A US-based steelmaker, which has not been named, has recently ordered a 68-tonne Primetals Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Ultimate equipped with Active Power Feeder power supply technology. According to Primetals, the new EAF Ultimate features the modern eccentric bottom-tapping (EBT) system, which eliminates the issue of slag escaping the furnace during tapping, leading to improved final steel quality. The new equipment will replace two spout-tapping electric arc furnaces and will boast an annual production capacity of 0.75 million tons. The steel producer specializes in medium carbon, high-alloy, and free-cutting steel grades.
With the power supply solution called Active Power Feeder technology, the company becomes the first steel producer to power an EAF using direct AC-AC conversion utilizing Modular Multilevel Matrix converter (M3C) technology at a medium voltage level, marking a significant advancement in energy efficiency, Primetals said. The Active Power Feeder solution provides fast dynamic control, resulting in efficient energy input to the EAF while simultaneously minimizing disturbances on the grid.
When combined with Melt Expert, the Active Power Feeder dynamically manages EAF power input and optimizes the melting process. This results in reduced energy consumption, lower electrode usage, decreased production costs, and increased process stability, all while meeting utility regulations. Additionally, the Active Power Feeder system draws symmetrical power and can compensate for the ladle furnace without the need for a separate compensation system.
Source: Primetals
