Modeling and analysis of power quality problems in electric arc furnace

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of power quality problems created by Electrical arc furnaces (EAF). An EAF plays an important role in melting process of metals. However due to its highly nonlinear characteristics, it creates lot of power quality problems such as harmonics generation, poor power factor, load unbalancing, voltage flicker, change in reactive power demand etc. In this paper, some of these aspects are studied using mathematical modeling of EAF. The Analysis of EAFs power quality problems are carried out through two different simulator studies in MATLAB/SIMULINK. First model is developed based on linear approximation of EAF during arc ignition and arc extinction period. The second model is based on Cassie and Mayr´s equations. Both the mathematical models of EAF are developed, studied, analyzed, compared and validated the actual characteristics of EAF. Study of voltage flicker is also carried out.