A systematic approach to updating electrical equipment is an effective component of the stable operation of key production equipment. Power engineers of the Networks and Substations Shop carried out major overhauls and implemented an investment project under the 2024 Programme to improve the reliability of power supply to the steelmaking process.

In December, the T-8 power transformer at the DRZ-10 substation, the main consumer of which is the BOF Shop, was put into operation after a major overhaul.

A full range of repair measures at all key units, including transformer oil regeneration and elimination of the causes of its leakage, repair of switchgears and winding insulation drying, replacement of relays and testing of relay protection, allowed to restore all electrical characteristics of the transformer, which ensure its stable and uninterrupted operation during the inter-repair period. Service life of the equipment has been extended.

An important investment project was implemented at the substation of filter-compensating devices - FKP-35 kV, the consumer of which is secondary metallurgy area of the BOF Shop, namely two ladle furnaces. Its main task was to modernise the cubicle switchgear to improve the insulation characteristics, which are crucial for the trouble-free operation of electrical equipment.

The project solution was primarily aimed at selecting materials and manufacturing new insulating partitions and replacing them in the first section of the substation.

To solve this problem, completely new insulating materials were selected, design changes were made to the shape of the insulators, and current transformers were replaced. The main project activities were closely coordinated with the BOF Shop to ensure uninterrupted production, including the substation shutdown for installation work, which was synchronised with major overhaul of the LF #1.

"Tests as part of the commissioning of the FKP-35 kV confirmed an increase in the level of insulation characteristics of the equipment and its ability to maintain the specified voltage. In the future, we plan to carry out the same work on the second section of the substation. Reliability projects such as those we have implemented to ensure stable and uninterrupted power supply to the BOF Shop are the key to the system of preventive maintenance of electrical equipment, which helps us minimise the risk of emergencies and extend the service life of high cost equipment", says Viktor BOLOTOV, Head of Networks and Substations Shop.