Power Supplies

Furnace Power Supply System

One of the best opportunities for custom power supplies is power regulating equipment for the refractory and glass melting industries. Actually, we got our first big break in providing power supplies with a manufacturer of ceramic fiber and we have been supplying similar systems to date. The purpose of this write up is to familiarize you where they are applied and a "Nuts & Bolts" description of what they entail.

General Requirement
A system consists of Solid State Controls, Transformer and Tap Changing Equipment, related instrumentation and annunciation to service a 800 to 1500 kva three phase submerged electrode furnace. Composition of the melting mixture is alumina and silica which melts at 3600°F to 3800°F, glass melts at 2800°F to 3200°F.

The purpose of this power supply and regulating equipment is to provide a uniform and symmetrical melt and to have the capability of maintaining this melt through a given production run, typically for 60 to 90 days. Instrumentation should provide accurate information while equipment is in use regardless of the conducting angle of the SCR power device.

The heart of the control scheme is the SCR and Gate Module which control the input voltage and vary it over preset values, typically through a potentiometer. To optimize the power factor, a multi-tap transformer is used, typically having a 2 to 1 voltage range (see simplified elementary schematic).

Examples of industries requiring a furnace power Supply system as described are as follows:

  • Owens-Illinois, Inc.
    Anchor Hocking Corp.
    • Container Glass Manufacturing
  • AP Green
    Thermal Ceramics
    Unifrax
    • Ceramic Fiber Manufacturing
  • Rock Wool Manufacturing Tenmat, Inc.
    • Mineral Wools
  • Owens Corning Johns Manville Engineered Products Div. PPG Industries
    • Fiberglass

Sales Opportunities These systems are efficient, take up less space and high in performance and of course field proven. Opportunities are both in new systems ranging in price of $150,000 and up and retrofit/upgrades costing $50,000 or more. Also, there are a number of value added benefits that come into play such as:

  1. Reduction of Power
  2. Improvement in the Process
  3. Increase in Production
  4. Longer Campaign Between Start-up and Shut-down
  5. Lower Maintenance Costs

When you factor in all these benefits, the payback for the cost of this type of upgrade can be in 18 to 24 months.

Why Homewood?
Homewood, through its affiliates, has been an active supplier of custom power supplies for the refractory industry for over 20 years. In addition to designing and building, we provide system start-up and check-out on the systems we sell. Some of these systems are still operating after 20 years. On some occasions we have provided upgrades offering the latest generation of controls without a major change-out of expensive equipment. As you know, few manufacturers will bother upgrading without completely replacing the system. We have some 30 systems throughout the world ranging from 225 kva to 4000 kva, many of which are still being supported.

Control Products

Genuine Westinghouse Products That Extend The Life Of Your Existing Equipment

For over a century, Westinghouse designed and built excellent industrial and power distribution equipment. The vast amounts of equipment still in operation today are a testament to the reliability and durability of the products.

Homewood is proud to continue the Westinghouse tradition by providing genuine Westinghouse products. Extend the life of your equipment without expensive change out costs, environmental concerns and re-training of personnel. With Homewood, you have options. Proven, reliable technology designed to provide service for a lifetime.

Control Products
  1. Switches
    Westinghouse

    • Master Switches
    • Knife Switches
    • Limit Switches
    • Proximity
    • Planner
    • Precision
  2. Push Buttons &
    Panel Board

    Westinghouse

    • Pushbuttons
    • Selector Switches
    • Indicating Lights
    • Contact Blocks
  3. Aftermarket Contact Kits
    Westinghouse & Other Manufacturers

    • AC Aftermarket Parts
    • DC Aftermarket Parts
  4. Miscellaneous
    Westinghouse

    • Contactors
    • Motor Starters
    • Interlocks
    • Linestarters
    • ManualRheostats
    • Relays
    • Timetactors
    • Filter Paper
    • Grid Resistors

Find a Part

Add a part

Looking for legacy Westinghouse parts?

If you don't have a part# contact Sales at
sales@homewoodsales.com;
800-777-1172 or 412-665-2700.
(We have over 20,000 drawings on file)

Order Now

Buy our OT Push Buttons Online

Buy our OT Push Buttons Online

Westinghouse Oil-Tite pushbuttons, selector switches, and indicating lights are designed to prevent the passage of oil, coolant, cutting oil or water.

homewoodecommerce.com →

Our Story

The Westinghouse-Homewood Story

The Westinghouse-Homewood Story

As a former manufacturing division of Westinghouse Electric Corporation, we at Homewood have specialized in the manufacturing of genuine Westinghouse industrial & power distribution equipment for more than 80 years.

Homewood Sales Corporation • 820 Washington Blvd. • Pittsburgh, PA 15206-4183 • tel:412/665-2700 • fax:412/665-2760 • sales@homewoodsales.com