3. MZ.26011: Non-SEL Protective Relay Upgrade

At Martinez, we…

At Martinez, we have an undetermined amount of Non-SEL protective relays that each require an upgrade to an SEL device in accordance with Marathon corporate recommendations and EIU plans.

For this project…

For this project, my task was to export relay data from ETAP and identify each relay based on location, manufacturer, function, and type.

I found that…

I found that there are roughly 250 non-SEL protective relays that will require estimates in order to be upgraded to an SEL relay.

This project is…

This project is important because it will help with future project justification, conceptual development of future network connections to SCADA, and long-term implementation of SEL Blueframe.

In addition, from…

In addition, from a technical perspective, there are several first-generation, non-SEL, electronic relays that are at the highest risk of failure to detect faults.

SEL protective relays…

SEL protective relays are essentially a newer model of these first-generation relays since they are more reliable and flexible, allowing us to configure the relay to offer more protection and coordination.

An upgrade to…

An upgrade to an SEL device is vital because they can better protect against adverse electrical issues, such as motor damage and short circuiting, by communicating with the circuit breaker to open prior to failure.

For example, if…

For example, if a motor protection relay does not function properly, this could prematurely shut down the motor, leading to a potential shutdown of a unit or major rate impact.

From this project…

From this project, I gained insight into conceptual-level project development, techniques to minimize project costs, and how to communicate effectively with outside collaborators such as corporate engineers and contractors.