Captive Power Plant Trip Root Cause Analysis

The captive power plant (CPP) in the Onshore Gas Terminal (OGT) is set up to meet the power and steam requirements of the process and utility systems in the OGT complex.

Contents

The CPP is equipped with two M/S GE make Frame-V Gas Turbine Generators (GTG) of capacity 20.5 MW each; both the GTGs would be in operation each operating at part load as per the design philosophy.

The hot flue gas from each GTG is diverted to the respective HRSG (Heat Recovery Steam Generator) to produce process steam.

Each HRSG is equipped with a supplementary firing system and is designed to meet the peak load of 66 TPH of High-Pressure steam generation (36 Kg/cm, 256 Deg°C).

Both the HRSGs would be operating at part load. CPP is also equipped with fuel gas conditioning skids to ensure the quality of fuel gas used in GTG.

Recently the Captive power plant has tripped on —DATE— at 05.55 hrs on electrical protection (earth fault).

Incident Summary

On —date— Gas turbine-2 which was running at normal operating conditions tripped due to electrical protection generated from generator relay protection panel at 05.55 hrs lead to production loss.

The generator is provided with electrical protection on stator earth fault of 1N>1. EDG failed to start automatically due to PMCC-1 (Emergency PMCC) normal incomers didn’t trip during a blackout.

The incomers were switched on manually and the Emergency diesel generator was started.

Captive Power Plant Trip Root Cause Analysis

Probable Causes

Actual earth fault in generator stator winding.
Malfunction of the current sensing device.
Transient earth fault in the downstream electrical system.

Observations

The generator relay protection given a trip command on electrical protection (stator earth fault 1N> 1)
The trip valve setting in generator protection relay (MICOM) for stator earth fault is 5Amps with 600 milli seconds delay.
The actual current sensed by the protection system was 88Amps.
The generator panels were physically inspected for any fault and there is no significant evidence for short circuit founed.
The CT was physically checked and found to be good.
Generator differential protection relay not operated.
11KV bus differential relay is not operated.
No alarm/tripping indication in downstream electrical distribution systems

Root Cause Analysis

From the observations above, it is derived that the probable causes 1 and 2 mentioned above is not the reason for this trip.
Further to ascertain the healthiness of the generator stator, the generator excitation was kept on manual and excitation voltage was slowly and gradually increased up to
11KV and there is no abnormality observed.
As there no alarm/tripping in the downstream electrical distribution system, the exact point of fault remains uncertain. The trip may be due to transient fault initiated from generator downstream electrical system.

Measures to avoid such incidents in future

Relay calibration and testing to be carried out in complete electrical system.
Over all Relay coordination study for longest chain in OGT (CPP substation to substation) needs to be carried out and final relay setting recommendation of the study is to be implemented.
Through inspection for possible entry for rodents in the entire electrical system to be carried out
Regular pest control in all electrical systems to be carried out.