Engineering and execution challenges in power management system implementation for industrial power systems

Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) Companies face challenges in designing and implementing a Power Management System (PMS) to meet the operation and safety requirements for industrial processes. The role of PMS for the safe, efficient and cost effective operation of an industrial power system network is a key factor in decision making for designers, owners and operators in all stages of a project. The challenges are associated with the variety of configurations of on-site power generation facilities and the interface of its control components to achieve the system's functional and design requirements. The owner and operator's decision to manage the industrial power system, standalone or integrated with distribution control system defines the complexity of the PMS design. Power management depends on the choice of power system configuration, load sharing, load shedding, voltage and frequency control, generation control, automatic synchronization, and overall supervision and security requirements. The intricacy of the PMS implementation depends on the level of the system's definition, network architecture, communication protocols, and clarity of interface definition with other plant equipment's control units. Gaps in the design specifications for other plant equipment control units, processes and priorities in the event of lost generation add to the complexity for completely integrated system. This paper focuses on the challenges the EPC Company faces for the engineering definition, design and execution of a successful PMS for oil, gas, and chemical facility's industrial power system.