Case Study: EPSOL achieves harmonic distortion compliance in a steel plant with ETAP

EPSOL cuts THD from 12.48% to 5.9% with ETAP

EPSOL, an energy and power systems provider, faced the challenge of mitigating excessive total harmonic distortion (THD) for an old steel plant in Mexico to comply with the national grid code. The plant's intensive use of induction furnaces caused a THD of 12.48%, and the client lacked essential studies and an accurate single-line diagram. EPSOL used ETAP software, specifically its Harmonics Analysis module, to model the network and diagnose the problems.

Using ETAP, EPSOL modeled the entire electrical system from scratch and performed comprehensive analyses to design a solution. This led to the installation of a new dry-type transformer and a specialized harmonic filter, which ETAP was used to size and optimally locate. The solution successfully reduced THD from 12.48% to 5.9%, achieving a power factor of 0.97 and full compliance with the Mexican Grid Code, with ETAP being integral to every stage of the project.

EPSOL