Parallel operation of transductor-controlled silicon-rectifier equipment with waterwheel-driven d.c. generators supplying an aluminium potline

Transductor-controlled silicon-rectifier equipment has recently been commissioned in an aluminium factory in Scotland. The equipment runs in parallel with the existing Pelton waterwheel-driven d.c. generators to supply the 60¿70 reduction furnaces which make up the aluminium potline. The anode effects in the potline introduce transient current and voltage fluctuations on the system. Parallel-connected transductors with voltage-feedback windings are employed to match the load sharing of the rectifier equipment with the d.c. generators, and at the same time reduce load fluctuations on the a.c. supply. In order to predict the transient performance of the equipment, the complete system was represented on an analogue computer. The subsequent tests, during the commissioning of the rectifier equipment, supported the findings of the analogue study, though no direct comparison was possible owing to the random nature of the anode effect.