Siemens to Supply Static Var Compensation System to CMC Steel Texas
04/13/2011 - CMC Steel Texas has placed an order with Siemens Industry, Inc. to supply a turnkey SVC Plus static var compensation system for the company’s steel minimill in Seguin, Texas.
CMC Steel Texas has placed an order with Siemens Industry, Inc. to supply a turnkey SVC Plus static var compensation system for the company’s steel minimill in Seguin, Texas. The new system will improve the grid power quality needed to meet the stringent requirements of the utility.
Electric arc furnaces are characterized by high power consumption, which can cause severe disturbances to the power supply grid. CMC Steel Texas opted for the SVC Plus static var compensation system to ensure grid power quality as required (flickers and harmonics) by the utility and to improve the total power factor.
The system consists of two parallel operating multilevel voltage source converters (VSC). The modular design allows continued operation even after failure of an intermediate circuit. The power electronics are based on IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) modules with digital control. The design also includes harmonic filter circuits matching the operating conditions of the electric arc furnace.
Compared with conventional compensation systems, the SVC Plus system has better flicker performance and leaves a smaller footprint. A direct connection to the 15-kV power supply eliminates the need for step-up transformers, and the compact design of the IGBT converters permits further space savings.
The new compensation system is scheduled to go into operation in November 2012.
CMC Steel Texas, one of the leading steel producers in the southern United States. Their product range covers profiles and reinforcing steel. The company is part of Commercial Metals Company, founded in 1915, with four steel minimills in Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, and Arkansas, a steel micromill in Arizona, and mills located in Poland and Croatia.
The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is a leading international supplier of environmentally friendly production, transportation, building and lighting technologies. The Sector comprises six divisions: Building Technologies, Drive Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility and Osram. With around 204,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry achieved in fiscal year 2010 total sales of approximately €34.9 billion.
The Siemens Industry Solutions Division (Erlangen, Germany) is one of the world's leading solution and service providers for industrial and infrastructure facilities comprising the business activities of Siemens VAI Metals Technologies, Water Technologies and Industrial Technologies. Activities include engineering and installation, operation and service for the entire life cycle. With around 29,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry Solutions posted sales of €6.0 billion in fiscal year 2010.
