Optimum number and location of power quality monitors

An optimum power quality monitoring (PQM) system is required to monitor the electric system with a minimum cost. This work addresses the optimum power quality monitoring configuration that uses a minimum number of power quality (PQ) monitors and consequently reduce the cost of the PQM system. No doubt that reducing the number of PQ monitors will also reduce the redundancy in the data that leads to more efficient monitoring system. The cost function is formulated and the appropriated constraints are defined. The optimization problem is formulated in the form of covering and packing concept and the equations are manipulated by GAMS. The technique is applied to both simple 6-bus and IEEE 30-bus systems. The minimum number and locations of PQ monitors is determined and the results are discussed.