Sentient Energy, Inc. and Landis+Gyr have announced a new automated provisioning capability for Landis+Gyr’s S610 Line Sensor. As a result, this intelligent fault circuit indicator, developed by Sentient Energy, can now be deployed as a plug-and-play network component in Landis+Gyr’s Gridstream Distribution Intelligence solution.
“By further automating this part of the deployment process, utilities more quickly realize benefits in the field,” said John Radgowski, Vice President of Solutions Product Management at Landis+Gyr. “In addition to substantial time and cost savings on each unit deployed, the ability to place sensors anywhere in the network without prior programming streamlines the planning process for faster return on investment.”
A key feature of Landis+Gyr’s Gridstream solution is the ability to bring distributed intelligence to any device on the network to further automate decision making and utility workflows. The S610 Line Sensor’s unique, plug-and-play capability is enabled by a built-in GPS functions and a precision clock that provides both location and micro-second accurate time information.
“Our mesh network line sensor deployments are the largest in North America,” said Jim Keener, CEO of Sentient Energy. “The S610 is the most advanced fault circuit indicator and line sensor available for use in smart grid networks powered by Landis+Gyr. The sensor can now use the built-in capabilities and intelligence already in the device to help utilities manage inventory, speed deployment and deliver a more reliable and responsive distribution grid.”
Sentient Energy and Landis+Gyr have already shipped or deployed more than 2,000 line sensors with this capability, and expect shipments to increase rapidly in 2016 and 2017.
The S610 Line Sensor is an intelligent fault sensor that further extends the distribution monitoring capabilities of Landis+Gyr’s RF mesh network for distribution automation. It delivers fault location and accurate load logging from any point on the distribution network, improving visibility of distribution grid performance. Additionally, the device is a power harvesting sensor that generates necessary power from the current flowing in the distribution line and is capable of sensing current, conductor temperature and voltage characteristics. Sentient Energy line sensor deployments at leading U.S. utilities have demonstrated significant improvements in System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI), System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) and Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI).
