Power distribution grid analytics and sensor company Sentient Energy, is rolling out Ample 7.0, the latest version of its grid analytics system, as well as the MM3ai line sensor system.
Offered in a bundle called the MM3ai System, the solution uses an artificially intelligent analytics module that automatically informs operators of impending outages via daily dashboards and alerts.
Ample 7.0’s architecture enables new flexible deployment models and turnkey integration capabilities to allow utilities to securely integrate distribution grid data with SCADA or other utility management platforms. The new solutions enhance utility operators’ ability to reduce line failures and power outages with accurate predictions of faults in their distribution grid.
The Ample 7.0 analytics platform deciphers and prioritizes distribution line data from any grid location. The MM3ai System bundle includes new MM3ai overhead line sensors, which gather accurate feeder data at targeted locations, and the new Ample software, which aggregates sensor data for visualization and integration with utility operations systems.
Disturbance data from the sensors is passed from Ample into Sentient Energy’s proprietary analytics module, which then applies artificial intelligence models to accurately identify, categorize and report precursor anomalies that indicate impending faults. The system provides a daily report that identifies feeder segments with high rates of these precursor anomalies, giving operators the precise information needed to detect and prevent line failures and power outages.
Ample 7.0 is designed to support the efficient deployment and maintenance of line sensor fleets of any size, up to 50,000 end points. A new architecture enables Ample’s applications and services to be self-healing and configured to run in parallel on multiple instances for built-in redundancy. Ample also supports disaster recovery by configuring the solution to run in multiple computing networks that include servers in different physical locations. The system is protected by a zero-trust authorization security framework to ensure data between sensors and Ample is always protected. In addition, upgrades to the Ample Sensor Gateway can be applied with zero downtime.
Ample 7.0 also features a data concentrator for easy integration of sensor data such as event sequence, load logs, oscillography, and line disturbances into utilities’ SCADA system via the secure embedded Key Management System in the software.
