Siemens Fuel Transfer System Upgrades Lead to Increased Reliability and Efficiency for Oil Refinery
05/03/2018 Siemens AG
Obsolete fuel pump drive system replaced by Perfect Harmony MV systemImproved reliabilities with reduced power consumption
An established UK oil refinery needed to upgrade its long distance pipeline and pumping system, and was able to make additional reliability and efficiency improvements by using Siemens technology.
Safety was paramount, and the existing fuel pump skids had been in place since the 1980s. This was an ageing system, operating on non-standard voltages and with several obsolete parts. The plant's engineers were beginning to struggle with reliability issues, which along with increasing fuel demands would in time impact on the business's ability to provide consistent long-term customer solutions. This ageing system also required special phase shifting transformers for harmonic reductions and power factor correction equipment to reduce current flow at low power demands.
After looking at the options, Siemens MV Perfect Harmony, complete with matching AC Exd induction motors, were selected to replace the older systems and they arrived with a number of additional advantages.
The existing distribution transformers and power factor correction equipment were no longer required. The harmonic level was substantially lower (30 pulse compared to 12 pulse), with improved line disturbance immunity and low torsional excitation onto the pump set.
Two pump sets at the site were upgraded. Siemens was able to upgrade each system individually, enabling the site to continue transferring fuel, causing minimal disruption.
The Siemens CS IDS total engineered solution entailed two 1.3MW variable speed drives (VSD), suitable for operating hazardous area motors. The complete turnkey solution was provided, incorporating design, supply and installation of VSDs, motors, power and control cabling, and commissioning of the new drives in a switch room (pictured).
The overall result was to produce high reliability combined with availability for the customer, with the added efficiencies of lower running costs. As application specialist Gary Palmer of Siemens verified: "Improved reliability and availability were key factors, but we were also able to bring better plant optimisation along with improved working flexibility. The ongoing lower use of energy was an added environmental bonus for the client."
The customer commented: "The upgrade we put in place immediately made a significant improvement in both performance and long-term reliability to the refinery and has helped us support our own network of customers going forward at the same time."
For more information, please visit: www.siemens.com
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