Robust wide-area measurement system for southern region of indian power grid using binary cuckoo search (BCS): A case study

Abstract

The current state estimators need to estimate the power system by means of the state variables i.e. voltage and current phasors accurately. Phasor measurement unit (PMU) is becoming a most prominent tool for monitoring, control and protection of electric networks, and hence it is required to employ them for the present and future power system networks. An optimal PMU placement (OPP) is quite important during planning studies for both existing and future power networks. So, when a new state estimator commissioned, or an existing estimator is up-graded, the problems of minimizing the number of PMUs and their optimal location for system complete observability will come into picture. The approach, in this paper, a Binary Cuckoo Search(BCS) method for system complete Observability based optimal PMU placement problem subjected to all possible contingencies and PMU communication channel limitations is suggested. The suggested method is tested with some of standard IEEE test systems and have been practiced for different State Level Regional power Grids (SLRGs) of the Indian power system. The results from the suggested method are also compared with the methods that have been already applied for standard IEEE test systems and SLRGs, and were proved to be best and effective.