A Generalized Coverage Matrix Method for Power Quality Monitor Allocation Utilizing Genetic Algorithm

With the increase of sensitive loads and, in many cases, causing disturbances in distribution systems, power quality monitor allocation has become a subject with increasingly importance. Therefore, it becomes necessary to have well-formed strategies to allocate such equipment, since they have high cost that needs to be minimized. With this objective, this research provides a methodology for monitor’s allocation that seeks to minimize the amount of equipment needed to observe voltage sags in distribution systems. The developed methodology is based on the fault voltage matrix, to obtain the residual voltage during faults, on the coverage matrix and the application of a genetic algorithm as optimization tool. The research also brings as contribution, changes in traditional methodology to better represent the indicated phenomena in distribution systems and to give better support to fault location studies, justifying a development of a generalized coverage matrix. To test this methodology, the IEEE 34-node test feeder was utilized with promising results reported and commented further.