De-Energized Tap Changer for
air core buffer reactors
More efficient operation of elec-
trical arc furnaces (EAFs) may be
achieved by increasing the source
impedance of the EAF's power
supply. For this purpose dry-type
air-core reactors (buffer reactors)
are connected in series to the pri-
mary side of the furnace transformer.
Commonly these reactors are
equipped with a number of taps,
typically covering a range from
40% through 100% in steps of
15% of rated impedance.
Since the best impedance value
for a particular melt shop and
type of melt is often not known
prior to reactor design, a tapped
reactor offering several values of
impedance is advantageous for
Fig. 1 circuit diagram
many melt shops in order to opti-
mize their melting process. The
taps, which are basically designed
for manual operation, are made
up by terminals arranged along the
winding of each single phase unit.
To facilitate tap changing, Trench
can provide an off-circuit (i.e. de-
energized) tap changer for remote
control of the reactor impedance.
Tap Changer
Figure 1 shows a circuit diagram
of the tap changer connected to Series Reactor
a tapped reactor.
Equipment description
The Trench dry type buffer
reactors for EAFs are of single
phase design. The winding is
shaped as a vertically oriented
cylinder having a typical length
between 1.5 to 2.5 meters.
Usually the winding is mounted
on support insulators. The support
structure may include extension
brackets to provide additional
clearance under the reactor.
The tap changer is also of single
phase design. The Trench design
consists of a tapping unit, and a
motor drive unit for remote
operation of the tap changer.
Each single phase tap changer is
arranged near to the reactor. It is
mounted on support insulators with
the axis in parallel to the coil axis.
The tapping unit consists of an oil
filled fiber glass tube which is her-
metically sealed by metallic end
armatures. The top armature is
equipped with a pressure relief
device (rupture disk) to prevent the
build-up of dangerous pressure in
case of an internal fault of the
unit. The electrical terminals of the
individual tap changer positions
are mounted along the tube. One
or several terminals per tap position
may be provided depending on
the current rating of the tap chan-
ger. Each terminal is connected to
the associated tap at the reactor
winding. Inside the tube of the
tapping unit each terminal carries
an electrical contact. The reque-
sted tap changer position is set by
positioning (a) traveling contact(s)
to the associated fixed contact(s)
inside the tube wall. The setting of
the traveling contact(s) is accom-
plished by the motor-powered
spindle of the tap changer.
Depending on the voltage class
the tapping unit may be equipped
with a surge arrester in order to
limit possible transient overvolta-
ges induced by the reactor bet-
ween unloaded terminals.
All electrical terminals and all
metallic armatures of the tapping
unit are "live" parts and it must
therefore be insulated to ground.
Insulation is provided by three sup-
port insulators and one central
swivel insulator driving the spindle
of the tap changer.
The insulators of the tap changer
and the motor drive unit are moun-
ted on a common platform which is
at ground potential.
Main technical data
maximum rated system voltage
maximum BIL
maximum rated current
switch-over time to next tap position
maximum number of tap positions
maximum number of operations
per inspection interval
Subject to change without notice
04.2000
E 600.30
The setting of the tap changer For installation in cold climates
positions is controlled by auxiliary the housing of the motor drive
control switches ( position switches) unit is equipped with a temperatu-
which are incorporated in the hou- re controlled heater.
sing of the motor drive unit. These
switches are actuated by a control As the descriptor “de-energized“
cam mounted on a rotating disc, implies, the tap changer must not
which is driven by the control gear. be operated at any circumstances
Thus, the position of the traveling neither on-load nor on-voltage.
contact in the tapping unit is Therefore, prior to changing the
mechanically coupled with the tap position of the EAF series reac-
position of the control switches tor the associated EAF feeder must
and the control cam in the motor be shut-off or the reactor must be
drive unit indicates the tap bridged by an auxiliary by-pass
changer position. switch.
The control switches at the end
positions automatically limit the To avoid accidental tap changing
tapping range, thus they may not while energized, the auxiliary vol-
be overrun during normal tap tage for the motor control circuit
changer operation. Further to shall be interlocked with the EAF
these control switches there is an feeder breaker.
auxiliary blocking switch for each
end position which protects the To avoid accidental switching-on of
tap changer against mechanical the EAF feeder breaker during tap-
damage in case of overrunning the ping operation, the EAF feeder
end position due to incorrect breaker must be interlocked with
phase sequence of the power sup- the de-energized tap changer.
ply of the motor unit during com-
missioning.
The tap position indicator (control
cam) and the control switches may
be visually monitored through the
window in the front panel of the
motor drive unit cabinet.
The cabinet of the control unit
contains all electrical components
necessary to operate the motor
drive unit, such as the motor
contactors for both running direc-
tions, the motor protective switch
and associated relays.
36 kV
200 kV
2500 A
15 s
7
200,000