CASE STUDY: Remote Power for Plant Outage

PROBLEM

It is priority for petro-chemical facilities to reduce risk of injury throughout their operations. While there is constant urgency to continue operating and producing at high rates, safety and the welfare of employees is paramount. Energy Rental Solutions - Caterpillar operates with the same outlook as our clients. 

Recently ERS-Cat was approached by a South Louisiana Petro-Chemical Plant to help mitigate risk associated with manually operating rental power modules. This equipment is typically utilized for temporary power during scheduled maintenance projects while ensuring reliability due to the critical need of the equipment being powered. Being familiar with the site operations and having completed numerous outages for this client previously, ERS-Cat understood the importance of this request and immediately went to work to formulate a solution. 

SOLUTION

ERS proposed a 4MW-13.2kV temporary power package consisting of 4 x 1000kW generator sets, distribution breakers with common connection point, transformers, and both low and medium voltage distribution cables. In addition to the equipment, ERS-Cat would install the system to be operated remotely and would have the ability to control the generators from a safe external location to start the generator sets, synchronize the units, and close breakers with the flip of a switch. Also, the proposed system would provide redundancy during the outage due to the critical need of the equipment being powered for plant operation. 

OUTCOME

The client expressed their satisfaction with the proposed solution, as they believed it would effectively mitigate the risk at hand. This decision was influenced by ERS-Cat's established reputation for delivering reliable services for critical requirements within the plant. Having chosen to proceed with the solution, the equipment operated flawlessly and met the expected performance standards. ERS-Cat technicians collaborated closely with the plant personnel throughout the project's duration, ensuring smooth coordination and operation.

Remarkably, the project was completed ahead of schedule without encountering any incidents. As a result, the plant operations continued uninterrupted during the outage period, enabling the site to maintain its production capabilities and fulfill the needs of their clients.