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Home / Technical Articles / Five special transformers for industrial applications you should know about

Specific industrial transformers

A number of industry applications require specific industrial transformers due to the usage of power (current) as a major resource for production. Electric arc furnaces (EAF), ladle furnaces (LF) and high-current rectifiers need a specific design to supply the necessary power at a low voltage level.

5 special transformers for industrial applications you should know
5 special transformers for industrial applications you should know (on photo: Arc furnace transformer; credit: Wikipedia)

These transformer types, as well as transformers with direct connection to a rectifier are called special-purpose or industrial transformers, whose design is tailor-made for high-current solutions for industry applications.

Contents:

  1. Electric arc furnace transformers (EAF)
  2. DC electric arc furnace transformers (DC EAF)
  3. Rectifier transformers
  4. Converter transformers
  5. Line Feeder

1. Electric arc furnace transformers (EAF)

Electric arc furnace transformer
Figure 1 – Electric arc furnace transformer

EAF and LF transformers are required for many different furnace processes and applications. They are built for steel furnaces, ladle furnaces and ferroalloy furnaces, and are similar to short or submerged arc furnace transformers (figure 1).

EAF transformers operate under very severe conditions with regard to frequent overcurrents and overvoltages generated by short-circuit in the furnace and the operation of the HV circuit breaker.

The loading is cyclic. For long-arc steel furnace operation, additional series reactance is normally required to stabilize the arc and optimize the operation of the furnace application process.

Specific items

EAF transformers are rigidly designed to withstand repeated short-circuit conditions and high thermal stress, and to be protected against operational overvoltages resulting from the arc processes.

The Siemens EAF reactors are built as 3-phase type with an iron core, with or without magnetic return circuits.

Design options

  • Direct or indirect regulation
  • On-load or no-load tap changer (OLTC/NLTC)
  • Built-in reactor for long arc stability
  • Secondary bushing arrangements and designs
  • Air or water-cooled
  • Internal secondary phase closure (internal delta)

Main specification data

  • Rated power, frequency and rated voltage
  • Regulation range and maximum secondary current
  • Impedance and vector group
  • Type of cooling and temperature of the cooling medium
  • Series reactor and regulation range and type (OLTC/NLTC)

Go to Index ↑


2. DC electric arc furnace transformers (DC EAF)

Direct-Current Electric Arc Furnace (DC EAF) Transformer
Figure 2 – Direct-Current Electric Arc Furnace (DC EAF) Transformer

Direct-current electric arc furnace (DC EAF) transformers are required for many different furnace processes and applications (figure 2).

They are built for steel furnaces with a Thyristor rectifier. DC EAF transformers operate under very severe conditions, like rectifier transformers in general but using rectifier transformers for furnace operation. The loading is cyclic.

Go to Index ↑


3. Rectifier transformers

Rectifier transformer for an aluminum plant
Figure 3 – Rectifier transformer for an aluminum plant

Rectifier transformers are combined with a diode or Thyristor rectifier. The applications range from very large aluminum electrolysis to various medium-size operations.

The transformers may have a built-in or a separate voltage regulation unit. Due to a large variety of applications, they can have various designs up to a combination of voltage regulation, rectifier transformers in double-stack configuration, phase-shifting, interphase reactors, transductors and filter-winding (figure 3).

Specific items

Thyristor rectifiers require voltage regulation with a no-load tap changer, if any. A diode rectifier will, in comparison, have a longer range and a higher number of small voltage steps than an on-load tap changer.

Additionally, an auto-connected regulating transformer can be built in the same tank (depending on transport and site limitations).

Design options

  • Thyristor or diode rectifier
  • On-load or no-load tap changer (OLTC/NLTC)/filter winding
  • Numerous different vector groups and phase shifts possible
  • Interphase reactor, transductors
  • Secondary bushing arrangements and designs
  • Air or water-cooled

Main specification data

  • Rated power, frequency and rated voltage
  • Regulation range and number of steps
  • Impedance and vector group, shift angle
  • Type of cooling and temperature of the cooling medium
  • Bridge or interphase connection
  • Number of pulses of the transformer and system
  • Harmonics spectrum or control angle of the rectifier
  • Secondary bushing arrangement

Go to Index ↑


4. Converter transformers

Converter transformer
Converter transformer – The drive systems in which Converter Transformers are used can drive all kinds of applications such as pumping stations, rolling stock for the mining industry and wind tunnels as well as blast furnaces.
Converter transformers are used for large drive application, static voltage compensation (SVC) and static frequency change (SFC).

Specific items

Converter transformers are mostly built as double-tier, with two secondary windings, allowing a 12-pulse rectifier operation. Such transformers normally have an additional winding as a filter to take out harmonics. Different vector groups and phase shifts are possible.

Main specification data

  • Rated power, frequency and rated voltage
  • Impedance and vector group, shift angle
  • Type of cooling and temperature of the cooling medium
  • Number of pulses of the transformer and system
  • Harmonics spectrum or control angle of the rectifier

Go to Index ↑


5. Line Feeder

Line feeder transformer
Line feeder transformer

This kind of transformer realizes the connection between the power network and the power supply for the train.

Transformer is operating in specific critical short circuit condition and overload condition in very high frequencies per year, higher reliability is required to secure the train running in safety.

Main specification data

  • Rated power, frequency and rated voltage
  • Impedance and vector group
  • Overload conditions
  • Type of cooling and temperature of the cooling medium
  • Harmonics spectrum or control angle of the rectifier

Design options

  • Direct connection between transmission network and railway overhead contact line
  • Frequence change via DC transformation (e.g. 50 Hz – 16,67 Hz)
  • Thyristor or diode rectifier
  • On-load or no-load tap changer (OLTC/NLTC)/filter winding
  • Secondary bushing arrangements and designs
  • Air or water-cooled.

Go to Index ↑

Reference: Siemens Energy Sector – Power Engineering Guide Edition 7.0

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author-pic

Edvard Csanyi

Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of LV/MV switchgears and LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. Professional in AutoCAD programming.

3 Comments


  1. Sudheendranag
    Mar 06, 2018

    Srikalahasti,
    Andhra Pradesh


  2. Le Huan
    Mar 01, 2015

    Could you explain the working principle of a transformer with high impedance. Thanks in advance


  3. power65
    Nov 01, 2013

    Dear Edvard,

    We have in our facility a 3 winding transformer connected to 12-pulse VFD.The 12-pulse VFD is driving two AC motors(690KW,each;V=690VAC,Hz=50)

    Rated KVA=1950;Primary Voltage=11KV;Secondary Voltage:726;
    Primary Delta
    Secondary Winding (Delta),Z=6.14%
    Secondary Winding(Y),Z=6.34%

    I am planning to perform a short circulation using per unit method but i have not idea how to make the “impedance diagram”.Is this transformer series or parallel in the impedance diagram….CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME…THANKS

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