Reactive Power Compensation for Welding Application

October 30, 2024

PROJECT: Steel Products Manufacturer Reactive Power Compensation
INDUSTRY: Heavy Industry
LOCATION: New South Wales, Australia

The Challenge

As a renowned steel product manufacturer – including reinforcing mesh – this CSE Uniserve Customer’s expansion plans highlighted a significant reactive power compensation challenge that required expert help.

It was identified by the customer, that the introduction of additional mesh spot welders into the facility would draw unsustainable volumes of high inrush currents during their operating cycle.

Although typically only lasting a short duration (of a few seconds), this sudden surge results in a drop in voltage, which can negatively affect production efficiency and generate voltage flickers on the network. These issues could then lead to decreased welding quality and potential disruptions in their manufacturing process.

They contacted CSE Uniserve, requesting a robust reactive power compensation solution to stabilise the voltage and ensure consistent production output.

The Solution

To address these challenges, CSE Uniserve supplied the Elspec Equalizer, a real-time reactive power compensation system.

The Elspec Equalizer is specifically designed for dynamic loads and can compensate for each phase independently, using ultra-high power thyristor switching technology. This advanced system is ideal for managing the unique power demands of spot welders, effectively mitigating voltage drops and flickers.

The implementation of the Elspec Equalizer resulted in a number of key reactive power compensation benefits, including:

• Improved Welding Quality
• Increased Production Output
• Reduced Voltage Flickering
• Stabilised Network Voltage

With the Elspec Equalizer in place, the customer was able to confidently and efficiently expand their operations, knowing that their power quality issues would be effectively mitigated, leading to enhanced production performance and quality.

Our in-house technical specialists and engineers understand the need for optimised performance and efficient operation of equipment. Working with customers to identify power quality targets and the variability of the load, CSE Uniserve delivers a complete solution.

To learn more about CSE Uniserve’s reactive power compensation solutions and local support, talk to a specialist today.