Aki-Otyr introduces effective approaches to power distribution networks operation

Autonomous power supply of Shapshinskaya group of fields is carried out by two gas engine generator plants. Despite their high reliability level, there is a risk of emergency power outage because of short circuits or power surges.
For enhancing the reliability of electric supply of field facilities, reducing dead time of the oil-production equipment, and therefore reducing damage from power interruptions, the staff of the Chief Power Engineer constantly conducts analysis of the circumstances and electrical parameters of autonomous network in emergency situations. This resulted in installation of the emergency automation on digital protective relays. This system is based on the automatic frequency load shedding(AFLS) and underfrequency islanding system (UIS).

The automatic frequency load shedding relates to relay protection and emergency automation (RPEA), which protects power circuit against frequency drop in the system after occurrence of active load reduction, resulting in cut-off of the power-consuming units.
Automatic frequency load shedding actuates once the frequency drops below 50 Hz, because under such value the event of frequency avalanche occurs, causing the power station to shed a load. In such cases automatic frequency load shedding enables the immediate drop of the load, having cut-off a part of nonpriority load, and facilitates transition to the stable mode from the pre-fault conditions.
The underfrequency islanding system as a part of emergency automation is designed to divide the power supply into separate areas when the automatic frequency load shedding appears to be ineffective. The underfrequency islanding units are meant to prevent complete shutdown of the power station in case the frequency drops below the admissible level.
“It is noteworthy, that transitional processes in the power grid are very fast and sometimes last for a fraction of a second, therefore the correctness of the choice of algorithm and parameters of the emergency automation have a critical meaning,” the Deputy Chief Power Engineer of Aki-Otyr says. “We treat the power supply system as a living thing, which is in need for attention, care, watching for the symptoms and efficient recipe against illnesses.”
Emergency automation provides the localization of the process disturbances and prompter recovery of the normal mode of power distribution nets. Once installed, it reduces the number of emergency trips due to complete shutdown of the power stations, as well as raises the reliability of oilfields power supply.
Thus, in 2014 there were 12 emergency trips while in 2015 this indicator amounted to 4, i.e. three-fold reduction occurred.
“We would like to note the professional and efficient work of power division`s employees of Verkhne-Shapshinskoye and Nizhne-Shapshinskoye fields of OAO NK Aki-Otyr. Such results would be impossible to without them”, A.V. Beloglazov emphasized.