Watt Drive Antriebstechnik GmbH (Markt Piesting, Austria):

Ponweiser J., Marketing Manager, e-mail: ponweiser@wattdrive.com

The reasons of putting into practice the power-saving program for electric arc furnaces are substantiated, based on the fact that general operating expenses for colling system pumps make 90% from total electric power consumption. The example from Belgium shows the potential of electric drives in the field of power effi ciency and operating optimization. The audit of pump system operation has been conducted in three steps — in working days, in holidays and in celebration days. The complex of power-saving measures is described and necessity of modernization is based. Power-efficient drives have been suggested as technical solutions with quick return of investments. Metallurgical works of Energy Steel Belgium (ESB) company saves 45,000 Euro annually as production expenses since mounting of power-efficient electric drive fed from frequency transformer in the cooling system of one of its melting furnaces, and it can be considered as a good example for iron and steel industry that is characterized by rather high level of power consumption.