A shunt reactor is nothing but an absorber of the reactive power which helps to improve the energy efficiency of s system. However, shunt reactor is one of the compact devices that generally used as reactive power compensation in the cable systems as well as high-voltage transmission lines. Likewise, it can be directly connected to the territory winding or power line of the three-winding transformer.

Thus, a shunt reactor can be lastingly switched or connected with the help of the circuit breaker. For the better adjustment of consumed reactive power, the shunt reactor may also have an inconsistent rating. However, if the variable load is slow, a VSR (Variable Shunt Reactor) can be

A shunt reactor is nothing but an absorber of the reactive power which helps to improve the energy efficiency of s system. However, shunt reactor is one of the compact devices that generally used as reactive power compensation in the cable systems as well as high-voltage transmission lines. Likewise, it can be directly connected to the territory winding or power line of the three-winding transformer.

Thus, a shunt reactor can be lastingly switched or connected with the help of the circuit breaker. For the better adjustment of consumed reactive power, the shunt reactor may also have an inconsistent rating. However, if the variable load is slow, a VSR (Variable Shunt Reactor) can be one of the best economical solutions for consumer applications.

Power Transformer and Shunt Reactors

Main Differences:

A Transformer and shunt reactor both include the same in construction. However, just similar to the power transformer, shunt reactors also designed with the help of a huge number of fans for the cooling purpose.

There are mainly two major differences in the power transformer and shunt reactor. However, a Power Transformer can be designed for efficient power transfer to transfer power from one voltage to another voltage system, whereas a shunt reactor is mainly intended to consume reactive VArs which is also called as lagging VArs.

However, there may have many power transformer windings with a magnetic core that can carry the common flux between two transformers. In addition, in the shunt reactor, there is only one winding. However, the magnetic core is used to provide a low reluctance path for the common flux of the winding which mainly aims to improve the transformer inductance.  On the other hand, in Power Transformer, the primary AT (Ampere-Turns) is called as the addition of the secondary AT as well as exciting AT. While AT loss is need to be kept to as low as possible. The secondary AT is larger than the exciting AT. Furthermore, the rated current can be calculated on the basis of load transfer requirements. In addition, the magnetizing current is often small and it has insignificant value when it gets compared with the secondary rated current. Likewise, the mutual flux is one of the major components which are resulted in power transmission. Thus, leakage flux should be small on the basis of fault current restrictions. On the other hand, in Shunt Reactors because of the absence of further windings, each and every primary AT is the same as the exciting AT. Just similar to the Power Transformer, failure of AT is also kept as small by design. Therefore, magnetizing AT is one of the major elements of the Shunt Reactor.

Shunt Reactor Construction

A shunt reactor can be used to recompense the capacitive reactive power of the lasting transmission lines. However, the construction features of the shunt reactor can vary the provider to provider.

The core of the Shunt Reactor

The gapped core is one of the basic components of a shunt reactor. However, the core is built from Cold Rolled Grain Oriented Silicon Steel sheet to diminish the hysteresis losses. These sheets are coated to decrease eddy current losses. Thus, the gaps are deliberately offered in the construction by replacing spacers of elevated electricity modules among the lamination packets. Generally, these gaps are preserved radially.

Shunt Reactor Winding       

The shunt reactor winding is majorly made by using copper conductors. However, the conductors are paper insulated. On the other hand, the insulated spacers are offered between turn to preserve the oil circulation paths. However, these arrangements help for effective winding cooling.

Cooling System of Shunt Reactor

Generally, a low current shunt reactor deals which s why Oil Natural Air Natural (ONAN) cooling can be sufficient for the shunt reactors with the high voltage also.

Shunt Reactor Tank

The major reactor tank for EHV as well as UHV system is also called a bell tank. On the other hand, both the bell tank and bottom tank are manufactured with the help of steel sheets for suitable thickness. However, suitable pieces of steel sheets are welded collectively to produce both tanks. The tanks are constructed and produced to resist high volume and positive pressure. Thus, the tanks must be designed in such a way that these could be transported by railways as well as road.

Conservator of the Shunt Reactor

In shunt reactor, the conservator is offered at the topside of the tank along with the main tank with the help of connecting pipeline for the suitable diameter. In addition, the conservator is often horizontally associated cylindrical tank which offers sufficient space for the oil expansion. However, in conservator, flexible separator in between oil and the air is offered for the required temperature. On the other hand, the conservator tank is also aligned with the magnetic oil gauge to trace the level of oil in the shunt reactor. However, the magnetic oil gauge also offers an alarm system with the normally open DC contact, which is attached to it at the time of oil levels falls below than the required level due to the leakage in the tank of any other reason.