In an active distribution network (ADN), the optimal micro-PMU (μPMU) placement problem (OμPP) determines the location set with the minimal number of μPMUs that make the system observable. However, most approaches that solve OμPP provide a single location set limiting electrical power monitoring planning flexibility. Therefore, this paper presents an approach based on nonlinear programming (NLP) for solving the OμPP. The objective of the approach is to provide multiple location sets for OμPP that provide flexibility to electrical power monitoring planning. New constraints of the presence of distributed generations (DGs), zero injection buses (ZIBs), and communication line unavailability are taken into account for OμPP formulation. The proposed approach is implemented on the IEEE 69 distribution feeder, Indian-85 distribution feeder, and IEEE 123 distribution feeder. The results show that the proposed approach successfully provides multiple location sets with a minimal number of μPMUs.
K E Y W O R D Sbinary integer linear programming (BILP), distributed generation, micro-phasor measurement unit (μPMU), nonlinear programming (NLP)