The choice of a rational electrical mode of existing or newly commissioned electric arc furnaces (EAFs) is a very difficult task for process engineers in view of the influence of external disturbing factors. Based on an electric arc heat-transfer model (EAHTM), a method is proposed, using which the problem of determining the optimal electrical operation mode can be solved with the minimal number of simplifications and assumptions, and with taking into account the specific features of a particular EAF. In solving the problem, the following factors are taken into account: the arc heat transfer conditions in the melting space; the influence of the thermal operation conditions of the electrodes and the arc length on the structure of heat fluxes during the heating by arcs, and the effect the chemical composition of the working medium has on the thermophysical properties of the arc column plasma. The radiation from EAF arcs with taking into account the column temperature profile is calculated using the method of universal arc characteristics based on the solution of a system of nonlinear algebraic equations of the EAHTM column cylindrical model. The arc length calculation is based on the EAHTM structural characteristics method and consists of comparing the arc voltage value calculated using the furnace equivalent circuit equation and the arc voltage calculated using the EAHTM. Knowing the arc length, it is possible to calculate the arc radiation power in the EAF melting space. The choice of an electrical operation mode implies specifying an electrical parameter to be maintained by the controller for a certain period of melting. The value of this parameter (arc current or the EAF phase loop impedance) governs the other electrical parameters of the electric furnace installation, such as arc power, electrical losses, power factors, efficiency, etc. In addition, the correct choice of the electrical operation mode has an influence on other important operational characteristics, such as the specific consumption of electrodes, the duration of the interval between repairs, etc.
STATCOM modeling for mitigation of voltage fluctuations caused by electric arc furnaces