth of sensing devices on the distribution system, such as smart meter deployment, has enabled a wide variety of data-driven distribution system model calibration algorithms. A challenge associated with developing algorithms for model calibration tasks is the determination of parameters for a particular algorithm. This work proposes a method for parameter selection utilizing silhouette score analysis that allows these parameters to be tuned on a per-feeder basis. This method leverages cluster analysis and the distance matrices often produced by phase identification methods. The proposed method was tested on 5 feeders from 2 different utilities to select the number of clusters used in a spectral clustering phase identification algorithm. A synthetic dataset was then used to validate the method with the phase identification algorithm performing with 100% accuracy.