Use Case
Sentient Energy’s Grid Analytics SystemTM
Sentient Energy’s intelligent line sensors can be paired with non-communicating reclosers to give utilities improved visibility of their distribution system lateral lines. Our intelligent line sensors detect permanent and momentary faults and notify the Ample® Analytics Platform. Waveforms are captured for all faults and can be displayed and analyzed in Ample. Lateral load data is also available to improve load profiling and phase balancing.
How It Works
With Sentient Energy’s low-load ZM1TM line sensors deployed just downstream of single-phase reclosers utilities have greater real time awareness of their distribution system including:
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Momentary faults on laterals – Counts of momentary faults by lateral give reliability engineers more granular information to understand and improve SAIFI. This data can help identify vegetation issues and onset of equipment failures before they worsen and cause permanent faults.
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Permanent faults on laterals – When single phase reclosers on laterals open for a permanent fault, ZM1 line sensors provide operators immediate notification of the fault to speed up restoration processes.
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Detect lateral protection failures – Ample software combines data from MM3TM sensors on the feeder and ZM1 sensors on laterals to identify when single phase reclosers did not operate for a lateral fault causing the feeder recloser to open.
Results
The Sentient Energy Grid Analytics System, composed of intelligent line sensors and the Ample Analytics software platform, has been proven in the field to be an effective solution to add network communications to single phase recloser locations. This additional electric power system visibility makes grid operators more effective in their efforts to improve reliability.
