Effects of electric arc furnace loads on synchronous generators and asynchronous motors

This paper presents an investigation on the effects of voltage flickers caused by AC electric arc furnace (EAF) loads in electrical power systems. This investigation is based on measurements and simulations, and carried out in the industrial zone where multiple EAF loads are intensely located. The scope is focused on the effects of such continuous disturbances on synchronous generators used in the co-generator plant and asynchronous motors fed from the same bus nearby the EAFs. The measurements and PSCAD simulation results are analysed and discussed in the scope of power quality aspects. Finally, the some of the methods for flicker mitigation that can be employed in the studied system are discussed.