An adaptive arc furnace model

This paper presents an adaptive arc furnace model. The integrated model is divided into three parts, the supply system model, the nonlinear load model and the controller model. First, the supply system is represented by a set of linear differential equations. Simulation is achieved by a numerical method and the measurements are taken as the control input. Secondly, based on the arc melting process and typical arc furnace – characteristic, the arc furnace load is described as a current-controlled nonlinear resistance. The pattern of nonlinear resistance is controlled by the average arc length, which reflects the arc furnace operating condition. Finally, the rectangular approximation of arc voltage is adopted by the controller to generate the arc power-arc length and the arc current-arc length curves. This information combined with the arc furnace operation and measurement information is used for the control scheme to determine the arc length and arc furnace transformer tap. Thus, the proposed adaptive arc furnace model is suitable for different operating conditions. This model is also compared with the existing arc furnace models, which provides its validity. The effect of arc furnace load on power system is also studied through the proposed model.