Reactive power reduction in three-phase electric arc furnace

A conventional three-phase electric are furnace causes flicker at the point of common coupling with ac mains. This generally occurs with ac mains havi ng a low short-circuit capacity. The flicker is caused by fluctuating react ive power consumption of the furnace. This paper describes a way, through c omputer simulation, of increasing the dynamic performance of the furnace an d keeping reactive power consumption constant. This can be achieved with th e addition of a three-phase power controller and a booster transformer to t he power source and the introduction of a new control method of regulating the reactive power input. The problem of flicker can thus be minimized, Thi s was experimentally tested on a single-phase model and the results obtaine d were very satisfying. Due to Laboratory facilities, the three-phase testi ng was not performed.