Scope of Supply
Technical audit of all protection parameters, High and Medium Voltage, at GALP’s Sines refinery.
Short-circuit and arc-flash report.
Technical and economic feasibility study for improving the refinery’s electrical network.
System Description
GALP’s Sines refinery is a heavy industry facility, in operation for over 40 years, comprising 34 processing units and covering an area of 320 hectares.
More information at:
https://www.galp.com/corp/pt/sobre-nos/a-galp/feiras-e-eventos/40-anos-refinaria-de-sines
The refinery has a large and complex electrical network, comprising Extra High Voltage, High Voltage, and Medium Voltage levels. It includes a cogeneration unit (capable of operating in island mode or exporting power to the transmission grid) and turbo generators to support the load. It also features various types of loads, including large motors.
Throughout the refinery’s lifecycle, several expansions and modifications have been made to the electrical network.
Due to all these factors, GALP decided to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the protection system and its parameters, including short-circuit current calculation and arc-flash study, to improve the reliability and protection of the network as well as personnel safety.
Activity Description
The ENGIPROT team was responsible for the following tasks:
- Update the refinery model (ETAP model)
- Carry out a short-circuit and arc-flash study, considering different scenarios
- Develop a single protection philosophy for the entire installation, review the protection parameters, verify selectivity, and improve operating levels.
- Document the benefits and propose investments to improve network protection and flexibility.
- Carry out a technical and economic feasibility study to implement various improvements.
Benefits for the Client
With the ENGIPROT reports, GALP’s Maintenance/Reliability team now has a guide and better understanding of the current protection system and potential solutions to improve the overall electrical network.