Hybrid of Genetic Algorithm and Minimum Spanning Tree method for optimal PMU placements

Abstract The Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) generate a huge amount of data during the data acquisition process, which provokes congestion in data transmission. The traffic generation can be reduced by placing the PMUs at appropriate locations. To bridge this gap, Wide Area Monitoring Systems (WAMS) data traffic model has been implemented for PMUs. The main contribution of this technique is to satisfy complete observability, WAMS data traffic index and cost installation index by using the Hybrid algorithm of the Genetic Algorithm and Minimum Spanning Tree method (MST). The MST is combined with the Genetic Algorithm to repair the unobserved combinations of chromosomes. The proposed technique is tested with standard IEEE 7, 14, 30, 57, 118 bus power systems. The results show the efficacy of the proposed technique to find optimal locations. Also, the results of the proposed hybrid algorithm exhibit faster data transmission and convergence.