UM3+ UNDERGROUND LINE SENSOR
Increase Visibility of Underground Feeders
Sentient Energy’s UM3+ underground line sensor is an intelligent line sensor used to help utilities improve reliability. It captures and transmits accurate fault, disturbance, and load data from locations along underground feeders.
The UM3+ is a crucial element of Sentient Energy’s Grid Analytics System™. This system provides utilities with increased distribution system visibility to improve reliability and enable data-driven operational decision making.
This system consists of the MM3, MM3ai and ZM1 overhead line sensors, UM3+ and UM1 underground sensors, and the Ample® Analytics Platform.
UM3+ Underground Line Sensor Features
Powerful Sensing Capabilities
Sensing and measurement capabilities for the UM3+ include:
- Underground fault detection
- Highly accurate load and fault magnitude
- Waveform capture
- Equipped with GPS for location
- GPS / PPS-level precision clock for highly accurate time-stamping (thereby allowing collating waveforms with those from other devices to perform a thorough post-even analysis).
High Deployment Versatility
The UM3+ is offered in two form factors to support a range of installation types:
- The UM3+ Standard supports monitoring of up to 12 phases and can be installed in larger footprint equipment such as switch cabinets and above grade vaults.
- The UM3+ Compact fits in smaller enclosures such as junction boxes and is also submersible for use in manholes and below grade vaults.
Advanced Network Communications
Communications networks supported by the UM3+ include cellular, mesh, and a combination of both. The sensor is wirelessly configurable, allowing parameters to be adjusted as needed. Users can also streamline sensor management by remotely updating sensor configurations and firmware.
UM3+ Underground Line Sensor Applications
Underground Fault Detection and Location
The UM3+ Underground Line Sensor uses advanced algorithms to sense system faults on underground lines in real time, communicating fault information immediately to the utility control center for integration with SCADA, DMS, or OMS systems.
With more precise fault location information, operators can dispatch crews to the correct location, significantly reducing patrol time and outage duration.
Interruption & Disturbance Analysis
Equipped with high resolution waveform capture capability at a rate of 256 samples per cycle, the UM3+ captures and records waveforms of faults and line disturbances.
Complete waveform data for faults is immediately available in Ample, and waveform data for disturbances is stored locally on the UM3+ and is available to download to Ample analytics software when needed. Understanding the root causes of power system interruptions essential for improving distribution grid reliability.
Load Monitoring
System planning teams don’t always have load data for the locations they need to make the most effective planning decisions. This is especially important as DERs and EVs are increasingly added to power networks creating significant changes in historic load curves and making load forecasting much more complex. Not all substations are equipped to provide near real time loading information and those that are cannot provide granular enough actionable data. Visibility of system load at additional points along underground feeders by UM3+ line sensors can fill in data gaps and be used to refine the accuracy of network load flow models.
Check Out Our Underground Line Sensing Value Calculator
Three Ways to Power the UM3+
| UM3+ Powering Options | Image | 3 Phases | 6 Phases | 9 Phases | 12 Phases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Single harvest core |  |
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| 2. Two harvest cores with Y cable adapter |  |
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| 3. 100-240V AC Adapter |  |
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UM3+ Proven Field Deployments
