Recloser monitoring and control

IP over satellite provides the most reliable and cost-effective option to remotely monitor and control centralized reclosers in areas where terrestrial connectivity is unreliable. Viasat’s IoT Pro service is used on tens of thousands of reclosers around the world and has been trusted as the industry standard by electricity providers for over ten years. 

The service operates on Viasat's L-band network. Created for government and emergency applications, it is as reliable as satellite gets, with up to 99.9% network availability in practically any continental location, even in adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain. 

The challenge

To meet the surging demand of a fast-changing world, energy and a dependable electrical supply have never been more critical. Electrical utility network operators are under increasing pressure to uphold exceptional levels of service, quality, and availability, with failure to meet government-mandated standards leading to substantial fines. 

To enhance service reliability, distribution network operators (DNOs) are adopting smart grids, with critical components managed by supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) networks. Circuit reclosers play a key role by sensing and interrupting current on a grid segment during faults. While these devices can trip and reset independently, unconnected reclosers may enter a lockout state once tripped, requiring an engineer response to reset them. Centralized SCADA monitoring and control not only eliminates this risk but also enhances data access in a control room. 

For a centralized reclosers approach, secure and reliable connectivity is critical. With many DNOs managing grids that span across wide territories, often traversing remote areas, cellular or other terrestrial options cannot always be relied upon. 

Our solution

Viasat’s satellite IP services, delivered over our highly reliable L-band network, adeptly meet the high levels of network availability required for connecting reclosers, either as primary or backup connectivity. For secure and reliable connectivity 24/7, DNOs can easily connect their reclosers to Viasat’s IP connectivity services by using the Hughes 9502 BGAN or the Cobham 540 BGAN, which combine cellular with satellite fallback in one unit. 

DNOs incorporating centralized reclosers into their networks should prioritize the reliability and resilience of their connectivity infrastructure. While terrestrial services are likely the main communication backbone, they may be inadequate in remote areas or during adverse weather. Viasat satellite services utilizing IoT Pro terminals over our global L-band network will help DNOs achieve the required service continuity, even in challenging weather conditions. 

Benefits

• Easier management: Enhanced operations management, including monitoring and control from SCADA control room.
• Reduces risk and cost of sending field engineers to reset tripped reclosers:
  • Eliminates the need for field engineer allocation and significantly lowers the risks associated with this type of activity, including working with high-power electrical components, and operating at height, which often requires a minimum of two engineers, travelling to potentially remote sites.
  • No time is lost on dispatching workforce to reset reclosers as this can be done remotely, immediately.
• Remote control: Enables utilities operations to remotely disable the automatic recloser function in dry seasons to avoid starting wildfires.
• Minimize faults: Enables DNOs to identify and limit the spread of faults, mitigating risk of serious operational impacts.

Features

• Easy integration: Viasat’s small, low-power IoT Pro terminal easily integrates with reclosers to provide reliable, uniform coverage, while its standard IP protocols allow for seamless and secure integration as part of an existing or expanding grid.
• Centralized control: Centralized management capability at a low cost no matter how remote the location, provides power companies with remote control and recovery services for the grid.
• Reduced site visits: Exceptional reliability of both our L-band connectivity service and the hardware helps users avoid site visits or the need to change hardware in the field for decades at a time.
• Easy maintenance:  IoT Pro offers remote management capabilities, including remote firmware updates and self-healing functions.

Our global partner network are experts in utilizing BGAN M2M to build and support the right solution for your smart grid needs – no matter where you’re located. Learn how we’ve helped customers including California utilities in the United States, Cemig in Brazil, and Ergon Energy in Australia.