MATHEMATICAL SIMULATION OF D.C.

ARC FURNACE OPERATION IN ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS

D Stade .
H. Schau

L Apreikov
Polytechnical University ofTomsk Russia

A. Novitskiy
St. Petersburg State Technical University Russia

Technical University of Ilmenau Germany

Abstract Modern high-power D.C. electric arc m a c e s @C EAF) are considerable sources of power quality impacts in the electric supply systems. These impacts result from the feeding converters, but particularly also *om the electric arc in the D.C. circuit. For an exact analysis of the DC E M influence on the electric network, both the converter and the electric arc have to be mathematically modelled. The paper presents the results of on-site measurements at a real high-power DC EAF as well as, based on it, a new mathematical approach of the electrical EAF behaviour.

I. INTRODUCTION

effects and others by using the direct relation between the instantaneous arc voltage and current values, instead of a static arc characteristic based on mean values. Then, the DC circuit conditions may be simulated exactly, and the accuracy of the calculation results concerning power quality indices of the electric power supply is improved, too. For analysing the dynamic V-I arc behaviour, on-site measurements at high-power DC EAF are necessary. These investigations have to include direct measurements in the high-current circuits in order to find the required arc characteristics and their dependencies. In the following measurements as well as mathematical approaches and simulation results are described.

In principle, there are two Werent ways for mathematically approaching electric DC arcs. The first one is to model the arc as an ideal voltage source (e.m.f.). The second way is to consider the arc as a linear ohrmc resistance [1,2]. Both ways are sd5cient for calculations of steady-stateconditions in the electric circuits. But when calculating transient processes, different results have to be obtained by using these models. In [3] a combined model consisting of the series connection of voltage source and resistance is proposed for this reason. This approach, as well as the other ones mentioned before, only provides relatively good results according to the fundamental harmonics of the network voltages and currents or the according load flow in the supply system. In addition, voltage and current conditions calculated on this base for the converter DC circuit show large differences to the real values. An improvement can only be received by taking into ht account the non-linear and time-varying arc behaviour, t a means by modelling the arc by means of the dynarmc V-I characteristic, considering the changes in time, hysteresis

I. EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES I
The on-site measurements were carried out in the power supply system of a steel plant with an 120 MVA DC EAF. The general scheme is shown in Fig.1. The EAF is connected, together with TCR, filter compensation and a low-power 3-phase AC EAF to the 33 kV bus bar. The EAF is fed by 4 converters of B6C connection. At the DC si& there is a parallel connection of the converters. Because of the feeding transformers the converters show a quasi twelvepulse behaviour.

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Paper accepted for presentation at the P Intenrational Conference on Harmonics and Quality of Power ICHQP 98,jointly organized by IEEEIPES and NTVA, Athens, Greece, October 14-16,1998 0-7803-5105-31981$10.000 1998 IEEE

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F i g 1. General d e m r ofthe power supply system

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The aim of the measurements was to analyse the dynamic and transient processes in the electric network with the DC E M load. The direct E M measurements were part of a long-term investigation in the power supply system including the 220 kV H.V. level. The diagram of the direct EAF measurements is shown in Fig.2.
U1

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I

Id

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Besides of these t operational periods, the transition m processes between the operational points a n 4 particularly the transition into the phase of maximum power consumption is to be Seen as a third special load case (case 1 1 characterisedby a typical arc behaviour, too. 1) In the following, the dynarmc DC arc V-A characteristics found by the experimental analyses for the typical operational conditions mentioned are to be considered. The time functions of total DC current and voltage (id and ud) as well as the arc current and voltage (i. and are divided into twelve partial time intervals in each AC cycle of the n e m r k voltage as the consequence of the quasi twelve-pulse behaviour of the feeding converters. These twelve partial intervals are repeatedly appearing in each AC cycle (the partial currents of the single converters - see Fig2 - show six intervals per AC cycle due to their B6C connection). For considering the dynamic arc behaviour, the instantaneous values of the arc voltage and current within the characteristic DC partial interval of 1/12 of an AC period have to be used.
4

Fig.2. h k a s u e " t & m e

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The instantaneous values of the voltages and currents remarked in Fig.2 were simultaneously recorded by means of the digital measurement systems EDAS and DIGIS (sampling frequency 6.4 kHz) during the different periods of the DC EAF melting process. On this base the electric conditions of the AC and DC circuits were analysed and evaluated as well as the dynamic arc voltage-current characteristics within all different load conditions and for all t p c l operational phases. yia

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III. MEASUREMENT RESULTS

The total melting period of a DC EAF (tap to tap) is characterised by different operational points which are adjusted in dependency of the steel producing technique, each of it representing special load conditions within a melting cycle. One operational point is always determined by an average or mean value of the DC circuit current Id and a voltage U as well as the one mean value of arc current I, and arc voltage U, which are in general the required reference values of the current and voltage control circuits of the EAF and are approached by changing of the converter control angles and arc length changing due to the electrode control. As shown by the analyses, furthermore, there are typical operational periods including one or more of these operational points, and showing qualitatively the same or quite similar characteristics with respect to the DC circuit conditions and the instantaneous values of arc currents and voltages [4]. Such typical operational conditions and periods characterising every DC EAF load cycle are the start of melting ("rough" melting case 1) ,,quiet" melting (case 11).

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Typical time curves of the DC arc voltages and currents which are qualitatively characterising the conditions in the two operational periods (case I and I) and in the transition I process (case II mentioned above are presented for one AC I) cycle in Fig.3. Pig.3a) shows the arc current and voltage which are typical for the start of melting (case I). In Fig. 3c) the typical time behaviour of the arc current and voltage for ,,quiet" melting (case 11) is to be seen. Fig3b) shows the arc current and voltage changes which are characterising the transition process into maximum power consumption conditions of the E M (case 111). The real voltages and currents are varying during the melting cycles and from melting cycle to melting cycle, too. There are certain differences between the three load cases, particularly between the two operational periods (case I and 11). Otherwise, each of these cases can be classified by special characteristics and qualitative similarities with respect to the arc V-A characteristics. In Fig4 the typical DC voltage and current conditions are w shown for the t o load periods (case I and 11), with Fig. 4ac) belonging to Case I and Fig. 4d-f) to case 11.

The Fig. 4a) and 4d) present the time curves of the arc voltage U, and the arc current i. within any of the characteristic 1/12 intervals. The time functions are marked by numbers (0, 1 , 2, 3, 0'). These numbers clearly characterise the functions and describe special points, such as the start (0) and the end (0') of the interval, the maximum ) values of the arc voltage (2) and the arc current (1 or 3, the minimum arc voltage value (3 in case 11). In the result the time curves consist of characteristic sections which can be found agam in the arc V-A characteristics and used for approaching these characteristics. The typical arc V-A characteristics based on the measured instantaneous values are to be seen from Fig. 4b) and 4e). Their approximations are presented in the Fig. 4c) and 4f) for case I and case I1 respectively. The DC arc V-A characteristics are non-linear. For the approximation they are divided into linear partial sections. The linearisation is different for the arcs in the two operational periods because of the generally different arc behaviour in both cases. The linearisation is in accordance with the physical arc processes.

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In the consequence, the characteristic points mentioned above and representing start and end point of each of the linearisation sections have additionally and firstly physical reasons. In case I (start o melting), first, the voltage f gradient of the arc column d d d t is increasing (sections 0-1 and 1-2, Fig. 4a-c) after the "mutation process o the f converter thyristors (beginning of the interval). The rate of ionisation of the arc column is increasing after the commutation process of the converter thyristors (beginning of the intervall). The rate of ionisation of the arc column is growing and, thus, the arc current, too. From the moment, when the increase of ionisation exceeds the velocity of deionisation, the impedance of the arc column is decreasing (section 2-3 in Fig. 4 a-c). The following decrease o the arc f voltage causes a reducing of the voltage gradtent and the ionisation r t .The arc current is also decreased (section 3-0 ae in Fig. 4) In the case I1 (,,quiet" melting) the voltage of the arc column is also increasing (section 0-1, Fig 4 f). But the high temperature of the heated plasma causes, then, a higher rate of deionisation in the arc channel. The conductivity of the arc column is reduced (section 1-2, Fig. 40. The following reduction of the voltage results in a decrease of the arc current (section 2-3, Fig. 40. Compared to case I (operational period ,,start of melting"), the converter commutation angle becomes significantly smaller in the case of ,,quiet" melting because of the larger thermal inertia o the f arc column. The arc shows an inductive behaviour, since the minima of arc current and voltage are significantly displaced (section 3-0, Fig.40. Further measurement results, particularly those conceming the power quality indices resp. impairment in the H.V. system are presented in [4].

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FigS. slaiisticaldistribu(imofthe t p c l arc V-I C h a d ~ c yia values (point 0 ) for CBSe 1.

There, the normalized distribution functions f(x) and P(x) are provided. The function f(x) is the normalized frequency distribution (theoretically), P(x) is the normalized distribution ni f*(X) = h-n '

obtained from the analysis of measurements,

with number of values within the partial range (class); h widthoftheclass n number of measured values. In case I1 (,,quiet" melting), the conformity of the real distribution with the theoretical Gaussion one is better. The variance factor
n i -

IV. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS OF THE TYPICAL V-A CHARACTERISTICS

The voltage and current conditions measured in the highcurrent circuit of the DC EAF were statistically analysed, too. Then, on this base, a typical dynamic arc V-A characteristic was synthesised for each of the t o operational w periods .$tart of melting" and ,,quiet" melting. For tlus, the voltages and currents belonging to the U, characteristic points of approximation (,, U], uz, u3, io, il, iz, 13.) were considered. The investigations have shown that a statistical normal distribution (Gaussian distribution) is valid for these characteristic voltage and current values in both cases. The distribution functions of the arc parameters ~0 and io in the case ,,start of melting" are shown in Fig. 5.

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comparison with the ,,quiet" melting. In Table 1 the results of the statistical evaluation are summarized and presented in form of the expectation values of the arc voltage UM and arc current IM (meanvalues of the f distribution) for each o the characteristic points.

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V. PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
On base of the theoretical and experimental studies described before, a simulation model of the electric DC arc of an EAF was provided in form of a non-linear passive network element. The result is a current-depending non-linear resistance & (i.). This element characterises the converter DC circuit of the EAF.

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The developed arc model was implemented in the PC program system SALOMON [5]. Fig. 6 shows the equivalent scheme of the converter, including the converter transformers and converter DC load, as implemented in SALOMON. The converter function is approached by decribing thyristor characteristics according to the physical ignition and extinction conditions. First simulations proved the DC EAF modelling to be useful for power quality studies. It will later be reported in detail about simulations and receivable accuracy.

VI. CONCLUSIONS
There were on-site measurements in the AC and DC circuit of an high-power DC EAF for analysing the electric behaviour. As the result, V-A characteristics of the electric DC arcs could be obtanied for different EAF load conditions. These characteristics are based on the instantaneous values of arc current and voltage. Typical V-A characteristics for the relevant EAF operation periods can be synthesised on the base of a statistid analyses. With this, an improved mathematical model of the electric DC arc of EAF was developed for simultating of the power quality conditions.

Together with the reactance of the DC circuit &. this resistance represents the converter DC load (Fig.6):

The function R. (iJ which results from the above considerations for case I1 (,,quiet" melting) is shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 7a) presents the fiinction measured, while the calculated arc characteristic which is to be used for the simulations can be seen in Fig 7b).

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D.Stade, H.S&au, LAprelkov, ANovitskiy ,,Mathematicalm d l i g of oeln D.C. arc funaces for assesing power quality", Proceedings o the f ConferenceEPQV'97. C r a w , Poland, 1997, pp. 375-380. Pkxhulin, ,.Unterm&mgen zum dynamisdten V a l " ekes ILi.sz~n@arkten GleiWd&thogmofms'. Diplomarbeit W llmenau, Ilnimau . 1998. S.93. D..Stade. H.S&au. MMalsch, ANovitskiy. ,,Di+atim of voltage fluciuaticns and flidters caused by arc fiunaces in the H.V. diSributim systean-. Proceedings ofthe Conference WPEC '97, Mand~estrr, hgland, 1997.p ~859-862. .

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Mailingaddress: Technical 'Lhrivasityof Ilmmau . Faculty ofEledricalEngineaing and Infformaon Tedmique, Div, Offiledriwl Pow5 SysiemsandApplianca P.O.R. 10 0565,D - 98684 ILMENAU, Gcsma~ly phone: U 4 9 3677 69 1489 fax: U 4 9 3677 69 1496 4: dau@e-tedmik.tu-iitaau.de
Dij&Ing. Ivan Aprelkov was b o m in 1973 m Kolpdevo, Rusda. He reCEived U S . degree &om Tansk Polituhoical Univasity. hesmtly, he is research assisstaOt at the Technical University of Ilmmau. Germany. His areas of interest include computa modelingof electricalsupllysystem mdpower w h y .

VIII. BIOGRAPHIES
Prof. Dr.-Ing. haW. Dietrich Stade was bom m SuWI'hurmga, Gamany in 1939. He studied Eledncal Engmeemg a the Ilmtnau t Instutute of Tedmology (IIT, now. TeQlllcal lhivasity ofllmmau) from 1957 to 1963 The0 hc worked m the m u t e 0fEledncal Apparatus ofthe IlT i the field of ccnvextt~ n tedm~ques and recervedlus Dr.-Ing. degree bthere m 1973 Prom 1975 to 1987 he was an asmtauce proff Eledncal Den* at the IlT In a 1984 he r-ved lus habd. Degree m the field uf mathematical simulation of eledrical power systans In 1987 he became an assoclate prodessor m the D e p m m t of Eledrical Engmeamg at the IlT. Now he 1s w m h g as. an u~~versay professor in the Faculty of EleCrncal Engmeamg and I n f a i o n Tedmique ofthe Tedmical Univemty ofIlmenau 1Ic ISHead ofthe Divlslon ofElednC31Power Systans and Appliances Speclal ficlds of h.work are powrr quality impads and their c o m p e " m ~ndustnal pubhc pow= tiupfly. and the network couplmg of mewable snd mergy m mas wcll Mrulmg adm-ess. Tedmical Gmvemty o f h m a u I'aculty ofEleQ.lcal Engineenngmd Infmmahn 'Techuque, DIV ofEledncal Power Systans and Appliances P 0 B 10 0565. I)- 98684 ILMENAU, Gantaary pllme t+49 3677 69 2840 fa\ i+49 3677 69 1496 r d acbim@c&&nik tu-dmmau de

Mailing address:
Ivan Aprelkov Technical Uruversity of Ilmmau Faculty 0fEledricalTjngineaing md Jnfmtiatico Technique, Div. of EI&al Power Systems and Awlianuj: P.O.B. 10 0565, D 98684 ILhNAU, G u " y phme: *49 3677 69 1495 fax: t c 4 9 3677 69 1496 e-mail: ivan.~relkov(~~e.tu-~mau.de

Dr.-Ing. Alexander NoviWriy

was bom m 1965 in Leningrad, Russ~a. k m 1982 I

to 1989 he studied Eledrid Engmeamg a1 thc Leningrad Polytechnic Instaute (LI'I. now &.Petasburg state Technical ~ v d ). y fim there he received hiS. &.D degree m 1993, and m the wilere he works as an aSsoClate profE l e d n d Powez Systems & Networks Char In 1994 - 1995 hc worked a the Tianjm Uluvemly. t Chma I 1997 he was a fellow at thc Tcuhnid n University of Dmmau, Gamany h area of m e e include pnwa quahty and harmoluc trs

mdlig oeln
uailingaddrers.

Dr.-Ing. Hdger Schau in WeimarfIbhgia, Germany m 1955. He studied EledriC31 Engineering at the fixmcr h m a u iusi.itute of Tccfinology now: TcLhnical University & c m 1975 to 1979. Rom 1979 to 1983 he worked as an a&t in the Dqt. Of Eledrical Engineging of the IlT i o the field o m t e a i a modelling of eledric f ahmtcl high-at arcs and rcceived his TX.-Ing. degree from there in 1984. ln 19E3 he joint the StYksLrom-Anlawbau J.A&-IIalle C~mpmy (now: SIEMENS) and worked as special project manager for e l d d M.V. and H.V. plants. From 1988 to 1990 he worked as a researdl asisiant and lecturer in th.e Dept. of Eledrical Apparatus of the Leipzig . -University of T&oIogy/Saxania:
was b o m

Alexander NovitsiUy StPetesburgState Technical Uuvu~ity Eledrical Engm-g Fadty Eledrical Power Sysicms & Ndworks Chair 195251 St-Petesburg Russla phme: (007x812) 5528958 fax: (007)(812) 2472088 4: novitski@)boafbop.stuneva.m

(n, I)

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