Application of heuristic algorithms to optimal PMU placement in electric power systems: An updated review

Phasor measurement unit (PMU) plays an important role in operation, protection, and control of modern power systems. PMU provides real time, synchronized measurements of bus voltage and branch current phasors. It is neither economical nor possible to place all the buses of the system with PMUs because of their high cost and communication facilities. Attaining the minimal number of PMUs to access an observable power system is the main objective of optimal PMU placement (OPP) problem, which is solved by utilizing different techniques. Graph theoretic and mathematical programming procedures have been first introduced to solve OPP problem, aiming to access power system observability. Heuristic method as an experience-based technique is defined as a quick method for obtaining solutions for optimization problems, in which optimal solutions are not achievable using mathematical methods in finite time. This paper provided the literature review on different heuristic optimization methods to solve the OPP problem. Then, the available methods were classified and compared with different points of views. Results from the tests of researches on heuristic algorithms with and without the consideration of zero-injection buses were compared and superiorities of the introduced heuristic concepts were demonstrated with relative to each other.