Abstract
The analysis of harmonic currents in distribution networks of industrial facilities and the associated filtering stages is essential to optimize the production of these installations. Dry-type air-core reactors are one of the main elements of harmonic filter banks. A thermal analysis of these reactors in conventional steel plants and an evaluation of the criteria used to adjust the corresponding thermal protections are proposed in this paper. Accordingly, harmonic currents through the different filter branches are assessed. The proposed methodology builds a thermal magnetic model using the finite element method (FEM) whereby electromagnetic fields, currents and losses are emulated, to allow for recreating the actual coil temperature. The study aims at increasing the reliability of filtering systems by lowering the number of unscheduled shutdowns due to conservative adjustments of thermal protections.
Highlights
Energy efficiency is considered a strategic pillar of industry
Studies aimed at improving the efficiency and productivity of steel plants by analysing the response of the said protections to harmonic currents are undoubtedly of the greatest interest
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard tests for determining temperatures and hot spots are conceived to be applied at the surface of these components because the windings of dry-type air-core reactors tend to be fully encapsulated, direct access to the said windings is inviable [6,7]
Summary
1990s, steel production plants—which belong to the industrial sector with the highest energy demand in numerous countries—predominantly employed passive filtering and compensation systems for power quality enhancement [1,2,3]. These solution are sensitive to spurious tripping of their thermal protections [4,5]. International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard tests for determining temperatures and hot spots are conceived to be applied at the surface of these components because the windings of dry-type air-core reactors tend to be fully encapsulated, direct access to the said windings is inviable [6,7]. It is possible to measure the surface temperature of the windings with some degree of accuracy
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