1

Performance Analysis of the RC Clampers in

Switching Off No Load Arc Furnace
Transformers
M. E. Santos, M. I. C. Santos and V. C. Onofri,

terminals.
Abstract— This paper presents an over-voltage attenuation In order to reduce the transient over-voltages problems, some
performance analysis of RC clampers and surge arresters during devices, as RC clampers and surge arresters, should be
transients caused by switching off a no load transformer applied employed. Some qualitative advantages and disadvantages of
to an arc furnace. A Brazilian Industry actual system was arc furnace transformer over-voltage protection methods are
simulated using the Matlab/Simulink software. The simulation presented in [5].
results indicate that the adequate use of RC clampers can reduce
The main goal of this paper is to analyze the performance of
the arresters operations and practically eliminates the re-strikes
and repetitive transient over-voltages when using vacuum circuit the RC clampers and surge arresters in an arc furnace
breakers to switch the arc furnace transformer. transformer and transformers switches. The methodology used
is the digital simulations using the Matlab/Simulink software
Key-Words – arc furnace transformer, chopping level current, [6]. The calculation of RC clamper parameters is based on [7].
transient over-voltages, vacuum circuit breaker re-striking. Another benefit of this study is the clues to specify the
vacuum circuit breaker with enough dielectric strength, in
I. NOMENCLATURE order to avoid the re-strikes. In section III, a brief description
of the system studied is made. In section IV the simulation
VpPG: Phase-to-Ground Peak Voltage at HV Arc Furnace
results are plotted and a summary table of the over-voltages is
Transformer terminals (kV and PU Values)
shown. The main conclusions are presented in section V.
VpPP: Phase-to-Phase Peak Voltage at HV Arc Furnace
Transformer terminals (kV and PU Values)
III. THE SYSTEM STUDIED
VpCB: Contact Peak Voltage and Voltage variation in time of
Main Circuit Breaker (kV, PU and kV/ms Values) The actual system chosen to study the transient over-voltages
EAPG: Energy dissipated on Phase-to-Ground Surge Arrester is a 114 MVA arc furnace transformer, installed in a Brazilian
(Joules) Industry. The single line diagram of the system is plotted in
EAPP: Energy dissipated on Phase-to-Phase Surge Arrester Fig. 1. In this application, the circuit breaker should only
(Joules) switch off when the electrode is out of the furnace, i.e., at no
load transformer operation.

II. INTRODUCTION

T he switching off any no load transformer can cause

voltage surge. Several transformers failures caused by
similar problems are reported in [1], [2], [4]. In an arc
furnace installation this switching is repetitive and very often
(up to 100 switch / day), and can cause serious damages on Fig. 1. Single Line Diagram of studied system
transformer insulation, decreasing its life time.
Due to the high number of operations, the circuit breakers
usually employed in this kind of system are the vacuum type A. System Data
[1], [2], [4]. These devices have strong interruption capability, The following data was considered in the simulations:
so the current could be chopped before reaches zero value,
causing over-voltages. If the over-voltage exceeds the Transformer:
dielectric strength of the circuit breaker, a current re-strike Rated power: 114 MVA
occurs, increasing the over-voltages at the transformer Primary voltage: 34.5 kV
Secondary voltages: 1806 ....552 V
M. E. Santos and V. C. Onofri are with the GERDAU-AÇOMINAS, Ouro No load current (line current at 34.5 kV): 7.63 Arms
Branco, Minas Gerais, Brasil (e-mail: manoel.santos@gerdau.com.br and (0. 4 %, basis 34.5 kV, 114MVA)
virna.onofri@gerdau.com.br ). No load losses: 0.08% at 114 MVA basis
M. I. C. Santos is with the DALTEC, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais,
Brasil, (e-mail: izabel.mics@hotmail.com ).

978-1-4244-6547-7/10/$26.00 © 2010 IEEE

 2

Electrical System: 15
Line Current of Main Circuit Breaker

Short circuit power at 34.5 kV substation: 560 MVA,

phase angle: -85 degrees 10

Cables: 5
Cable 1: From the main substation to the 34.5 kV arc furnace

Current (A)
switchgear: 0
Resistance = 0.00802Ω, Inductance = 0.0339mH,
Capacitance = 0.5672 μF; -5

Cable 2: From the 34.5 kV arc furnace switchgear to the HV -10

terminals of the arc furnace transformer:

Resistance = 0.00205Ω, inductance = 0.008475mH, -15
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03
Capacitance = 0.03545μF. Time (s)

Fig. 2 – System without RC clampers and without Surge Arresters

Surge Arresters:
Phase-to-ground connected: ABB – POLIM H28, residual
Contacts Voltage of Main Circuit Breaker
voltage 69 kV at 1kA peak, wave 30x60 μS; 100
143kV/ms

Phase A (kV)
Phase-to-phase connected: ABB – POLIM H40, residual
voltage 98 kV at 1kA peak, wave 30x60 μS. 0

-100
RC clampers: (calculations based on [6], considering the 0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03
100
expected peak phase-to-ground voltage due the no load
Phase B (kV)
26.67kV/ms
switching equal 70.4 kV) 0
Resistance = 200 Ω, Capacitance = 0.125 μF.
-100
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03

B. Systems Simulated 100

Phase C (kV)

It was simulated a switching off the unloaded arc furnace 0 108.57kV/ms

transformer at the following conditions:

• Without the surge arresters and without the RC clampers -100
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03

• With the surge arresters and without RC clampers Time (s)

• With the surge arresters and with RC clampers at arc Fig. 3 – System without RC clampers and without Surge Arresters
furnace transformer terminals
• With the surge arresters and with the RC clampers at arc Phase-to-Ground Voltage at HV Arc Furnace Transformer terminals

furnace transformer and 34.5 kV circuit breaker 100

terminals. 80

60

40

IV. SIMULATION RESULTS 20

Voltage(kV)

Some simulations results are plotted in Figs. 2 to 20. Figs. 0

2 to 5 plot the circuit breaker line currents and voltages across -20

its terminals, the phase-to-ground and phase-to-phase voltages -40

at arc furnace transformer terminals, system without the surge -60

arresters and without the RC clampers. -80

As showed in Fig. 2, the line current are chopped by the -100

0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03
vacuum breaker close to 10 Amperes, causing the over Time (s)

voltages plotted in Figs. 3 to 5. In all simulations, the breaker

Fig. 4 – System without RC clampers and without Surge Arresters
model doesn’t consider multiple strikes, like the model
described in [3].
 3

Phase-to-Phase Voltage at HV Arc Furnace Transformer terminals Phase-to-Phase Voltage at HV Arc Furnace Transformer terminals
150 150

100 100

50 50
Voltage (kV)

Voltage (kV)
0 0

-50 -50

-100 -100

-150 -150
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03
Time (s) Time (s)

Fig. 5 – System without RC clampers and without Surge Arresters Fig. 8 – System without RC clampers and with Surge Arresters

Figs. 6 to 10 plot the voltages across the circuit breaker 3

Energy Dissipated on Phase-to-Ground Surge Arresters

terminals, the phase-to-ground and phase-to-phase voltages at

arc furnace transformer and surge arresters energy absorbed, 2.5
system with the surge arresters and without the RC clampers.
2

Energy (Joules)
Contacts Voltage of Main Circuit Breaker Phase A
100
192kV/ms 1.5
Phase A (kV)

0
1

-100
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03
0.5
100
Phase B Phase C
Phase B (kV)

18.76kV/ms
0 0
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03
Time (s)
-100
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03
Fig. 9 – System without RC clampers and with Surge Arresters
100
Phase C (kV)

200kV/ms
Energy Dissipated on Phase-to-Phase Surge Arresters
0
300

-100
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 250
Time (s) Phases C-A

200
Fig. 6 – System without RC clampers and with Surge Arresters
Energy (Joules)

150
Phase-to-Ground Voltage at HV Arc Furnace Transformer terminals
100
100
80

60
50
Phases B-C
40 Phases A-B

20 0
Voltage (kV)

0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03

Time (s)
0

-20
Fig. 10 – System without RC clampers and with Surge Arresters
-40

-60
In this case, the surge arresters clamps the phase-to-ground
-80
and phase-to-phase voltages at arresters residual voltage levels
-100
0 0.005 0.01 0.015
Time (s)
0.02 0.025 0.03
(close to 69 kV for the phase-to-ground arresters and close to
98 kV for the phase-to-phase arresters), as showed in Figs. 7
Fig. 7 – System without RC clampers and with Surge Arresters
and 8. As consequence, the breaker contacts voltages are
reduced from approximately 76 kV to 50 kV. Phase-to-phase
arresters absorb energy levels greater the phase-to-ground
 4

ones. It can be noticed that, in this case, only the arresters 150
Phase-to-Phase Voltage at HV Arc Furnace Transformer Terminals

phase A-to-ground, phase-to-phase C-A and B-C discharged.

Figs. 11 to 15 plot the voltages across the circuit breaker 100

terminals, the phase-to-ground and phase-to-phase voltages at

50
arc furnace transformer and surge arresters energy absorbed,

Voltage (kV)
system with the surge arresters and with the RC clampers only 0

at arc furnace transformer terminals.

The use of the RC clampers at arc furnace transformer -50

terminals reduces the energy levels absorbed by the surge

arresters, as showed in Figs. 14 and 15. In this case, the RC -100

clampers reduce the phase-to-ground voltages at levels less

-150
than the residual voltage of the phase-to-ground surge 0 0.005 0.01 0.015
Time (s)
0.02 0.025 0.03

arresters. It can be noticed that in this case, only the arrester

phase-to-phase C-A discharged. Fig. 13 – System with RC clampers only at transformer terminals
Figs. 16 to 20 plot the voltages across the circuit breaker
terminals, the phase-to-ground and phase-to-phase voltages at
-3
x 10 Energy Dissipated on Phase-to-Ground Surge Arresters
5
arc furnace transformer and surge arresters energy absorbed, 4.5
system with the surge arresters and with the RC clampers at 4
arc furnace transformer and 34.5 kV circuit breaker terminals. Phase A
3.5

Energy (Joules)
3
Contacts Voltage of Main Circuit Breaker
100 2.5
Phase A (kV)

27.5kV/ms
2
0
1.5
-100
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 1
100
0.5 Phase B Phase C
Phase B (kV)

11.8kV/ms
0 0
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03
Time (s)
-100
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03
Fig. 14 – System with RC clampers only at transformer terminals
100
Phase C (kV)

28.67kV/ms
0 Energy Dissipated on Phase-to-Phase Surge Arresters
30
Phases C-A
-100
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 25
Time (s)

20
Fig. 11 – System with RC clampers only at transformer terminals
Energy (Joules)

15
Phase-to-Ground Voltage at HV Arc Furnace Transformer Terminals
100
10
80

60
5

40 Phases B-C Phases A-B

0
20 0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03
Voltage (kV)

Time (s)
0

-20 Fig. 15 – System with RC clampers only at transformer terminals

-40

-60
The connection of the RC clampers at transformer and
-80
circuit breaker terminals clamp the phase-to-phase and the
phase-to-ground voltages at levels less than the residual
-100
0 0.005 0.01 0.015
Time (s)
0.02 0.025 0.03 voltages of the surge arresters. So, none arrester discharged.

Fig. 12 – System with RC clampers only at transformer terminals

 5

-7
Contacts Voltage of Main Circuit Breaker x 10 Energy Dissipated on Phase-to-Ground Surge Arresters
100 3
Phase A (kV) 13.33kV/ms

0 2.5

-100
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 2

Energy (Joules)
100
Phase B (kV)

6.85kV/ms
1.5
0
Phase A

-100 1
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03
100
0.5
Phase C (kV)

14.1kV/ms
0 Phase B Phase C

0
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03
-100 Time (s)
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03
Time (s)
Fig. 19 – System with Surge Arresters and RC clampers at Transformer
Fig. 16 – System with Surge Arresters and RC clampers at Transformer and Circuit Breaker terminals
and Circuit Breaker terminals
-3
x 10 Energy Dissipated on Phase-to-Phase Surge Arresters
3
Phase-to-Ground Voltage at HV Arc Furnace Transformer terminals
100

80 2.5

60 Phases C-A
2
40

Energy (Joules)
20
Voltage (kV)

1.5

-20 1

-40
0.5
-60
Phases B-C Phases A-B
-80
0
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03
-100 Time (s)
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03
Time (s)
Fig. 20 – System with Surge Arresters and RC clampers at Transformer
Fig. 17 – System with Surge Arresters and RC clampers at Transformer and Circuit Breaker terminals
and Circuit Breaker terminals
The summary of the results obtained from figures 2 to 20 is
150
Phase-to-Phase Voltage at HV Arc Furnace Transformer terminals
shown at Table I. With this data is possible to specify properly
surge arresters and vacuum circuit breaker.
100
TABLE I
50
MAXIMUM VOLTAGE AT SEVERAL POINTS OF THE CIRCUITS STUDIED
System
VpPG* VpPP** VpCB* EAPG EAPP
Voltage (kV)

Configuration
0
Without RC
76kV
clampers and 84kV 145kV
2.7pu - -
-50 without surge 2.98pu 2.97pu
143kV/ms
arrester
Without RC
-100 50kV
clampers and 58.5kV 88.5kV
1.77pu 1.5 J 222 J
with surge 2.07pu 1.81pu
200kV/ms
-150
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 arrester
Time (s) With surge
arresters and
46kV
Fig. 18 – System with Surge Arresters and RC clampers at Transformer with RC 51kV 85,5kV
1.63pu 3.10-3 J 25 J
and Circuit Breaker terminals clampers only 1.81pu 1.75pu
28.67kV/ms
at transformer
terminals
With surge
arrester and
RC clampers 45kV
41kV 70.5kV
at transformer 1.60pu 1.10-7 J 2.10-3 J
1.45pu 1.44pu
and circuit 14.1kV/ms
breaker
terminals
 6

*: 1pu = 28.17 kV (peak value of the phase-to-ground VII. BIOGRAPHIES

voltage at 34.5 kV circuit)
**: 1pu = 48.8 kV (peak value of the phase-to-phase Manoel Eustáquio dos Santos was born in Pompéu,
voltage at 34.5 kV circuit) state of Minas Gerais, Brasil, on September 27th, 1953.
He received the Electrical Engineer degree from the
Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais,
Brasil, in 1978 and the Master of Science and PhD in
V. CONCLUSIONS Electrical Engineering degrees from the Universidade
Federal de Minas Gerais, Brasil, in 1990 and 2005,
respectively. Since 1981 he works as technical
A performance analysis of the use the RC clampers and Consultant at Gerdau-Açominas, an integrated Steel Mill
surge arresters in order to attenuate the dangerous transient in Ouro Branco, MG, Brasil. His current research and
technical interests are in electrical power systems, utility applications of
over-voltage due to the switching off no load arc furnace power electronics, high power converters and drives and semiconductor power
transformers was presented. A real system of a Brazilian devices.
Industry was simulated using the Matlab/Simulink program.
The simulations results indicate that the adequate use of RC Virna Costa Onofri was born in Belo Horizonte,
state of Minas Gerais, Brasil, on March 12th, 1981.
clampers can reduce the arresters operations and practically She received the Electrical Engineer undergraduate
eliminates the re-strikes and repetitive transient over-voltages and Masters degrees from Universidade Federal de
when using vacuum circuit breakers to switch the arc furnace Minas Gerais, Brasil, in 2004 and 2007, respectively.
transformer. Another benefit of this study is the clues to Since 2005 she works as an electrical engineer at
Gerdau-Açominas, an integrated Steel Mill in Ouro
specify the vacuum circuit breaker with enough dielectric Branco, MG, Brasil. Her current research and
strength, in order to avoid the re-strikes and the surge arresters technical interests are in high power electronics,
with enough energy absorption capability. electric motors and drives devices, battery, UPS
devices, power quality and electrical power systems.

Maria Izabel C. Santos was born in Belo

VI. REFERENCES Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais, Brasil, on
September 19th, 1986. Currently she is taking her
fifth year in Electrical Engineering at Pontifícia
Periodicals: Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Since
[1] M. Popov, E. Acha, “Overvoltages due to switching off an unloaded 2007 she works as an intern in electric engineering at
transformer with a vacuum circuit breaker”, IEEE Trans. On PWD, Daltec, an electrical project company in Belo
Volume 14, Issue 4, Oct. 1999, pp. 1317-1326 Horizonte, Brasil. Her current research and technical
[2] M. G. R. Faranda, G. Testin, “RC Filter to Protect Industrial Arc interests are in power quality and electrical power
Furnace Transformers During Switching-off”, Proceedings of the 2nd systems.
IASME / WSEAS International Conference on Energy & Environment
(EE'07), Portoroz, Slovenia, May 15-17, 2007.
[3] C. Vollet, B. de Metz-Noblat. “Vacuum Circuit Breaker Model:
Application Case to Motor Switching”, International Conference on
Power Systems Transients (IPST’07) in Lyon, France, on June 4-7,
2007
Technical Reports:
[4] T. Van Craenenbroeck, H. De Herdt, J. De Ceuster, J.P. Marly, D. Van
Dommelen, R. Belmans, “Detailed Study of Fast Transient Phenomena
in Transformers and Substations Leading to an Improved System
Design” Pauwels Trafo Belgium B. V., Belgium
[5] “Surge Protection of Arc Furnace Transformers”, Qual-Tech Engineers,
Inc.
[6] “The MathWorks - Student Center - Tutorials”,
http://www.mathworks.com/academia/student_center/tutorials
[7] S R. Gustavsson, B. Lundqvist, “Transient Overvoltages in Arc-Furnace
Installations with Vacuum Switches”, ASEA.