Completely Integrated Solutions

for the Metals Industry

SIMELTCIS SIVAC-X
High number of operating cycles –
high current – high reliability in
furnace switchgears

The SIMELTCIS SIVAC-X furnace switchgear is per-

Your Success is Our Goal
fectly adapted to the extreme requirements of
ultra high-power arc furnaces. At voltages of up to
40.5kV and load currents up to 3,150A, they ensure
reliable energy supply and reliable plant operation
at up to 120,000 operating cycles. Moreover, the
long maintenance intervals of 10,000 operating
cycles make SIMELTCIS SIVAC-X a solution with very
low operating costs.
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The challenge Industrial Solutions and Services
AC arc furnaces in the ultra high-power (UHP) category
have evolved into highly productive melting units that
generate more than 40 heats per day, depending on
the production program being run. During this process,
the furnace circuit breaker must switch the arc furnace Our solution
on and off more than 150 times a day. SIMELTCIS SIVAC-X reflects over 20 years of experience
A further challenge is the control of load currents of in vacuum circuit breakers, as well as our in-depth
up to 3,150 A and peak voltages of up to 40.5 kV: knowledge of using furnace switchgear. This provides
values that can all too easily lead to dielectric over- a solid foundation for ensuring that your production
loads at a normal voltage of 30–34.5kV in the medium- runs smoothly and reliably, with no failures due to
high voltage supply. excessive overvoltages or switch failure.
These conditions call for furnace circuit breakers with In addition to its impressive performance characteris-
rugged properties, with a powerful switching capabil- tics, SIMELTCIS SIVAC-X excels through its simple
ity, high frequent operating cycles and a “thick skin” operation and high efficiency. Our services related to
against high voltages and currents. The energy supply circuit breakers, from individual optimization of the
must be reliable, because nothing is more expensive suppressor circuit to service, round out the overall
than production downtimes. package.

Four good reasons to use

SIMELTCIS SIVAC-X:
• Our wide range of solutions for various arc
furnaces maximize flexibility
• Minimized operating costs thanks to easier
maintenance at longer intervals
• Mastery of overvoltages – individual suppres-
sor circuits protect all connected plant com-
ponents
• Intelligent service concepts ensure high plant
performance throughout the entire life cycle
 The right solution for every type of plant
SIMELTCIS SIVAC-X is tailored to meet the various
requirements of arc furnaces. Our program offers you
suitable solutions for operating voltages up to 15 kV,
24 kV or 36/40.5 kV at nominal currents of 1,250 A,
2,500 A and 3,150 A:
• Individually planned, open switchgear with a
permanently installed furnace circuit breaker
• Metal-enclosed two-panel switchgear with a
permanently installed furnace circuit breaker
• Metal-enclosed one-panel switchgear with a with-
drawable furnace circuit breaker placed on a motor-
driven truck
All furnace switchgear also includes a suppressor
circuit, which we optimize individually for you.
Maintenance: longer intervals, lower costs
SIMELTCIS SIVAC-X stands for long and plannable main-
tenance intervals. “Minor” inspections of the operat-
ing mechanism are due after 10,000 operating cycles,
and “major” inspections of the circuit breaker are due
after 30,000 operating cycles. The maintenance tasks
can be easily and quickly handled with the properly
trained personnel.
Overvoltage? Not with SIMELTCIS SIVAC-X
Although circuit breakers can handle high voltages,
they can also, depending on the capacity and induc-
tance of the system, trigger overvoltages themselves.
This could result in unfavorable costs for spare parts
and downtimes.
SIMELTCIS – Completely Integrated Solutions
for the Metals Industry
As a comprehensive industry-specific solution for the iron and
steel industry, our SIMELTCIS product family integrates all the
products and services you need for sustained maximization
of your plant’s performance.
For each particular task, a solution has been defined that
• horizontally improves all production processes – from
iron ore to liquid steel
• vertically integrates the company’s information flow
end-to-end, helping corporate management to make
better-founded decisions
• and chronologically enables optimized maintenance and
comes with assured further development over the whole
life cycle of your plant.
Due to this unique combination of horizontal, vertical and
life cycle dimensions, our solutions all carry the genes of an
exhaustive and sustained plant productivity in their very core.
For more productivity. More performance. More power.
Completely Integrated Solutions from Siemens.
These overvoltages are caused by the phenomena of
“virtual current chopping” and “multiple reignitions”.
The use of vacuum circuit breakers therefore requires
individually designed suppressor circuits to master
such overvoltages reliably and to prevent damage to
the connected components and systems. Our computer-
supported plant simulation allows us to reliably pre-
dict the impact of different suppressor circuits, not
only on the furnace switchgear, but also on the entire
energy supply of the steel-making plant. Our experi-
ence with more than 300 furnace switchgear installa-
tions worldwide confirms the accuracy of these studies
and the selection of individual suppressor circuits.
Our services ensure your success
So that the theoretically determined suppressor cir-
cuits also function correctly to their best advantage,
they must be professionally installed. For this pur-
pose, we supply detailed location diagrams that show
how to install and connect the protective elements.
Our experienced installation and commissioning spe-
cialists take care of installing and commissioning the
furnace switchgear to ensure smooth and reliable
operation of your furnace switchgear from the start.
And our professional maintenance helps you to avoid
component failure caused by wear.
Our range of services is rounded out by our offerings
for modernizing at the right time, to get your plant
back to a performance level in keeping with today’s
expectations.
www.siemens.com/metals
SIMELTCIS is a trademark of Siemens AG
CIS = Completely Integrated Solutions
The information provided in this brochure contains merely general descriptions or charac-
teristics of performance which in case of actual use do not always apply as described or
which may change as a result of further development of the products. An obligation to pro-
vide the respective characteristics shall only exist if expressly agreed in the terms of contract.
Siemens AG
Industrial Solutions and Services Order No.: E10001-P12-A44-V3-7600
Printed in Germany
Metals Technologies
Dispo No.: 21663 K No.: 31900
P.O. Box 32 40 C-IPMST520M04 PA 02051.
91050 Erlangen, Germany Subject to change without prior notice
E-Mail: metals@siemens.com © Siemens AG 2005. All Rights Reserved