Self-commutated static flicker compensator for arc furnaces

To suppress a flicker that occurs in a power system with arc furnaces, the authors have developed a self-commutated static flicker compensator (SFC). To verify the SFC's compensation performance, the authors performed experiments with a mini-model and an analog simulator. As a result of these experiments, it was confirmed that the current deviation of the SFC output current was less than the desired value of 5%, and the response time of current control was about 1 ms. They also tested the flicker compensating effect with an actual SFC which was installed in a power system. The SFC achieved a flicker suppression factor of 36%, and has been operating trouble-free since April 1995.