Methodology for Power Quality Monitors Allocation Considering Network Topology Changes

The challenge of choosing the best places for installing power quality monitors has been addressed over the years. This research field has proven to have advanced a lot, mostly in the monitoring of voltage sags and swells. The research started with transmission systems, then expanded to distribution systems, where power quality problems are more common. However, as distribution networks are constantly changing, there is more work to be done for the object of this study. This paper presents new advances in this subject by considering the uncertainties related to topology changes and distributed generation in a multi-objective optimization modeling previously reported. The Algorithm for Bicriteria Discrete Optimization (ABCDO) found an exact Pareto front and the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) was used to obtain alternative solutions for the Pareto set found by ABCDO. The proposed methodology found one solution that contemplates all considered scenarios of uncertainties. This achievement is important for utilities to establish their power quality monitoring program without any monitor replacement as the complexity level of their distribution networks grow.