Optimal PMU placement solution: graph theory and MCDM‐based approach

In this study, a new method using graph theory and analytical hierarchy process (AHP)‐based multi‐criteria decision making approach has been proposed to solve optimal phasor measurement unit (PMU) placement (OPP) problem for complete network observability. The proposed approach assures maximum measurement redundancy too. A decision matrix is formed with some unique criteria from the concept of network graph theory and this helps to formulate priority vertex ranking using AHP. Candidate vertex search technique is used to enumerate the candidate PMU placement vertices from priority vertex ranking. The contribution of zero injection buses (ZIBs) in PMU placement problem has been considered. The proposed technique is further analysed for complete observability under single PMU loss or line outage cases. The proposed approach is tested on IEEE 14‐bus, 24‐bus, 30‐bus, 57‐bus, 118‐bus, and New England 39‐bus systems. To verify the computational efficiency and higher redundancy of solutions of the proposed method, the results are compared with some well‐established methods reported in the literature. The proposed method is further applied to IEEE 300‐bus, Polish 2383‐bus and 3120‐bus system to show the efficacy of the proposed approach in solving OPP in large scale power systems.