CURRENT LIMITING REACTORS.

MICRO-PROJECT

ON

PREPARE REPORT ON CURRENT LIMITING REACTORS.

Under The Guidance
Miss. P C. DESAI

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

K.P.PATIL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (POLY)

MUDAL-416209

Academic Year

2024-25

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 CURRENT LIMITING REACTORS.

K.P.PATIL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, MUDAL

MICRO PROJECT ON
PREPARE REPORT ON CURRENT LIMITING REACTORS.

CLASS: FIFTH SEMESTER

COURSE: ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
SR.NO. STUDENT NAME ENR.NO ROLL NO

1 RHATOL PRAJAKTA B. 2016610051 01

2 RANE KARANSINH V. 2116610066 02

3 SHINDE AYUSH S. 2116610070 03

Principal Signature Of Signature Of

KPIT Head of Department Teacher Guide

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 CURRENT LIMITING REACTORS.

1. INTRODUCTION

A current limiting reactor is an inductive coil with a large value of inductive reactance
that is put into service for limiting short-circuit currents during fault conditions. We install
current limiting reactors in feeders and ties, in generator leads, and between the bus sections in
order to reduce the magnitude of short-circuit currents and also to reduce the effect of resulting
voltage disturbances. Under normal conditions, these reactors allow free interchange of power.
The resistance of the reactor is very small in comparison to its inductive reactance so it does not
affect the efficiency of the system.
Current Limiting Reactors (CLRs) are electrical devices designed to limit the flow of
current in a power system, protecting against overcurrent conditions that can cause damage to
equipment, disrupt operations, and pose safety risks.

1.1 Purpose:
The primary purpose of CLRs is to:
1. Prevent overcurrent conditions
2. Reduce fault currents
3. Protect equipment from damage
4. Ensure system stability and reliability
5. Comply with regulatory standards

1.2 Principle of Operation:

CLRs work on the principle of electromagnetic induction, using a coil or winding to generate a
magnetic field that opposes changes in current flow. When an overcurrent condition occurs, the
reactor's inductance increases, limiting the current flow and preventing damage to the system.

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2 WHY TO USE CURRENT LIMITING REACTOR?

Current limiting reactors are of considerable importance in limiting the short-circuit current
during fault conditions.

1. The short-circuit current of power systems and networks generally depends on the generating
capacity, voltage at the fault point, and the total reactance between the fault point and the
generators. There may be situations when the fault currents or the short-circuit currents are way
beyond the capacity of the circuit breakers present in the system. In this case, the fault current
may not be interrupted.

2. In large interconnected systems, the fault current may be very high due to the large number of
generators present in the system. Here, we may not obtain circuit breakers with suitable breaking
capacity. In such cases, we have to limit the fault current to lower levels.

3. The expansion of the system may result in the introduction of higher-rated generators, thereby
increasing the fault level of the system. Under such conditions, it is sometimes uneconomical to
replace the existing circuit breakers with higher-rated breakers. So the introduction of current
limiting reactors can reduce the fault level to significant levels so that the old breakers can
perform their function efficiently.

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3 PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF CURRENT LIMITING REACTOR

Following are the primary functions of a current limiting reactor:

1. They help to reduce the flow of current in a short-circuit in order to protect the apparatus from
mechanical stress and overheating due to faults, thereby protecting the whole system.

2. The short-circuit causes a disturbance in the voltage, and the current limiting reactor helps
minimise the magnitude of the disturbance voltage.

3. Helps in localising the faults by limiting the current flowing into the faulty section from other
healthy sections of the system. This will prevent the fault from spreading in the system and
thereby increase the chance of continuity of supply.

4. Reactors will reduce the required rating of the switching equipment (such as circuit breakers).

3.1 ADVANTAGES OF CURRENT LIMITING REACTORS:

1. Prevent Overcurrent Conditions: Limit fault currents to protect equipment.

2. Improve Power Quality: Reduce harmonic distortion and voltage fluctuations.
3. Enhance System Reliability: Minimize downtime and equipment failures.
4. Increase System Stability: Regulate current flow during faults.
5. Reduce Energy Losses: Optimize power transmission and distribution.

3.2 DISADVANTAGE OF CURRENT LIMITING REACTOR

Current limiting reactor will degrade the regulation of the system. The introduction of the reactor
will increase the percentage reactance of the system, thereby increasing the reactive voltage
drop. The power factor also decreases due to an increase in the angle of lag between current and
voltage.

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4 CURRENT LIMITING REACTOR RATING

The reactor rating is expressed in terms of percentage.
For an 11 kV three-phase system, a 10 percent rector rating means it will have a voltage drop of
1100 volts across it when a full load current flows through it.
Other ratings of the current limiting reactor are as follows:

4.1 Short-time Current Rating

The symmetrical rms value of the fault current that the reactor can carry for a specified short-
time duration. Such as 50 kA for 2 seconds.

4.2 Voltage Rating

The line-to-line voltage for which the reactor is designed to operate.

4.3 Short-Circuit Rating

The fault current rating for which the reactor is capable of withstanding the mechanical and
thermal stresses during a short circuit at its terminal for a designated amount of time.

4.4 Overcurrent Rating Factor

This factor is a ratio of the short-time rating current to continuous current of the reactor.

4.5 Rated Through-Put kVA

This rating is equal to the root three times of the product of rated voltage and rated current in the
case of three-phase reactors.

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5 DESIGN FEATURES OF CURRENT LIMITING REACTOR

When limiting a short-circuit current, the reactance of the current limiting reactor should not
decrease on account of saturation due to flow of heavy current through its windings.
An air-cored reactor is generally put into application. Iron-core reactors are costly and heavy,
and they also introduce eddy current and hysteresis losses.

5.1 Electrical Design Features:

1. Inductance (L): Limits current flow during faults
2. Resistance (R): Helps to dissipate energy during faults
3. Reactance (X): Opposes changes in current flow
4. Current Rating (A): Maximum continuous current
5. Voltage Rating (V): Maximum continuous voltage

5.2 Protection and Control Features:

1. Overcurrent Protection: Thermal or magnetic trip units
2. Overvoltage Protection: Surge arresters or voltage limiters
3. Monitoring Systems: Current, voltage, and temperature monitoring
4. Control Systems: Automatic or manual control interfaces

5.3 Materials and Construction:

1. Copper or aluminum windings
2. Insulation materials (e.g., epoxy, silicone)
3. Core materials (e.g., iron, ferrite)
4. Enclosure materials (e.g., steel, aluminum)
5. Corrosion-resistant coatings

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6 TYPES OF CURRENT LIMITING REACTOR

The types of reactors are as follows:
6.1 Bare Type Reactor
It consists of circular coils or bars of stranded coils installed in a number of specially designed
concrete slabs. This arrangement of reactors provides very rigid mechanical support against the
forces that develop during the time of faults.
A concrete base and porcelain post insulators provide the necessary insulation for the earth. This
reactors is also known as a dry-type or concrete reactor.
Cooling is done in these current limiting reactor by natural ventilation. Sometimes forced air and
heat exchangers are also employed. For large coils, we will experience difficulty cooling with the
help of fans.
For outdoor services, these reactors are unsuitable. We can use them for voltage levels up to 33
kV.

6.2 Shielded or Oil-immersed Type

It consists of a cooling and insulation arrangement similar to that of an ordinary transformer.
These reactors can be put into use for any voltage level and for outdoor and indoor applications.
This type of current limiting reactor has a smaller size in comparison to the dry-type reactor. It
provides higher safety against flashover and higher thermal capacity.
This type of reactor has an air-cored or iron-cored construction. The iron-cored type has a
saturation problem during short circuits.

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7. SELECTION OF REACTOR

We have to consider the following aspects while selecting a current limiting reactor:.

1. Reactance in ohms or percentage

2. Current rating

3. Short-time current rating

4. Voltage rating

5. Rated through-put kVA

6. Type of reactor

7. Number of phases

8. Indoor or outdoor

9. Circuit characteristics such as frequency.

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8. LOCATION OF CURRENT LIMITING REACTOR

Rectors in a power system can be located along with generators, feeders, and the bus bar, which
is briefly explained below.

8.1 GENERATOR REACTOR

Here we insert a current limiting reactor between the generator and the generator bus. The figure
below shows the generator reactors. These reactors protect the machines or the generators
individually.

Fig- 1 Generator Reactors

Modern machines do not require the installation of reactor, as their transient reactance is
sufficient to protect them against a three-phase short circuit at their terminal.
With the installation of new machines in the power system, we have to connect generator
reactors for the old machines or generators. The magnitude of these reactors is 5%, or 0.05 per
unit.
The flow of full-load current through these reactors during normal operation causes a constant
voltage drop and power loss.
During a short-circuit condition, if a short-circuit occurs at any feeder, then the voltage at the
generator bus may drop to such a low level. This causes the generator to fall out of step, thereby
adversely affecting the whole system. This is the main disadvantage of this reactor.

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8.2 Advantages:
1. Improved Voltage Regulation
2. Enhanced Power Factor Correction
3. Reduced Energy Losses
4. Increased System Stability
5. Better Harmonic Mitigation

8.3 Disadvantages:
1. High Initial Cost
2. Complexity in Design and Installation
3. Requires Regular Maintenance
4. Potential for Overheating
5. Limited Flexibility in Design

8.4 Applications:
1. Power Plants (Thermal, Nuclear, Renewable)
2. Industrial Power Systems (Chemical, Oil & Gas, Manufacturing)
3. Commercial Buildings (Office, Retail, Hospitality)
4. Electrical Distribution Networks (Transmission, Distribution)
5. Renewable Energy Systems (Solar, Wind, Hydro)

8.5 Types of Generator Reactors:

1. Synchronous Reactors
2. Asynchronous Reactors
3. Static Reactors
4. Dynamic Reactors
5. Hybrid Reactors

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9. FEEDER REACTOR
We connect the feeder reactors in series with the feeder. The figure below shows the feeder
reactors.

Fig-2 Feeder Reactor

During a fault in any one of the feeders, the main voltage drop is in the reactor, thereby not
affecting the bus bar considerably. Therefore, other machines in the system can supply power to
load continuously.
When a fault occurs in any one of the feeders, the fault is localised so that other feeders are not
affected.
This reactor also introduces a constant voltage drop and power loss in the system.

9.1 Advantages:
1. Improved Voltage Regulation
2. Enhanced Power Factor Correction
3. Reduced Energy Losses
4. Increased System Stability
5. Better Harmonic Mitigation

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9.2 Disadvantages:

1. High Initial Cost

2. Complexity in Design and Installation
3. Limited Flexibility
4. Potential for Resonance Issues
5. Requires Specialized Expertise

9.3 Applications:
1. Electrical Distribution Systems (EDS)
2. Power Transmission Systems (PTS)
3. Industrial Power Systems (IPS)
4. Commercial Building Automation Systems (BAS)
5. Data Centers and Cloud Computing

9.4 Types:
1. Air-Core Reactors
2. Iron-Core Reactors
3. Permanent Magnet Reactors
4. Electromagnetic Reactors
5. Superconducting Reactors

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10.BUS-BAR REACTOR
Both the generator and feeder current limiting reactor introduce a constant voltage drop and
power loss in the system. We can eliminate this problem by introducing reactors in the bus bar.

10.1 Advantages:
1. Enhanced System Reliability
2. Improved Power Quality
3. Reduced Risk of Overcurrent Damage
4. Compact Design
5. Low Maintenance

10.2 Disadvantages:
1. High Initial Cost
2. Complexity in Design and Installation
3. Limited Flexibility
4. Potential for Resonance Issues
5. Requires Specialized Expertise

10.3 Applications:
1. Electrical Distribution Systems (EDS)
2. Power Transmission Systems (PTS)
3. Industrial Power Systems (IPS)
4. Commercial Building Automation Systems (BAS)
5. Data Centers and Cloud Computing

10.4 Types:
1. Air-Core Reactors
2. Iron-Core Reactors
3. Permanent Magnet Reactors
4. Electromagnetic Reactors

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11.CURRENT LIMITING REACTOR FOR RING SYSTEM

Here, we make use of bus-bar reactors to tie together the separate bus sections. Here sections are
formed of the generators and the feeders and are connected with each other by a common bus-bar
as shown in the figure below.

Fig- 3 Current Limiting Reactor for Ring System

Ring System Bus Bar Reactor

Bus-bar reactors facilitate the parallel operation of large systems and are extensively put into
operation.

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12.CURRENT LIMITING REACTOR FOR TIE-BAR SYSTEM

This is a modified configuration of the above system. This configuration will improve the
voltage regulation between the feeder sections.

Fig-4 Tie Bar System Reactor

This system is suitable for systems where generating systems are frequently added to the
systems. In this system, the generator supplies power to the feeder directly, and we connect
generators to the common bus bar through the reactor.
The additional advantage is that, with the increase in the number of sections, the fault current
does not exceed a certain value. The size of the individual reactor fixes this value. Hence, it
requires no modifications for the existing switchgear.

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13.CONCLUSION
Ideally, current limiting reactors should have no iron circuit because all iron circuits
exhibit a non-linear saturating-type characteristic, so that, under the very overcurrent conditions
which the reactor is required to protect against, there is a tendency for the reactance to be
reduced.

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14.REFERENCE

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/electric-power-systems-research
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780750680745/power-systems-modelling-and-
fault-analysis
3. Simpson, James. "The how and why of current-limiting reactors". EC&M Electrical
Construction & Maintenance. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
4. Dann, Walter Melville; Rudd, H. H. (June 17–18, 1915). The Use of Current-Limiting
Reactors. Meeting of the Society of Mechanical, Electrical, and Steam Engineers. Boody
House, Toledo, Ohio. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
5. US 1467771, Alden, Vern, "Current Limiting Reactance Coil", issued September 11,
1923, assigned to Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company
6. "Current Limiting Reactors: Technical Overview and Measurement Procedures" (PDF).
NWL. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 17 September
2012.

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