Customer challenges
Steel and aluminum smelting are energy intensive processes. Smelting is carried out with disturbing loads, mostly Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs). Electric Arc and other types of furnaces frequently cause power quality problems, including voltage variations, flicker, poor power factor and harmonic distortions. Poor power quality means longer melt time, lower productivity, energy losses and higher operating costs. If steel plants are connected to weak grids and fail to operate at full power or in daytime, production capacity is affected. Rolling mills may face similar power quality issues. Moreover, where steel plants are connected to the public grid, their operation may disturb any customers connected to the same bus.
Applications
- AC and DC Electric Arc Furnace (EAF)
- Induction furnace
- Ladle furnace
- Shredder
- Hot rolling mill
- Cold rolling mill
Customer benefits
The key benefits of improving power quality in Steel and Metal industry include:
- Shorter melting time and increased production capacity of melting plants
- Increased slab size in rolling mills without jams in shredders
- Elimination of flicker and reduced consumption of electrodes
- Lower energy costs
- Extended lifetime of refractory lining
- Compliance with strict grid codes including IEEE 519, G5/4, IEC61000 3-2, 3-4 and other power quality standards and recommendations