Influence of Multi-Pulse Rectifier on Power Quality in an Industrial Environment

The power quality in industry is actually of a greater importance due to the presence of sensitive loads like computers, protection relays, measurement and other electronic devices operated near the high-power nonlinear loads. One of the most important aspects of this quality is related to the harmonic distortion of voltage and current waves with the well-known negative consequences on the industrial power system components and its operating efficiency. This paper analyses the effects on the quality of electrical energy of the multipulse rectifiers used to supply some electrical high-power drives as main components of the production process, involved in the driving of the rolls of the scraper from a hot strip mill. The measurement results show clearly the advantage of the presence of the 6-pulse and 12-pulse rectifiers during the fast transient conditions of slab lamination.