The Essential Use of Reactors in Substations

A reactor is actually a coil with having several turns and much greater ohmic resistance value. Electrical Reactors are typically used to limit the short-circuit currents which can potentially cause damage to some equipment of the power system. The additional reactance which is added in series in order to protect the system is called reactors.

A current limiting reactor is just another type of it which limits the heavily flowing current through other sections. This way, in case of issues we can simply isolate the faulty section instead of shutting down the entire power system.

Reactors in substations are used for two main reasons:

•    For lightly loaded substations connected to the end of long, high-voltage, transmission lines, the voltage may turn out to be unnecessarily high because of the Ferranti Effect. A shunt reactor can be utilized (exchanged online) to assimilate a bit of the reactive power produced by the appropriated capacitance of the transmission line consequently bringing down the receiving-end voltage to remain within tolerable levels during light loading periods.

•        For substations associated with solid (stiff) systems where the fault current may surpass the intruding ability of circuit breakers, a series reactor can be utilized to present extra inductive reactance which will decrease the accessible fault current to be inside the breaker's interrupting capacity.

•        Electrical reactors are also used to ensure the circuit breakers of different ratings. They are utilized to restrict the short circuit flows as per the circuit breakers’ capacity. In this manner, while doing changes in the system, we don't need to replace the circuit breakers, rather, we can include reactors and use a similar electrical switch, because of which, money and time, both can be saved.

Some other uses of reactors:

•        To filter out harmonics.For arc suppression.

•        In series with low reactance induction regulators.

•        In series with low reactance autotransformers.

•        To control starting currents of motors.

•        To protect from high voltage waves, surges and lightning.

Types of reactors:

·         Neutral-Grounding Reactors

·         Thyristor-Controlled Reactor

·         Smoothing Reactor

·         Test Reactor

·         Current – Limiting Reactor

·         Damping Reactor

·         Shunt Reactor

·         Filter Reactor

All the above mentioned electrical reactors are widely used in many high-voltage electrical systems. All these reactors are produced to perform a specific task and work separately but toward a common motive of transmitting power without losing it.

Several manufacturers and suppliers are there who deal in such reactors. Talk to a few of them before you decide on which reactors are in your list of required electrical components. These reactors are majorly used in substations as there the risk of a short circuit is pretty much high.

If you are also in such kind of powerful electricity business where you require a series of such reactors then you may consider purchasing them from a reliable manufacturer and seller. This way, you would be able to rest assured that the components you have bought are of great quality. It is also advised to make a purchase online to get quality products at reasonable prices.