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Protection coordination assessment and improvement of electrical network of

an industrial complex in connection to power grid: An experience report

Conference Paper · May 2018

DOI: 10.1109/ICEEE2.2018.8391343

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 Protection Coordination Assessment and Improvement of Electrical Network of an
Industrial Complex in Connection to Power Grid: An Experience Report

Rahman Dashti Salahedin Hassani

Persian Gulf University, Electrical Engineering Department,
Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of Third South Pars Refinery,
Engineering, Asalouyeh, I.R.Iran
Bushehr 7516913817, I.R.Iran Email : hassanisala@gmail.com
r.dashti@pgu.ac.ir
Hamid Reza Shaker
Center for Energy Informatics
The Maersk Mc Kinney Moller Institute
University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
hrsh@mmmi.sdu.dk

Abstract— Protection of electrical network of an industrial
complex is a challenging task in particular in connection to the
power grid. This paper is focused on this challenging task and
reports on the experience of protection coordination
assessment and improvement of electrical network of South
Pars Gas Complex (SPGC) and in particular the third south
Pars refinery. Today South Pars is the economic hub and heart
of the gas and petrochemical industry in Iran. The continuous
and stable production of gas from the South Pars Gas Field is
very important. In order to supply power to the third south
Pars refinery four gas turbine generators (GTG) each with a
capacity of 41.1MW and two emergency diesel generators
(EDG) each with a capacity of 4.5 MW have been installed. In
addition to this, one external line to connect the plant to the
power grid is considered. Now the third refinery as an island
electrical network operates independently from the power grid
and provides energy needs of the refinery process and utility
units. By connecting the refinery’s electrical network to the
power grid short-circuit current value increases. If an error
occurs on the internal network when the refinery is connected
to the power grid, the fault current will be higher compared to
when the Refinery works in island mode. This is because
current is also injected from the power grid to the faulty point.
In this paper, the third south Pars refinery protection
coordination in connection to the power grid will be assessed.
The ETAP software will be used for the simulation. While the
paper reports the practical experience in relation to this
particular case study, the approach and experience helps to
face the practical challenges in similar projects.
Keywords-protection coordination; power grid; third south
Pars refinery; gas turbine generator;
I. INTRODUCTION
In a protection system that its relay coordination has been
optimized, the minimum electrical equipment trip and clean
parts of the system are still able to carry out their duty, in
case of a fault [1-10]. The main objective here is to assess
and if necessary improve the protection coordination of the
South Pars’s third refinery in connection to the power grid.
For this purpose, first the third refinery’s internal network
will be briefly introduced, and this network in connection to
the power grid will be simulated using ETAP software.
Then, load flow study, to determine the main electrical
parameters such as current and power will be carried out.
Next the short circuit study by creating a symmetrical three-
phase fault in both configurations, island and connected to
the network, will be done. Finally, protection coordination of
major equipment and the 33kV switchgear will be assessed.
Protection implementation of electrical network includes a
setting and coordination between the primary and backup
relays that should have acceptable performance and time
margins. According to third refinery’s documents time
margins between the main and back up relays operation at
least should be 250ms. The protective relay settings based on
the Refinery document and relay setting report have been set
and protection coordination will be evaluated on this basis. If
modifications are required, the necessary recommendations
would be made.
II. INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRICAL NETWORK OF THE
THIRD REFINARY
A. Production and Distribution of Electric Energy
11 kV voltage is generated by four gas turbine generator
sets and increased to 33 kV using four transformer units to
supply 33kV switchgear as shown in “Fig. 1”. The 33 kV
switchgear has two parts, A and B connecting to each other
by a normally closed bus-tie, thus all generators are parallel
and working in synchronous together. In addition to all
power substations, the 33 KV Switchgear feeds ten 11KV
electro motors using step-down 33 to 11 KV transformers.
As well as two ground transformers with zigzag connections
are installed in both sides of the switchgear. Voltage
distribution levels in the Refinery network are 33, 11, 6 and
4.0 kV. In order to distribute electrical energy for different
 Figure 1. 33KV swicthgear and gas turbine generator incomers
processing units thirteen substations have been installed
at various load centers of the refinery. Required power is
transmitted to all substations through two 33KV
underground cables and turns to 6KV using two 33 / 6KV
power transformers. Also there are some low voltage
switchgear and MCCs, which supplies low voltage loads
such as three-phase 400-volt motors, lighting systems,
heaters, UPS, sockets, etc. At 6 kV and 0.4 kV voltage levels
in addition to the normal switchgears, there are emergency
switchgears to supply critical loads. All installed switchgears
are made by the ABB Company.
B. Load Summary
Load summary of the South Pars’s third refinery is
shown in TABLE I. The entire installed active power is
about 75MW and operational load is about 50MW. Majority
of electrical loads are electro motors which are used as prime
movers for mechanical equipment such as pumps, refrigerant
compressors and cooling fans. The other popular electrical
loads are heaters, lighting systems and HVAC accessories.
TABLE I. LOAD SUMMARY
P (KW) Q (KVAR) S (KVA)
75.18 44.515 87.373
III. LOAD FLOW ANALYSIS
A load flow study should be performed during the plan
designing stages of a power system and when evaluating
changes to an existing system. Load flow study determines
the normal and emergency load currents at each load center
and through each circuit branch. The load current data are
used to establish continuous-current ratings for conductors,
equipment, and protective devices. Such data are valuable
when setting protective devices to protect both the equipment
and the installed conductors.
A. Island configuration load flow results
At this stage, for the refinery’s network with island
configurations, current and power of various equipment,
including generators are measured. In this configuration,
three generators A, B and C are running and generator D is
in standby mode, also grid’s incomer circuit breaker is
opened. The results of load flow study in island mode are
shown in TABLE II and “Fig. 2,” and “Fig. 3,”.
As shown, near to 48MW of active power is produced by
three gas turbine generators in island mode. Drawn current
from each generator is about 330A at 33KV or 963A at
11KV voltage level. The power factor of the generators is
0.83 and the apparent power of each generator is
approximately 18.736MVA.
B. Load flow results in conetion to the power grid
At this stage, for the refinery’s network when connected
to the power grid, current and power of various equipments,
including generators and grid incomers are measured. In this
state, two generators B and C are running and the other two
A and D are in standby mode. Also the Grid’s incomer
circuit breaker is closed. The results of the load flow study in
this state are shown in TABLE III and “Fig. 4,” and “Fig.
5,”.
IV. SHORT CIRCUIT ANALYSIS
In this section short circuit study of the refinery’s
network in both island and in connection with the power grid
states,will be carried out and short-circuit current values will
be calculated in different parts of the network. A
symmetrical three-phase short-circuit fault will be applied at
the following switchgears and short circuit current value will
be calculated.
 33 kV switchgear with tag number 1S11
 Normal 6 KV switchgear with tag number1S31A
 Emergency 6 kV switchgear with tag number
1ES31A
TABLE II. LOAD FLOW RESAULS IN ISLAND CONFIGURATION
GTG-A GTG-C GTG-B
I(A)
329.7 329.6 329.6
15974 15973 15974 P(KW)
9791 9789 9790 Q(KVAR)
18736 18734 18736 S(KVA)
 Figure 4. Load flow resaults for grid incomer GTG-A & GTG-C
when the refinary is connected to the power grid

V. PROTECTION COORDINATION
Figure 2. Load flow results for GTG-A & GTG-C in island mode
An electrical power system is designed so that if a short-
 Normal 400V switchgear with tag number 1S41A circuit occurs, a protective device (such as a fuse or circuit
 Emergency 400V switchgear with tag number breaker) will operate to “open the circuit” and prevent the
1ES41 continued flow of electrical energy to the faulted area. To
The short-circuit current drawn from generator and the minimize the interruption of electrical services to other areas
power grid in both modes are summarized in TABLE IV. of the power system, the system is also designed so that the
Also short-circuit current value of faulty switchgears are protective device closest to the short-circuit operates first to
shown in TABLE V. “clear the fault.” For example, if a short-circuit occurs on a
downstream circuit branch cable as shown in “Fig. 1,”
Regarding the short circuit withstand capacity of (below), the branch circuit breaker feeding that cable (circuit
switchgears the results are acceptable. breaker a) should open first to isolate the fault, rather than
the main breaker in the panel which would interrupt service
TABLE III. LOAD FLOW RESAULS IN CONNETION TO THE POWER GRID to all circuit branches.
If a circuit breaker a fails to operate after a given time,
Power Grid GTG-C GTG-B
then the main breaker would operate to open or “trip” the
285.9 349.9 350 I(A) circuit, thus providing back-up protection. This time-
15800 15260 15263 P(KW) sequence of operation is called “coordination of protective
3289 12545 12545 Q(KVAR) devices.” A protection-coordination study is done to
16318 19755 19757 S(KVA) determine the trip settings of each protective device in the
power system so that maximum protection with minimum
interruptions is provided for all faults that may happen in the
system.

TABLE IV. SHORT CIRCUIT STUDY RESAULTS FOR GTG,S AND THE POWER
GRID

Grid GTG-A GTG-C GTG-B GTG-D I(KA)

0 3.13 3.13 3.13 0 Island
Grid
4.62 0 3.13 3.13 0
Connected

TABLE V. SHORT CIRCUIT STUDY RESAULTS FOR MAIN

SUBSTAION BUSBAR,S

A. Protection Coordination of the Incomer from the Power

Figure 3. Load flow resaultsfor GTG-B in island mode
Grid
1) Overcurrent IDMT (51): The peak value is selected to
100% of transformer’s rated current and the TMS (time
multiplier setting) should be selected not to trip at the largest
motor starting current plus all other running load and to be
laid above overcurrent protection curve of the 33kv
switchgear’s outgoing feeders at the system’s maximum fault
current providing coordination of at least 0.25sec.
TABLE VI. SHORT CIRCUIT STUDY RESAULTS FOR MAIN SUBSTAION
BUSBAR,S
1S11 1S31A 1ES31A 1S41A 1ES41A I(KA)
16.5 16.9 18.9 42.3 52.2 Island
Grid
18 17.4 17.3 42.5 57
Connected
SC
31.5 25 25 50 63
Witstand
Figure 5. Load flow resaults for GTG-B when refinary is connected
to the power grid
2) Illustration of protection behavior of the largest 11kv
electromotor in coordination with the power grid’s incomer:
“Fig. 6,” depicts a portion of the system’s single-line
diagram and shows the power grid’s incomer (in figure it
shown as “INCOMER BESAT”) and the 33kV outgoing
feeder which supplies the largest electromotor with tag 111
KM 101. Protection curve of the power grid incoming from
the BESAT substation, the current-time characteristic of
electric motor, transformer rated and inrush currents are
illustrated in “Fig. 7,”. The power grid’s incomer overcurrent
protection curve is laid above of the electric motor protection
curve. Also the power grid’s transformer inrush current and
outgoing feeder transformer inrush current are located below
the power grid’s incomer overcurrent protection curve.
The single line diagram and protection curve for the other
11KV electro motors are the same as the motor above
(111-KM-101).
3) Analyzing the fault occurrence in the 33KV output
feeder (2TR1311) and overcurrent relay curves in
coordination with the power grid’s incomer. A symmetrical
three phase fault applied and the performance of the feeder
and the grid’s incomer relays are shown in “Fig. 8,”. As
“Fig. 8,” shows, the 33 kV output feeders 2TR1311 through
a fault current is equal to 17.7KA which the feeder’s relay
instantaneous overcurrent function (50) operated at 0.02
seconds and overcurrent TDMT function (51IDMT) operated
at 0.291 seconds. Maximum power of the grid’s incomer
through a fault current is 4.618KA which overcurrent relay
IDMT function (51IDMT) operated at 0.789 Seconds.
Figure 6. Single Line Diagram of the 11KV electromotor and the power
grid’s incomer
B. Protection Coordination of the Gas Turbine
Generator’s Incomers
1) Overcurrent IDMT (51): The peak value is selected
to100% of the rated current and the TMS should be selected
not to trip at the largest motor starting current plus all other
running loads and to be laid above the overcurrent protection
curve of the 33kv switchgear’s outgoing feeders at the
system’s maximum fault current providing coordination of at
least 0.25sec.
2) Assessment of fault occurrence in the 33KV output
feeder (9TR1311) and overcurrent relay curves in
coordination with the generator incomer. A symmetrical
three phase fault applied and the performance of the feeder
and the generator’s incomer relays are illustrated in “Fig. 9,”.
As “Fig. 9,” Shows, the 33 kV output feeders 9TR1311
through a fault current is equal to 17.893KA which the
feeder’s relay instantaneous overcurrent function (50)
operated at 0.02 seconds and overcurrent TDMT function
(51IDMT) operated at 0.384 seconds. Maximum power of
the generator’s incomer through a fault current \ is 3.128KA
which overcurrent relay IDMT function (51IDMT) operated
at 1.18 seconds.
Time margin between the overcurrent protection 51IDMT
of the 9TR1311 feeder and the generator’s incomer
(120TR101C) is 0.836S.
 C. Bus-Tie Overcurrent Protection Coordination
Overcurrent IDMT (51): The peak value is selected to
200% of the Generator’s transformer incomer rated
current. Since this function is used as a backup of the
turbine generator and the external line (grid) incomers
overcurrent protection, the following in relation to
coordination and TMS setting should be met:
 Bus-Tie Overcurrent Protection Curve at the
system’s maximum fault current should be laid
above the 33KV output feeders Overcurrent
protection curves.
 Bus-Tie Overcurrent Protection Curve at the
system’s maximum fault current should be laid
above the generator and the Grid’s incomer
Overcurrent protection curves.
“Fig. 10,” compares the generator incomer Overcurrent
protection curve with the Bus-Tie Overcurrent protection
Curve, As shown at the maximum generator power through
a fault current(3.3KA) coordination margin is 0.729SEC.
D. Protection Coordination of 33/6KV Transformer
Feeder
1) Overcurrent IDMT (51): The peak value is selected
to150% of transformer rated current and the TMS setting
curve should be laid below the overcurrent protection curve
of the 33kv switchgear’s incomer from the Generator and the
Grid and laid above the overcurrent protection curve of the
6KV switchgear’s incomer feeder providing coordination of
at least 0.25sec.
Assessment of fault occurance in the 33KV output feeder
(11TR1311) and overcurrent relay curves, the coordination
beetween relays is established. Sequence of the overcuurent
protection relay operations are as follows:
 33KV output feeder 11TR1311 instantaneous overcurrent
protection at t=0.02S
 33KV output feeder 11TR1311 IDMT overcurrent
protection at t=0.355S
 33KV Bus-Tie IDMT overcurrent protection at t= 0.542S
 33KV incomers from generators and power grid IDMT
overcurrent protection at t=1.18S
Figure 6. Time margin between feeder and bus-tie relay
is a little less than 0.25S (margin is 0.21S) but it’s not a
critical problem and can be ignored. In case of a fail of the
33KV outgoing feeders relay it’s better to rapidly open bus-
tie’s circuit breakers, otherwise it may cause to open all
33KV switchgear incomers and consequently, total
shutdown of the refinery.
VI. CONCLUSION
According to this study, it was observed that protection
coordination between the main and backup relays at 33 kV
bus, main bus of the South Pars’s third refinery, in
connection to the power grid will not deal with a critical
problem and overcurrent relay settings can be able to carry
out their duties.
For some 33KV outgoing feeders, time margin between
the feeder and bus-tie relay is a little less than 0.25S (for
example for feeder 11TR1311 time margin is 0.21S) but it’s
not a critical problem and can be ignored. If a relay of the
33KV outgoing feeder fails, it’s better to rapidly open the
bus-tie’s circuit breaker, otherwise it may cause to open all
33KV switchgear incomers and consequently, total
shutdown of the refinery.
This study was repeated for other 6 kV and 0.4 kV
switchgears and observed that protection coordination
between downstream and upstream relays is established.
The study shows that by connecting the third refinery’s
network to the power grid, short-circuit current values of the
switchgears will not exceed the short circuit resistance
rating, because all bus bars have a short-circuit resistance
rating that is greater than the maximum available fault
current.
REFERENCES
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 Figure 7. Overcurrent protection curves of the 11KV electro motors

Figure 9. Overcurrent protection curves of the 33KV feeder 9TR1311

and GTG-C incomer

Figure 8. Overcurrent protection curves of the 33KV feeder 2TR1311 and

power grid incomer

Figure 10. Overcurrent protection curves of the 33KV Bus-Tie and

generator’s incomer

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