25/41-MW Cyclic Steam Power Plant Serving Hot Strip Steel Finishing Mill

The 6-stand hot strip finishing mill planned by Algoma Steel would impose frequent swings on the utility tie line of 41 MW and 41 Mvar. Each swing would occur over a 10-second interval. To avoid these swings on the utility tie, a steam power plant rated 25 MW continuous with features permitting peak cyclic loading to 41 MW and 41 Mvar was installed. Special megawatt and megavar controls vary the power plant output to match the varying input to the strip mill. High-speed recordings of plant performance during strip mill operation are included. This is believed to be one of the few, if not the only, steam power plants operating in this manner.