Optimal phasor measurement units placement for full observability of power system using improved particle swarm optimisation

Penetration of renewable, advanced metering capabilities, and the urge for situational awareness, all calls for power system state estimation (SE). The SE with phasor measurement units (PMUs) is a powerful technique for full system observability. The results of the SE are more accurate, when using PMUs with optimal locations in the complex power systems. In this study, a proposed technique for optimal PMUs placement is discussed and implemented. The optimal PMUs locations will be determined using improved particle swarm optimisation algorithm. This study also presented an optimisation solution technique for the problem of SE using the weighted least square method, improved and based on optimal PMUs placement. A numerical observability analysis is also presented to check the validity of the proposed technique in power system SE based on gain matrix factorisation. The technique applies to the standard IEEE 14-, 30-, and 118-buses systems. The results showed high efficiency and good performance in power system SE when using optimal PMUs locations with full observability.