Coordination study of a realistic oil production area including variable frequency drives

摘要

Nowadays, new technology of motor drives such as; the VFD (variable frequency drives) are much preferred than old technique of driving motors. However, a complete replacement operation is going to performed at most of oil production locations to run all motors based on VFD instead of the classic starting method (DOL). VFDs have many advantages such as; smoothly starting of motors (save a lot of high starting current), extending the motor life time, in addition to it directly affect in decreasing the total system short-circuit level (Max. & Min.), which will affect positively on all system breaking capacity level (cables, motors & transformers). However, the coordination of the system should be restudied with the reducing of the Min. short-circuit level. Consequently, a new short-circuit level will be developed based on the new impedance values of the system after adding the required VFD drives, here in this paper we are going to study & investigate a realistic power plant system @ Khalda Petroleum Company (KPC), which located at Egypt western desert. The main target is to prepare & evaluate a study of replacing motor MCC (Motor Control Center) by means of VFDs, all operations are executed using ETAP 12.6 software.