968 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS, VOL. 35, NO.

4, JULY/AUGUST 1999

Transient Motor Reacceleration Study in

an Integrated Petrochemical Facility
Gursharan Singh Grewal, Member, IEEE, Stephen Pocsai, Member, IEEE,
and Makhlouf M. Hakim, Senior Member, IEEE

Abstract— The reliability of the power supply can be signifi- TABLE I

cantly improved by modifying the electric motors’ reacceleration EXISTING REACCELERATION STEPS
scheme. It will mitigate the effect of lengthy and simultaneous
acceleration by staggering the high inrush current demand. Tran-
sient simulations were performed at an integrated petrochemical
facility to verify the effectiveness of the existing reacceleration
scheme. The results indicated that the existing scheme will per-
form better with some changes, as discussed further.
Index Terms— Reacceleration, transfer, transient, undervolt-
age.

I. INTRODUCTION *-Motors reaccelerate, as soon as the bus is reenergized.

R EENERGIZATION of electric drives, after a short out-

age, is an important design feature in process facilities for
minimizing production losses. It is common at most industrial
facilities to respond to critical motors’ dropout by transferring
those buses feeding critical motors onto healthy sources and
restarting the motors, automatically. These critical motors need
to be reenergized in a certain order to avoid prolonged voltage
drop at the motor terminals which can reduce the accelerating
torque substantially. Reduced torque can lead to a long starting
time, which triggers overheating problems or, in some cases,
the motor may fail to accelerate altogether. Severe or extended
voltage drop also affects the healthy bus onto which the critical (a)
motors have been transferred and, in extreme cases, may lead
to undervoltage tripping on the healthy bus. Reacceleration
analysis is necessary for predicting voltage and current profiles
and acceleration times of the motors. Among other benefits,
the analysis verifies the viability of the restarting sequence
and provides a guide for setting undervoltage and overcurrent
relays on the load buses.
Traditional voltage drop calculations, using static circuit
analysis, cannot account for the sequenced starting effect, that
is, motors being started while others are still accelerating and
at various values of locked-rotor current (LRC). To capture
this interaction of reaccelerating motors, dynamic stability (b)
simulations were chosen. This paper presents the results of Fig. 1. (a) Motor equivalent circuit. XC is computed internally to assure
reactive power initial conditions. (b) Motor transient model.
Paper ICPSD 97–17, presented at the 1997 IEEE/IAS Industrial and
Commercial Power Systems Technical Conference, Philadelphia, PA, May
12–15, and approved for publication in the IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY dynamic analysis at a plant where about 350 motors are
APPLICATIONS by the Power Systems Engineering Committee of the IEEE assigned to automatic reacceleration.
Industry Applications Society. Manuscript released for publication March 30,
1998.
It is noted that the scheme discussed in this paper is not
G. S. Grewal and S. Pocsai are with Syncrude Canada Ltd., Fort McMurray, a high-speed bus transfer scheme, where motors’ residual
AB T9H 3L1 Canada (e-mail: grewal.gursharan@syncrude.com). voltage is a primary concern. Instead, the system involves
M. M. Hakim is with Sinai Engineering Corporation, Edmonton, AB T6E
5E5 Canada. massive restarting of motors on a power system that is already
Publisher Item Identifier S 0093-9994(99)05377-3. weakened by at least one contingency and without the benefit
0093–9994/99$10.00  1999 IEEE
GREWAL et al.: TRANSIENT MOTOR REACCELERATION STUDY IN AN INTEGRATED PETROCHEMICAL FACILITY
Fig. 2. Load torque—slip characteristics.
TABLE II
MOTOR PARAMETERS
of off-loading the motors, i.e., all motors are restarted under
full load.
II. SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
Syncrude Canada Ltd. (SCL), located in Alberta, Canada,
is one of the largest integrated mining and petrochemical
complexes in the world, producing 12% of Canada’s crude oil
requirements. Plant load, which averages 220 MW, is supplied
mainly by on-site generation. An interconnection with the local
utility [Alberta Power Ltd. (APL)] is also provided, through
two 72-kV short transmission lines. A brief description of the
distribution system under consideration is as follows:
• 8 72/13.8-kV transformers, 34 MVA;
• 20 13.8-kV feeders;
• 66 transformers (1–15-MVA range).
This does not include the distribution in the mine, because
no motor is required to reaccelerate in that area. Every process
969
area is supplied by dual 13.8-kV feeders originating at two
different 13.8-kV buses in the utility plant. A secondary
selective scheme is used to feed the loads, via step-down
transformers at service voltages of 4.16 kV and 600 V. Under
normal conditions, the tie breaker at the service level is open.
All feeder and transformers are sized to continuously carry the
essential loads of both buses when the tie breaker is closed. If
a service bus is deenergized by other than a protection lockout,
the tie breaker closes automatically. Provided that voltage on
the deenergized bus is restored within 5 s (with power from the
alternate bus), all critical motors on the bus are automatically
restarted. Bus transfer is initiated by undervoltage condition
on either of the twin service buses. Two types of transfer
schemes are used on site, depending on the permissible delay
of restarting. Critical utilities motors at the powerhouse are
restarted instantaneously after bus transfer. For those, the un-
dervoltage initiation is set at 30%, to ensure sufficient decay of
motors’ residual voltage before transfer and restarting. For the
remaining sites, motor restarting is delayed by several seconds
and undervoltage initiation is typically set around 75%.
There are few large synchronous motors on site. These
motors are not reaccelerated due to prestart permissive and
other system constraints.
III. CRITICAL VERSUS NONCRITICAL MOTORS
Critical motors are defined as those which are required to
maintain operations in a safe and orderly manner. These can
be divided into the following three main categories:
• drives that, if lost, could cause damage to the process
equipment, such as furnace charge pumps, the loss of
which could cause overheating or coking of the furnace
tubes;
970 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS, VOL. 35, NO. 4, JULY/AUGUST 1999
Fig. 3. Sample 13.8-kV distribution system.
• drives that, if lost, could lead to relieving conditions, e.g.,
tower feed pumps, reflux pumps, etc.;
• drives which, if lost for any length of time, would cause
operations upset or shutdown, such as powerhouse boiler
feedwater drives.
Noncritical motors are those which would not result in any
process upset if they fail for an extended period of time. In
cases where an electric drive is spared with a steam turbine
drive, the motor is equipped with reacceleration, to cover the
period of time when the turbine drive is out of service and
only the electric drive is being used.
IV. CHARACTERISTICS OF REACCELERATION SCHEME
The allowable window for motor drive reacceleration is5 s.
If voltage is not restored to the motors source within 5 s, the
GREWAL et al.: TRANSIENT MOTOR REACCELERATION STUDY IN AN INTEGRATED PETROCHEMICAL FACILITY
TABLE III
MOTOR DATA
affected system will shut down. If, on the other hand, voltage
is detected within the 5-s window, individual timers, one for
each motor, begin timing and eventually restart the motors in
the preset sequence. Any motor not operating initially is not
restarted.
Since the motors slow down before being transferred and
reenergized, they may draw currents in the locked-rotor range
when reenergized. Any attempt to restart all motors simulta-
neously could cause a plant-wide power failure. To prevent
this, critical motors are grouped in steps based on the process
categories discussed previously. Seven reacceleration steps are
used, as shown in Table I. The timing for the various steps
has been set to provide a minimum interval of 8 s between
successive steps.
Three factors affect the time it takes to reenergize a motor.
First is the operating time of the undervoltage relay, which
trips the incoming breaker. Second, there is intentional time
delay imposed on the closure of the bus tie breaker. Finally,
after the bus tie is closed, the prearranged starting sequence
mentioned above adds to the total time for reenergization. The
only variable in the total time is the operating time of the
undervoltage relay. Because the relays used are of the inverse-
time type, the dropout time depends on the magnitude of the
voltage drop.
V. STUDY METHODOLOGY AND TOOLS
There are 335 motors that may be reaccelerated upon
load bus transfers, ranging in size from a few to 3500 hp.
In order to obtain a realistic assessment of the response
of the reacceleration scheme, the following approach was
established.
• Referring to the single-line diagram, it is clear that an
outage of one 13.8-kV feeder, say due to a fault on
the cable and subsequent isolation of the feeder, will
trigger undervoltage transfer on all the 4.16-kV and 600-
V service buses supplied by that feeder. In some cases,
971
50 motors or more get restarted automatically. By design,
all these motors end up on one single 13.8-kV alternate
feeder over and above its own original load. To simulate
the effect, typical motor starting calculations fall short
in simulating the true dynamic effect of this massive
and extended sequence of repeated starts. It was felt that
a transient stability program with sufficient capacity is
the most suitable tool. Among other obvious dynamic
accuracies, these programs have the capacity to simulate
several starts in one run, with monitoring of a large
number of parameters, and, thus, facilitate assessing the
full impact of successive large-scale motor restarts. The
specific program used has the capacity to simulate 400
induction motors in one run. Generators, governors, and
excitation systems were modeled in detail. The models
used had already been developed and verified in previous
analysis of transient stability issues at the plant.
• The electrical distribution system database was used
for system modeling. One-line drawings, datasheets, test
reports, nameplate data, and schedules were referred to,
and intensive field inspections were done to gather the
relevant information. The provincial grid was represented
by a three-bus equivalent at the ends of the 240-kV
transmission lines.
• The induction motors model selected from the software
library was based on the equivalent circuit shown in
Fig. 1(a). The model itself is shown in Fig. 1(b).
• The simplified model is based on equivalent Thevenin’s
air-gap voltage behind an equivalent impedance. The
motors were classified into three groups based on the
horsepower rating. The parameters for each group were
selected based on the typical LRC, locked-rotor, and
breakdown torque characteristics for the size range, as
shown in Table II. Generally, LRC at the high end and
torque at the low end of the range were assumed to be
conservative. An exponential torque–speed relationship,
972
Fig. 4. Voltage profiles on (a) bus 9327 and (b) bus 9330, feeder “B” lost.
as shown in Fig. 2, was assumed to represent the me-
chanical load torque on the motor. Note that the assumed
torque at synchronous speed is 0.8 per unit of motor
nameplate.
VI. PREDISTURBANCE OPERATING ASSUMPTIONS
The following assumptions were made regarding system
conditions prior to the disturbance.
• The generator on the upstream bus feeding the alternate
13.8-kV feeder is down for maintenance.
• Motors come to full stop before the reacceleration begins.
• The running load on the healthy service bus is 35% of the
oil natural, air natural (ONAN) kVA rating of its source
transformer, at 0.8 lagging power factor. This value was
based on typical running load conditions.
• Undervoltage relay dropout time is taken at 0 V.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS, VOL. 35, NO. 4, JULY/AUGUST 1999
(a)
(b)
VII. CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE
OF REACCELERATION
1) Supply load bus voltage >85% of the motor’s nameplate
voltage during reacceleration. Based on the motor name-
plate rating of 575 V and 4.0 kV, the 85% threshold is
actually 81.5% and 81.7% of 600 V and 4.16 kV supply
voltages, respectively.
2) Successful acceleration is deemed to occur when the
motor reaches full speed in less than 6 s under the load
torque conditions described previously.
VIII. SIMULATIONS
Performance of the reacceleration scheme was examined
through the voltage–time plots at the load buses. The motors
were started in the simulations as per the expected starting
GREWAL et al.: TRANSIENT MOTOR REACCELERATION STUDY IN AN INTEGRATED PETROCHEMICAL FACILITY 973

(c)

(d)
Fig. 4. (Continued.) Voltage profiles on (c) bus 9334 and (d) bus 9337, feeder “B” lost.

time, which consists of the undervoltage relay time, intentional
time delay in tie-breaker closure, and the reaccelerating timer.
The following parameters were monitored in the simulation:
• voltage dip on the healthy load bus, onto which the motors
are reaccelerated and at the terminals of each motor;
• voltage dip at the 13.8-kV supply feeder;
• current flow at the load bus;
• current flow in 13.8-kV supply feeder;
• acceleration time of the motors.
IX. RESULTS
A small portion of the 13.8-kV distribution system, shown
in Fig. 3, is selected as a sample for discussion. The system
supplies power to the load via 13.8/4.16-kV transformers.
Motors shown in the figure are those which reaccelerate upon
bus transfer. Following loss of feeder “B,” the tie breakers
on the transformers, fed via feeder “A,” close and global
reacceleration takes place at the load bus levels. Motors are
simulated to start as per the “total time” shown in Table III.
Fig. 4 shows the voltage–time plots at different load buses.
These plots have to be analyzed together to see the voltage dip
on a particular bus due to motors starting on it, as well as on
other buses. A sharp voltage drop indicates motor starting on
the subject bus and other, less severe, dips are due to startups
on other buses, as marked on the bus 9327 voltage profile.
Similar voltage profiles on the other buses, 9330, 9334, and
9337, give the complete reacceleration effect on transformers
supplied by feeder “A” due to opening of the “B” source.
974 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS, VOL. 35, NO. 4, JULY/AUGUST 1999
(a)
(b)
Fig. 5. Voltage profiles on (a) bus 9047 and (b) bus 9054, feeder “A” lost.
Fig. 5 shows the voltage profiles on the alternate load buses
9047, 9054, 9056, and 9060, when feeder “A” is lost.
X. OPTIMIZATION
In the system under consideration, few improvements in the
“timer” settings were required to improve the voltage profile
during disturbance.
In Fig. 4, the voltage on bus 9330 is depressed to >85% for
approximately 7–8 s. The prolonged depression is caused by
starting of two 450-hp motors followed by one 2150-hp motor,
3.5 s later. To avoid prolonged LRC in the 450-hp motors, the
sequence of the motor starting is changed. As shown on Fig. 6,
both the magnitude and the duration of the voltage depression
are improved significantly.
Similarly, in Fig. 4, for bus 9056, a significant voltage drop
starts at about 44 s and lasts for about 9 s. By rearranging
the starting sequence, the voltage profile is improved, both in
magnitude and duration of the depression, as shown on Fig. 7.
XI. CONCLUSIONS
When large-scale motor reacceleration is planned, it is
essential to examine the dynamic response of the distribution
system to the reacceleration. Although static calculations may
show sufficient voltage during starting, successive starts, even
at different buses, may cause starting difficulties. Motors may
fail to reaccelerate or the ensuing voltage drop may trigger
tripping of a healthy source, leading to a chain reaction. With
transient stability programs available on desktop computers,
it is found justifiable to use them in this analysis, which
has traditionally been done with simplified methods. A study
should preferably be done as part of the initial plant system
design. Frequency of subsequent studies will depend on the
number and size of new motor additions.
GREWAL et al.: TRANSIENT MOTOR REACCELERATION STUDY IN AN INTEGRATED PETROCHEMICAL FACILITY 975

(c)

(d)
Fig. 5. (Continued.) Voltage profiles on (c) bus 9056 and (d) 9060, feeder “A” lost.

The benefits of the study are realized in improvement of
the electrical system performance under single contingency
conditions. In the specific facility studied, the motors requiring
changes were on the cooling water system, which is critical to
the survival of the plant during upsets.
The theoretical analysis in itself does not guarantee the
satisfactory performance of the reacceleration scheme in the
field. Correctness of the relay/timer settings, maintenance
practices, etc., will undoubtedly influence the success of
reacceleration attempts.
XII. LEARNINGS
• Excessive voltage drop was observed at some locations
due to not only local motor starting, but to the combined
effect of starts at other locations. The magnitude and
duration of the drop threatens to trigger undervoltage
tripping on the healthy bus and extends the starting time
of the motors so that heat damage is a concern. Some of
the motors required reacceleration “timer” setting change
to ensure safe reacceleration.
• A general criterion was established to avoid having to
repeat similar global reacceleration studies frequently.
Based on the observations of motor response, and taking
into account typical impedance and operating parameters
at the plant, this criterion was established for future ex-
pansion of the reacceleration scheme. Additional motors
may be included in the reacceleration scheme provided
the total hprsepower of the motors starting within a
window of 8 s does not exceed 50% of the transformer
ONAN kVA rating.
976 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS, VOL. 35, NO. 4, JULY/AUGUST 1999

Fig. 6. Bus 9330 voltage profile with the optimized relay settings on feeder “A.”

Fig. 7. Bus 9056 voltage profile with the optimized relay settings on feeder “B.”

• The existing scheme can be improved by reducing the
time delays to speed up the restoration of the critical
drives. The results of the study show significant margin
in the system’s ability to withstand full-scale restarting.
• As part of the data gathering of the existing timer and
relay settings, it was found that there were inconsistencies
in the relay and the timer settings as compared to the
setting sheets.
XIII. NEXT STEPS
• One of the next steps is to ensure undervoltage relay
settings to be higher than the expected voltage drop. New
criterion for this was to ride through an 80% voltage dip
lasting up to 8 s.
• Undervoltage relays and the bus closing timers’ settings
are to be made identical on all the secondary selec-
tive load buses. This will simplify coordination of the
restarting sequence.
REFERENCES
[1] CYMSTAB/UDM User’s Guide and Reference Manual, CYME Interna-
tional Inc., St-Bruno, P.Q., Canada, Nov. 1991.
[2] C. L. Becnel, “Maintaining process continuity during voltage dips,”
IEEE Trans. Ind. Applicat., vol. IA-18, July/Aug. 1982.
[3] IEEE Recommended Practice for Electric Power Distribution for Indus-
trial Plants, ANSI/IEEE Std. 141-1986.
[4] American National Standard for Polyphase Induction Motors for Power
Generating Stations, ANSI C50.41-1982.
[5] G. W. Bottrell, “Fast bus-transfer techniques for maintaining full plant
production,” presented at the 1989 IEEE Petroleum and Chemical
Industry Technical Conf., Paper PCIC-89-08.
Gursharan Singh Grewal (S’90–M’90), for a photograph and biography,
see this issue, p. 967.
GREWAL et al.: TRANSIENT MOTOR REACCELERATION STUDY IN AN INTEGRATED PETROCHEMICAL FACILITY 977

Stephen Pocsai (M’93) received the BSc. degree Makhlouf (Mak) M. Hakim (M’75–SM’86), for a photograph and biography,
in electrical engineering from the University of see this issue, p. 967.
Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, in 1990.
He is with the Utilities Department, Syncrude
Canada Ltd., Fort McMurray, AB, Canada. His
experience includes detail engineering and system
engineering support. He is currently involved in
evaluating the long-term impact on the utilities’
operation due to various large projects coming on-
line in the near future.