Welcome

Welcome to billybryant.net, home of my blog, 3GS, and consulting company, SimOpTech.

I am an Electrical Engineer and third generation steelmaker. I have been to 4 continents, lived on 2, visited 16 countries and worked in 9. I enjoy learning, technical challenges, meeting new people and international travel and culture. In the little spare time that I have I work with Linux and OSS, play guitar, work out, and read. I am an avid rugby fan. Unfortunately I don’t blog as much as I used to due to time constraints.

Consulting

I am an Electric Arc Furnace power and controls system specialist. I have modeled, analyzed and optimized the power and arc regulation systems of every variant of EAF conceivable including six phase smelting furnaces. I am experienced with most of the modern EAF arc regulation systems in service.

I have written a book titled “A Pragmatic Guide to Modeling, Control and Optimization of AC EAFs” which details the improvement process that I have developed and applied to many EAFs globally, resulting in performance improvements and reduction of operational cost. The book is the foundation of a training and mentorship program that I offer with the ArcViewAC EAF power system analysis software. ArcViewAC is an Excel application that provides three phase power and regulation system analysis of AC EAFs.

I am very experienced with power quality problems created by EAF operation, primarily voltage flicker but also stabilization of the medium voltage and harmonics. ArcViewAC provides support for analysis of power quality issues caused by EAF operation.

Training

A Pragmatic Guide to Modeling, Control and Optimization of AC EAFs is the foundation of a training and mentorship program that I offer and is the book that I wish I would have been provided with when I started in steel. The training program begins with a 3 day training course provided on-site. The first 2 days cover the technical details while the third day covers usage of the ArcViewAC software which is included. Trainees receive unlimited remote support (phone and e-mail) for their optimization efforts for the 12 months following training. Updates to the optimization guide and ArcViewAC software are provided free of charge during the 12 month period.

Tools

ArcViewAC is an Excel application that provides three phase power and regulation system analysis of AC EAFs. The application can be used to calculate electrical parameters anywhere in the EAF power system for all conceivable melting conditions. The phase balance tool can be used to calculate set-points that provide true secondary balance in terms of selectable electrical parameters (current, voltage, power, arc length, RWI, etc.).

ArcViewAC can emulate variable gain PI controllers, enabling simulation of the EAF response in terms of arc parameters to various arc disturbance types and magnitudes. The controller parameters can then be adjusted in the simulation to find a more optimal response before making modifications to the physical control.

ArcViewAC provides estimation of flicker (Pst99) allowing for modifications to the power system configuration and assessment of the impact on power quality.