Performance analysis of the RC clampers in switching off no load arc furnace transformers

This paper presents an over-voltage attenuation performance analysis of RC clampers and surge arresters during transients caused by switching off a no load transformer applied to an arc furnace. A Brazilian Industry actual system was simulated using the Matlab/Simulink software. The simulation results indicate that the adequate use of RC clampers can reduce the arresters operations and practically eliminates the re-strikes and repetitive transient over-voltages when using vacuum circuit breakers to switch the arc furnace transformer.