Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russia:

B. N. Abramovich, Professor of a Chair of Electroenergetics and Electromechanics, e-mail: babramov2bn@mail.ru
A. A. Veprikov, Post-Graduate Student of a Chair of Electroenergetics and Electromechanics
Yu. A. Sychev, Asistant Professor of a Chair of Electroenergetics and Electromechanics

Joint Enterprise of Scientific and Production Association “RIVS”, Saint Petersburg, Russia:
K. A. Khomyakov, Detailer of the Department of Design of Power Supply and Electrical Equipment of Enterprises, e-mail: kostyhom@gmail.com

The article conveys about the characteristics of electrolyser-based power supply at non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises, thoroughly assesses the shortcomings of the existing electro-technical transformation complexes. Diode and thyristor rectifiers, widely used in this sector, greatly impact the form of current-voltage curves of supply networks and decrease the power factor, which leads to faster aging of the equipment and additional losses of electrical power. In light of the above mentioned, the article proves the inevitability of increasing the effectiveness of rectification complexes for supplying of electrolysers, presents the main ways of enhancing the structures and operational modes of transformation facilities. To ensure the required level of electromagnetic compatibility of electrical equipment with the network and a higher quality of electrical power, it is recommended to jointly use the equipment for regulation of voltage under the load of power transformers and rectification facilities based on IGBT transistors, functioning as active rectifiers. The essential requirements of technological progress of electrolysis are performed through optimization of operational modes of transformation facilities, by minimizing current overloads as well as the number of power semiconductor elements. The article presents calculations of an aluminium electrolysis series, supplied through parallel active rectifiers on IGBT-transistor modules which regulate high currents, and evaluates general effectiveness of the proposed electro-technical complex. Moreover, the proposed method of electrolysis-based power supply can also be effectively used for production of other non-ferrous metals.

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