A line reactor (also referred to as an electrical reactor or a choke) is a variable frequency drive (VFD) accessory that consists of a coil of wire that forms a magnetic field as current flows through it

1. Line Reactor
Vinod Srivastava
Assistant Professor
(EE Department)
IFTM University, Moradabad (UP)
Switchgear and protection
DEE 603
Unit 5

2. What is a Line Reactor?
A line reactor is a variable frequency drive (VFD)
accessory that consists of a coil of wire that forms
a magnetic field as current flows through it.
 This magnetic field limits the rate of rising of the
current, thus reducing harmonics and protecting
the drive from power system surges and transients.

3. Types of Line Reactors
 A reactor has many roles to play in an electrical power system.
 The reactors are normally classified according to their modes of
application. Such as:
i. Shunt Reactor
ii. Current Limiting and Neutral Earthing Reactor
iii. Damping Reactor
iv. Tuning Reactor
v. Earthing Transformer
vi. Arc Suppression Reactor
vii. Smoothing Reactor etc.

4. SHUNT REACTOR
 This reactor is normally connected in parallel in the system. The normal
purpose of a shunt reactor is to compensate for the capacitive component of
current in the system.
 That means this reactor is mainly used for absorbing VAR (Reactive
Power) generated due to the capacitive effect of the system.
 In a substation, shunt reactors are connected normally between line and
ground.
 The VAR absorbed by the reactor can be fixed or variable depending on the
system requirement.
 The variation of VAR in the reactor can be achieved by using phase control
thyristors or by DC magnetizing of the iron core.
 A shunt reactor can be either single-phase or three-phase depending upon
the configuration of the power system.
 A shunt reactor can be either air-cored or gapped iron cored depending
upon its designing feature.

5.  This can also magnetically shield or without a magnetic shield.
SERIES REACTOR
 Current Limiting Reactor is a kind of Series Reactor. Series Reactors are
connected to the system in series.
 They are normally used to limit the fault current in the system.
 When a series reactor is connected with alternator, we refer it to is
Generator Line Reactor.
 This is to minimize the stresses during three-phase short circuit fault.
 The series reactor may also be connected in series in the feeder or electrical
bus to minimize the effect of short circuit fault at other parts of the system.
 When a reactor of suitable rating is connected between neutral and earth
connection of a system, to limit the line to earth current during earth fault
in the system, it is called Neutral Earthing Reactor.

6. DAMPING REACTOR
 When a capacitor bank is switch on in uncharged condition there may be a
high inrush current flowing through it. To limit this inrush current, reactor
is connected in series with each phase of the capacitor bank. The reactor
used for this purpose is known as damping reactor. This damps the transient
condition of the capacitor.
 It also helps to suppress the harmonics present in the system.
 These reactors are typically rated with their highest inrush current in
addition to its continuous current carrying capacity.
TUNING REACTOR
• The wave trap connected in series with the feeder line, is a kind of reactor.
• This reactor along with the Coupling Capacitor of the line creates a filter
circuit to block the frequencies other than power frequency.
• This type of reactor is mainly used to facilitate Power Line Carrier
Communication. This is called Tuning Reactor.

7. EARTHING TRANSFORMER
 In a delta connected power system, a star point or neutral point is created
by using zigzag star connected 3 phase reactor, called an earthing
transformer.
 This reactor may have secondary winding to obtain power for auxiliary
supply to the substation. That is why this reactor is also referred to as an
earthing transformer.
ARC SUPPRESSION REACTOR
 The reactor connected between neutral and earth to limit single phase to
earth fault current is called Arc Suppression Reactor.
SMOOTHING REACTOR
 A reactor is also used to filter out harmonics present in DC power. A reactor
used in DC power network for this purpose is called smoothing reactor.

8. REFERENCES
• https://www.electrical4u.com/types-of-electrical-reactor/