3 MW vs 1 MW torch For reference
Generally speaking electric power (MW's) for large industry is as follows
Main electrical grid between 500kv and 120kv alternating current at 60 hz. This is transformed down to useable industrial voltage 4160 VAC. It is then fed through station bus work to power everything on site. The torch power supply will start at these 4160 VAC buses , it will go through another transformer bringing voltage down to somewhere around 600 VAC , then it will be rectified into DC volts and make its way to the torch. Or perhaps they will decide to rectify at the 4160 volt (let the engineers figure that out)
80-100 MW is enough power to fulfill the needs of a city with the population of around 100,000
3MW advantages
-less overall burners required per furnace
- significantly larger heat range
- less in house electrical equipment needed (transformers, breakers, rectifier's, cables, etc a third less to be exact)
-maximum furnace btu can still be maintained when individual torches require maintenance and or repairs (always nice to have extra HP when it's required)
-the greater range in btu output will help attract future clients
- furnace swap overs will require less manpower and less financing
-some diesel burners can be left on stand by for emergency use only. ( we may not like this idea but Vale will)
Disadvantages
- haven't figured that out yet