Integration of Smart Sensors into Utility
Operation and Business Practices
Ryan L. Rausch, P.E.
Product Application Engineer, Eaton’s Cooper Power Systems
What is a smart sensor?
• Sensors are nothing new
• CTs/PTs
• Transducers
• Faulted Circuit Indicators (FCIs)
• What makes a sensor “smart”?
• Digitization of data
• Communications
2
Why smart sensors?
• Smart sensors address the rising need for
more data visibility into the grid to drive
operations and automation
• Diverse market and applications
• Advancing technology
• Good price point
3
The need for data
• The nature of serving load is changing
•
•
•
•
Load is more complex and sensitive
Sourcing load is more challenging
Infrastructure is near capacity
Consumer dependence on reliable and high-quality
power is greater
• The nature of the workforce is changing
• Lost resources and experience as the workforce ages
• Increased dependence on automation and
technology to close the gap
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Data integration
• IT
• Get involved early!
• Plan for hardware resources, secure network architecture
• Telecom
• Build-out or expand private radio networks
• Manage public cellular accounts
• OT
• Identify systems that would utilize the data (SCADA,
OMS, DMS, data historian)
• Parallel integration effort in those systems
5
Applications
• Faulted circuit indicators
• Capacitor bank monitors
• Distribution system monitors
• Load profiling
• Voltage monitoring
• Power quality monitoring
6
Communicating FCIs
• Reliability
• Reduce CAIDI/SAIDI
• Reduce crew time for
restoration events
• Reduced O&M spend
• Hydraulic recloser
monitoring
• Vegetation management
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Communicating FCIs
• SAIDI/CAIDI reduction
r N
SAIDI 
i
NT
i
CMI

NT
CAIDI 
r N
N
i
i

i
CMI
CI
• Reduction in duration accomplished by
targeted dispatching of crews to a fault
• Strategic deployment of sensors
• Integration into operations center
• Accurate naming/phasing
• Fault current magnitude for model-based fault
location
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Communicating FCIs
• Condition-based maintenance on hydraulic
reclosers
• Preventative maintenance based on operation
counters and fault current magnitude
• Diagnose coordination issues
• Vegetation management
• Watch for high momentary fault counts
• Dispatch trimming crews to areas with the most
trouble to maximize the benefit for the investment
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Capacitor Bank Monitors
• Utility data suggests that 30% of capacitor
banks are offline at any given time
• Missing VAR support
• Wasted capital spend
• O&M spend on routine inspections
• Better solution: condition-based monitoring
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Capacitor Bank Monitors
• Monitor the cap bank neutral for an abnormally
high current, indicating a phase imbalance
• Actuate an alarm
• Dispatch a crew to inspect the banks on exception
• Reduce or eliminate routine inspections
• Benefits:
• Less O&M spending on inspecting banks with no
problems
• Identify problems that may not be apparent on visual
inspection
• Problems addressed, VAR support restored sooner
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Distribution System Monitors
• Load Profiling
• Smart sensors with load profiling ability can provide an
inexpensive SCADA solution for small rural substations
• Load profiling can provide valuable insight for system
planning to multiple places along a feeder or at critical
loads
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Distribution System Monitors
• Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR)
• Reducing voltage along the feeder is a proven
method by which to reduce demand and energy
• Voltage monitoring with smart sensors can serve as
feedback to prevent violations of ANSI standard
voltage ranges
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Distribution System Monitors
• Power Quality
• Smart sensors can monitor the distribution line for
voltage sag/swell events or harmonic distortion in
response to customer complaints
• Smart sensors with low cost of installation can
serve as mobile troubleshooting tools
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Conclusion
• The market for smart sensors is diverse and
expanding
• Be aware of the technologies available
• Keep in mind the primary needs of the
business
• Know how the solution will integrate into the
utility’s daily operation
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Contact
Ryan L. Rausch, P.E.
Eaton’s Cooper Power Systems
RyanLRausch@Eaton.com
+1 (763) 543-7680
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