Increase competitive level by replacing steam turbines with electric adjustable speed drive system

A refinery in Argentina has a large number of rotating equipment trains powered by steam turbines. At the time of installation this was the best technology to obtain the speed and power requirements of different applications. However, due to high operational and maintenance costs, aging steam turbines were identified as poor performers for refinery's EII (energy intensity index) improvement goals. To increase its competitive level, and its strong commitment to quality, the refinery analyzed the feasibility of replacing the steam turbine with an electric adjustable speed drive (EASD) system. The study results indicated clear and significant advantages of electric adjustable drive system over existing steam turbine. The replacement of steam turbine with an electric drive was managed via a turnkey project. This paper highlights, as a case study, the motivation of the refinery owner for the replacement of steam turbine with EASD, the integration of selected EASD into the existing plant, and the experience gained in first year of operation.