Optimal Micro-PMU Placement in Distribution Networks Considering Usable Zero-Injection Phase Strings

Real-time monitoring tools and their optimal measurement infrastructure are expected to play a critical role in smart grid applications. These applications require greater measurement precision and speed, which is not possible with conventional measurement devices. Due to their high economic burden and superseded technology, transmission level phasor measurement units (PMUs) are inappropriate for unbalanced active distribution networks (ADNs). Micro-synchrophasor technology is faster, less expensive with tighter accuracy tolerances. However, large-scale implementation of real-time monitoring instrumentation is economically unfeasible due to the size of ADNs, and successful deployment requires a new meter placement approach. In this paper, a micro-phasor measurement unit (
$\mu $
PMU or micro-PMU) placement technique is proposed considering the unique traits of ADNs, which establishes a new concept of usable zero-injection phase strings (UZIP Strings). The method is evaluated using the IEEE-13, IEEE-34, and IEEE-123 node distribution test feeders. The fidelity of the placement algorithm is further verified via a fault detection and localization study. The results indicate better performance than previous literature with minor placement variations between deterministic and meta-heuristic algorithms for the presented holistic and UZIP String reduction methods.