Grid Monitoring for Utilities
Remotely manage, maintain and optimize utility field assets
UbiGrid is an integrated hardware/software solution platform that includes the distribution transformer monitor (DTM+), the transformer fault detector (TFD+), and the tilt and vibration monitor (TVM). These advanced sensors communicate over LTE to UbiVu, Ubicquia’s powerful asset management and monitoring platform.
The UbiGrid DTM+ monitors the grid edge, collecting critical data from the substation to the meter, including transformer health, primary current, secondary current, and voltage. This data is transmitted to the cloud, processed, and analyzed in UbiVu.
The UbiGrid TFD+ uses the technology foundation of the UbiGrid DTM+ to focus specifically on transformer health and safe reenergizing using connectivity and intelligence instead of a mechanical fault detection device.
The UbiGrid TVM collects pole data such as tilt, impact, and location. As with the DTM+ and TFD+, this data is sent to the cloud and processed to produce timely reports on risk and damage assessments.
Ubicquia utilizes commercial LTE communications and secures our connection through layered cryptography. We segment our traffic within the LTE network using an APN (Access Point Name) with AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) 256 encryption. The MQTTS (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport Secure) connections within the APN are separately encrypted using TLS (Transport Layer Security). MQTT is a lightweight messaging protocol commonly used in Internet of Things (IoT) applications, and MQTTS adds a layer of security by incorporating TLS and SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption.
The UbiGrid DTM+ was designed to work with distribution transformers of various kVA ratings. Multiple configurations are supported for single-phase or pole-mounted transformers and three-phase (loop and radial) pad-mounted and pole-mounted transformers. Contact a sales representative in your area to find the configuration that matches your needs.
The UbiGrid DTM+ provides insights into measured values for currents, voltages, pressure, temperature, and location and utilizes powerful analytics and algorithms to detect transformer behaviors that may lead to undesired events. This data can be accessed primarily via the UbiVu UI or APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), which allow integration with other utility systems such as OMS.
The main difference is the cable kit used for the UbiGrid TFD+ solution. Both UbiGrid products have DTM+ at their core, but TFD+ comprises a DTM+ paired with a Cable kit to detect Secondary Voltage, Pressure, and Temperature.
They are both attached to transformers in the same way through magnets.
Everything is viewed and configured via the UbiVu user interface and is accessible using standard Internet connections. Within UbiVu, a user can configure thresholds for multiple alerts, which, when triggered, can notify you via email or SMS of an alert event.
TVM is a pole-mounted device that detects tilt, impact, and location. A combination of solar power and batteries powers it.
Ubicquia’s Services organization and our Network Operations Center provide a broad range of monitoring services across all our product lines on a 24/7 basis. For our UbiGrid DTM+, our network operations center can monitor all aspects of grid health delivered through various reports. We have a specific monitoring service for power quality and three monitoring capabilities and reporting tiers. Contact us to learn how our network operations team can help you with grid reliability.
Our data scientists are continually updating the analytics and insights capabilities of our UbiGrid platform, including the correlation of outside data such as weather. We currently offer over a dozen specific reports, covering topics ranging from transformer health to power quality and vegetation encroachment. One of our representatives would be happy to tell you more about our reporting capabilities.
Connectivity
Tap into the power of existing cellular communications to provide the data you need.
Visibility
View field assets across your entire service area from the comfort of your head office.
Knowledge
Manage asssets proactively with advanced analytics and machine learning.
Building a More Resilient Grid
Municipalities, cooperatives and investor-owned utilities (IOUs) face the challenge of grid monitoring, managing infrastructure and maintaining many critical field assets—lighting poles, distribution transformers, and substations to name just a few. These resources must be operational and secure at all times. However, aging distribution infrastructure, large service areas, and environmental challenges make it increasingly difficult for utilities to meet customer’s expectations for reliable service.
Utilities need real-time visibility of field assets backed with data to effectively manage resources, optimize performance and work proactively to deliver superior customer value. Ubicquia is making all of this possible with its cutting-edge solutions.
Transformer Monitoring
The distribution grid is much more complex today than it was ten years ago, as everything from electric vehicles to rooftop solar places increasing demand on existing distribution transformers. This increased load means that transformers are operating over capacity, which shortens their lifespan and leads to failures and outages.
The 2021 Infrastructure Report Card states that 92% of all outages occur in the distribution infrastructure. The added challenge of increased transformer costs and extensive lead times make it imperative to monitor transformers to extend their lifespan and adequately plan and size transformers for increased loads to build a more resilient grid.
The UbiGrid DTM+ and TFD+ solutions give operators real-time analytics and visibility into transformer health – resulting in a more robust.
Pole Monitoring
Utilities are faced with the unenviable task of monitoring a multitude of assets across their service area. Included in this complex ecosystem of assets are thousands upon thousands of poles delivering electricity. Within the distribution grid, these are crucial and necessary assets that can be overlooked in resiliency planning efforts.
To help manage these critical assets, we have developed a remote sensor, UbiGrid TVM, that provides data on pole tilt and movement, as well as impact and vibration levels. This gives operators a real-time view of the pole fleet, enabling quick identification of assets that are structurally at risk or down. If there is a problem, utilities can dispatch crews to the precise location of the pole to address it.
With these new sensing technologies, poles are now intelligent grid assets
Smart Lighting
A streetlight problem, whether an outage or a dayburner, is a common customer complaint. Rolling a truck to rectify the issue is costly and time-consuming. Often crews have problems even identifying the correct streetlight as asset management systems are notoriously inaccurate. This is an expensive, disruptive process that can leave customers frustrated.
If utilities are to meet their public service, safety and sustainability goals, they need a smart lighting solution that includes the critical grid and asset visibility they crave. This is where the UbiCell platform comes in. This smart streetlight controller integrates seamlessly with existing lighting infrastructure, providing real-time, remote analytics in a user-friendly dashboard.
The UbiCell simplifies asset management, reduces expenses, and helps utilities respond to outages with pinpoint accuracy. What’s more, utilities get a comprehensive view of the grid through voltage monitoring, alerts, and outage alarms.
Substation Monitoring
Maintaining the physical security and reliability of all of your substations is critical for providing reliable power. The challenge is that there is a wide variety of potential problems spread across many different locations. Utilities can’t afford for a substation to fail.
The UbiHub substation monitoring solution uses advanced camera technology equipped with industrial AI to recognize safety hazards such as arc flashes, monitor for wildlife intrusions and identify bad actors that are tresspassing. The platform leverages existing lighting infrastructure for installation and is simple to manage with an intuitive cloud-based interface.
Utilities get full visibility into every substation and are able to actively monitor threats, no matter how remote the location. Additionally, the platform provides private and secure broadband to crews, enhancing their efficiency in the field and driving down operation and maintenance costs.
Better Asset Management
Manage critical assets, track age, usage, health and other variables to reduce costs, optimize performance and improve grid functionality.
Reduce Expensive Truck Rolls
Avoid the time, expense and disruption of dispatching crews by using remote sensing technology to keep assets functioning properly.
Increased Resilency
Get improved grid monitoring, minimize service interruptions and provide your customers with reliable power with a more resilient grid.
Ubicquia helps Utilities control costs, optimize assets, and achieve energy reliability by providing cost-effective, scalable platforms for connectivity, asset management and grid monitoring. We are dedicated to making technology that is easy to install and affordable. Our products are compatible with more than 360 million streetlights and 500 million utility poles worldwide and they install in minutes. We are enabling Utlities to control lighting costs; accelerate 5G deployments; extend public WiFi; deliver video security services; and protect against grid failures.
