Elkem Furnace 15 Upgrade


Client:

Elkem Metals

Location:

Alloy, WV

Value of Project:

$13 M

Value of Work:

$350 K

Description:

Elkem Furnace 15 UpgradeThe staff of Augusta Engineering and Design completed the civil/ structural and high voltage electrical phases of the Elkem’s Furnace 15 Upgrade project. This project consisted of custom designed electrical equipment used to convert a furnace designed for 25 Hz operation to 60 Hz operation with 13,800 volts. Equipment included custom-made transformers, capacitors, filters, switchgear and tap-changers.

Harold Totten, Augusta’s Lead Power Engineer and a team of Augusta’s electrical and civil/ structural draftsmen were in charge of selecting the vendor, specifying all the equipment and performing the detailed installation design work. The Augusta team also oversaw the installation, as well as assisted in the start-up.

During the project the Furnace 15 unit was temporarily shut down which determined the very aggressive schedule; as the unit needed to be back on-line within six months to meet silicone production needs.