Detection of major voltage fluctuation source associated with electric arc furnace loads connecting to a distribution substation

The operation of electric arc furnaces (EAFs) leads to drastic and random characteristics which may cause considerable power quality problems. In this study, the goal is to detect the major voltage fluctuation source that exists in an electric utility distribution substation which serves several steel-making customers. Because of the nonlinear behaviors of the EAF loads during operations, serious voltage fluctuations have been observed at busses that connect the substation transformer. The voltage fluctuation also causes frequently switching operations of the on-load tap changer (OLTC) of the main transformer. To reduce the number of switching operations of the OLTC, it is necessary to track the main source of the flicker among different EAF loads and then provide mitigation solutions. Therefore, measurements are taken from the substation sites and the dominant voltage fluctuation source is then effectively identified through a simple approach.