Study of the Flicker Phenomenon Induced in the Electric Arc Furnace of the Steel Factory in Tunisia

Abstract

This paper investigates the phenomenon of flicker induced in the Tunisian steel factory’s electric arc furnace (EAF). Therefore, several solutions have been proposed in the literature in order to mitigate this phenomenon. We cite the three famous techniques; the addition of an inductor in series with the electric arc furnace, the use of the Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems (FACTS) systems and the increase in the short-circuit power of the electric arc furnace. The final solution was selected based on a number of factors, including its lower cost and simpler plant installation dimension in comparison to the other two options. Above all, the high maintenance costs associated with the FACTS and the extremely careful sizing of the complete plant infrastructure. In fact, this study is subdivided into two parts. First, the first part will be devoted to the theoretical study of flicker while describing its admissible limits according to the standards in order not to disturb equipment or human beings. However, the 2nd part of the paper is subdivided into two sections. The first section deals with the evolution of flicker severity levels short and long term before and after increasing the short-circuit power of the electric arc furnace. However, the second section deals with the experimental tests and implements the measurement of the flicker severity generated by the electric arc furnace using a Megger PA-9 Plus flickermeter after increasing the short-circuit power of the electric arc furnace. In fact, the implementation of these tests was carried out following the cooperation of the Tunisian electricity and gas company and the national higher school of engineers of Tunis on the one hand and the steel factory in Manzel Bourguiba Tunisia on the other hand.

Keywords

• Flicker severity
• flickermeter
• arc furnace
• flicker