Comparison of Different Methods for Optimal Placement of PMUs

The paper compares three different methods for optimal placement of PMUs. The objective of the placement methods is to provide the maximum observability information of the electromechanical modes of interest. The first method is based on the observability factor analysis, the second on the sequential orthogonalization algorithm and the third combines coherency identification technique with the observability factor analysis. The methods are illustrated on the New England test system and assessed by applying a wide-area controller (WAC) for damping electromechanical oscillations in the system. The WAC is designed in each case based on using different PMU placement method. The effectiveness of the controller in damping critical electromechanical modes in the system is assessed using both, small disturbance and transient stability analysis.