Comparison of dynamic resistance arc furnace models for flicker study

Owing to the nonlinear characteristics, electric arc furnace (EAF) loads can result in serious electrical disturbances such as harmonics and voltage flicker in power system. Amplitude modulation of the supply voltage in the frequency range of 6-10 Hz created by EAF can cause annoying fluctuations of the electric lighting flux. This paper presents comparative study of different EAF models. The static resistance in each piece-wise linear section of the V-I curve of each model is modulated to obtain the dynamic resistance EAF model. Voltage flickers at PCC caused by different dynamic resistance models are measured using MATLAB simulation of the EAF systems and the results are compared with existing fliker limits to see the level of flicker caused by different models and modulation indices.