Demonstrates expanded underground solution capabilities and leadership at DISTRIBUTECH International
Sentient Energy announced new underground line sensor platform enhancements that aim to help utilities improve reliability and enable data-driven operational decision making. During DISTRIBUTECH International, May 23-25 in Dallas, Texas, Sentient Energy will showcase these new advancements, customer adoption, an ROI calculator, and new partnerships.
“We’ve taken steps to definitively address previously unmet needs for intelligent underground line sensing technologies and shared expertise,” said Bidesh Kar, Director of Product Management at Sentient Energy. “Our innovative underground system visibility and data solutions facilitate substantial reductions in customer outage times. And active participation in respected consortiums like Power Delivery Intelligence Initiative enables us to identify and deliver the most-needed underground reliability technologies for electric utilities. We look forward to showcasing our newest advancements and providing guidance to utilities on how to roll out successful underground monitoring initiatives during the upcoming DISTRIBUTECH show.”
New UM3+ Underground Line Sensor Platform Enhancements Set the Bar:
The UM3+ ™underground intelligent line sensor monitors up to 12 phases of underground circuits to detect, analyze, and communicate faults and non-fault disturbances. Previously powered by a single core, the underground line sensor can now be powered by two harvest cores, reducing the amp load on conductors from 12+ to 8+. This enhancement increases the number of feeder locations where the UM3+ can be deployed.
Residential Underground Monitoring Use Cases Now Underway:
Sentient Energy’s recently released UM1, an intelligent sensor designed specifically for single-phase underground residential distribution (URD) transformer cabinets. The UM1 extends visibility, fault detection, and load monitoring further along underground distribution circuits. Following the release of this industry-first, several customers across North America, including Texas’ New Braunfels Utilities, have begun pilot programs with UM1 sensors. These customer installations aim to address the need for increased visibility and reliable operations in residential distribution areas.
New Value Calculator Helps Utilities Assess Underground Line Sensor ROI:
To help estimate the value of adding line sensors to underground distribution system feeders, Sentient Energy created a new online tool—the Underground Line Sensing Value Calculator. This tool considers costs for line sensor hardware and software and the monetary value associated with reliability improvements. The calculator enables utilities to quantify savings due to improved reliability from underground line sensing and assess returns on their investments.
To learn more, visit Sentient Energy at DISTRIBUTECH International Booth #829.
