Magnetically Controlled Electrical

Reactors
Collection of Articles
Ed. Prof. A.M. Bryantsev, Dr. Sc. (Eng)
Moscow
Znack
2012
Magnetically Controlled Electrical Reactors. Collection of
Articles. 2nd enlarged edition. Ed. Prof. A.M. Bryantsev,
Dr. Sc. (Eng). M.: Znack, 2011, pp. Ill.
Magnetically controlled reactors (CR) have become widely used
in the power generation industry in recent years. Dozens of
three-phase shunt CRs with capacities of 25, 100 and 180 MVA are
now operated in 110, 220, 330 and 500 kV networks. A stable market
for arc-extinguishing reactors for 6-10 kV networks has been formed.
The book contains articles on the CR theory and calculation
methods and on the experience of their development, manufacture,
tests, implementation and operation. The performance data of CRs,
their curcuit diagrams, factory and network test data, and photos are
provided as well as information materials of a company engaged in
R&D, manufacture and commissioning of CRs.
The book is meant for specialists in the field of electricity and
power engineering, engineers and researchers, and for university
professors, post-graduates and students.
ISBN 978-5-87789-060-2 , 2011
ontents
Foreword to the Second Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
A.M. Bryantsev. Electric Reactors Controlled by BIAS Magnetization
in Power Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
A.M. Bryantsev. Magnetically Controlled Ferromagnetic Devices with
Extreme Saturation of Parts of the Magnetic System . . . . . . . . . . . 10
A.M. Bryantsev. Principal Equations and Characteristics
of MagneticRectifier Controlled Reactors
with Strong Saturation of the Magnetic Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
M.A. Biki, E.N. Brodovoi, A.M. Bryantsev, L.V. Leites,
A.I. Lurie, Yu.L. Chizhevsky. Electromagnetic Processes
in HighPower Controlled Reactors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
A.M. Bryantsev, E.E. Makletsova, A.G. Dolgopolov, A.I. Lurie,
G.A. Evdokunin, Yu. A. Lipatov. Shunting Reactors Controlled
by BIAS Magnetization for (35500)kV Grids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
V.G. Pekelis, S.Yu. Chashkina. Effectiveness of HighPower
Controllable Shunting Reactors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
S.V. Zhakutova. Controllable Shunting Reactors
for ReactivePower Compensation and Voltage Regulation
in Kazakhstan Power Grids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
A.M. Bryantsev, A.G. Dolgopolov, A.I. Lurie, S.M. Zilberman,
M.A. Biki and S.V. Ukolov. ThreePhase Controllable Shunting
Reactor (100 MVA, 220 kV) at the Siberian Chita Substation . . . . . . 89
A.G. Dolgopolov, S.G. Dolgopolov, A.I. Zaitsev,
V.P. Shipitsin. Industrial Operation of a Controllable
ThreePhase Shunting Reactor (110 kV, 25,000 kVA)
at the Permenergo Kudymkar Substation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
A.M. Bryantsev, A.G. Dolgopolov, O.M. Dubrovina. Power Control of
ThreePhase Controllable Shunting Reactor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
B.I. Bazylev, M.A. Bryantsev, Yu.P. Spiridonov. Design of Controllable
Arcquenching Reactors for 6 and 10kV Grids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
A.I. Lurie, A.N. Panibratets, V.P. Zenova,
V.N. Elagin, B.I.Bazylev. FMZO Neutralizers
for Ruom Controllable Arcquenching Reactors
in Grid with Isolated Neutral Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
A.I. Lurie, A.N. Panibratets, and V.P. Zenova. Electrodynamic Strength
in ShortCircuiting of Ruom Controllable Arcquenching Reactors. . . . 149
247
A.M. Bryantsev, A.I. Lurie, A.G. Dolgopolov,
G.A. Evdokunin, B.I. Bazylev. ArcQuenching MagneticBiasControlled
Reactors with Automatic of Ground Fault Capacitive Current
Compensation for 6 to 35 kV Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
A.M. Bryantsev, A.G. Dolgopolov, A.I. Lurie. A Unique 330kV
180 MVA Magnetically Controlled Shunt Reactor is Put
into Operation at the Baranovichi Substation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
A.M. Bryantsev, A.G. Dolgopolov, A. I. Lurie, B.I. Bazylev,
S.V. Ukolov, A.I. Zaitsev, Y.V. Sokolov, N.G. Akhmetzhanov.
A New 180MVA Magnetically Controlled Shunt Reactor Was
Commissioned For the First Time in a 500kV Network . . . . . . . . . 196
A. Bryantsev, M. Bryantsev, B. Bazylev, S. Dyagileva, R. Karymov,
A. Lurie, A. Negryshev, E. Makletsova, S. Smolovik. Power
Compensators Based on Magnetically Controlled Shunt Reactors
in Electric Networks with a Voltage between 110 kV and 500 kV. . . . 204
A. Bryantsev, S. Smolovik, A. Dorofeev, M. Zilberman, A. Smirnov.
Magnetically Controlled Shunt Reactor Application
for AC HV and EHV Transmission Lines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
A.M. Bryantsev, A.G. Dolgopolov, G.A. Evdokunin,
Y.A. Lipatov A.I. Lurie, E.E. Makletsova. Magnetically
Controlled Shunt Reactors to meet of Russias Power Industry
the Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Technical Expertise on project Magnetically Controlled Shunt
Reactors for 35500 kV Electric Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Foreword to the Second Edition
The decision to reprint the book has been taken due to a
market increase in controllable shunt reactor (CSR) purchases for
110500 kV networks by power facilities in the Russian Federation
and other countries. While at the time of the first publication in
2004 only a few prototype models and pilot batches were produced,
the CSR deliveries exceeded US$100 million between 2006 and
2009. By now, CSR of 25, 32, 63, 100 and 180 MVA for all voltage
levels from 110 to 500 kV have been, are being or are about to be
installed. The use of CSR reduces power losses, stabilizes voltage ,
and increases the transfer capability and reliability of highvoltage
electrical grids. The experience of the CSR operation (the first
CSR of 25 MVA has been working successfully in a 110 kV network
for more than 10 years) proved their high reliability. For this
reason, the introduction of CSR is regarded as one of the most pro
mising areas in the modernization of electrical grids of the Russian
Federation in the technical policy of the Federal Grid Company of
Unified Energy System (JSC FGC UES).
The success of the CSR is based on the fact that it possesses full
functionality of a thyristorreactor group (TRG) with a stepup
transformer but is much less expensive and basically no different
from a conventional generalpurpose power transformer in design,
manufacturing and maintenance. In combination with a capacitor
bank (CB), a CSR can perform all functions of a highvoltage re
versible reactive power compensator (reactive power source), i.e.,
the same functions as a static var compensator (SVC) and a synch
ronous compensator. There are more than twenty reactive power
sources with CSRs in operation today. Since a CSRbased reactive
power source is connected directly to the point of the grid where
voltage is to be maintained, it has a lower installed capacity of equ
ipment and provides more accurate voltage support.
The reasons for the interest attracted by CSRbased and
CBbased reactive power sources are not only their much lower
3
costs than SVC or synchronous compensators but also significantly
lower installation and operation costs. The CSR is placed on an
outdoor site of a substation and does not require a separate heated
building and special maintenance.
In addition,the CSR has some important functional features
distinct from other reactive power compensation devices. After
faults and voltage sags in the grid, a large portion of load is discon
nected after reclosure, so restoring voltage can increase greatly. In
this situation, however, the CSR builds up practically full power in
stantly, which compensates the voltage increase and prevents load
reconnection failures.
It should be noted that good experience in operation of all
CSRs, including those used as part of reactive power sources, did
not reveal any shortcomings in the design parameters of the reac
tors, particularly, their response speed under normal operating con
ditions.
This edition of the Collection includes additional articles devo
ted to highvoltage 110500 kV reactive power sources based on
controllable shunt reactors and capacitor banks. The potential
demand for reactive power sources is much higher than that for
controllable shunt reactors as such.
A.M. Brayntsev, October 2011
4
Electric Reactors Controlled by BIAS
Magnetization in Power Systems
A.M. Bryantsev
This issue is devoted to electrical reactors controlled by bias
magnetization. The first special issue on this topic (in February
1991) focused on the theory of their creation, their performance,
their applications, and experience in manufacturing and testing the
first prototypes.
Since then, the situation has significantly changed. Today, va
rious types of such reactors are produced, in the power range from
190 kV A to 180 MV A, in all voltage classes from 6 to 500 kV;
dozens are already in operation. Such rapid commercial introducti
on of a new electricalengineering product cannot be attributed
solely to the enthusiasm of the developers and the skill of marke
ting specialists, but indicates certain fundamental benefits of the
new design.
A simplified analysis of these benefits may be based on Fig. 1.
The structure and phase configuration of all controllable reactors
corresponds to Fig. la. In phase terms, the controllable reactor is
essentially a twowinding transformer with a split rod. One winding
(the grid winding) is connected to the grid (U
g
*
); the other (the
control winding) is connected to a controllable dc voltage source
( ) U
c
*
. Sections of the grid and control windings are in an opposing
parallel configuration, with no direct electromagnetic coupling.
Each phase winding creates its own magnetic fluxes: an industri
alfrequency ac flux for the grid winding; and a controllable dc bias
flux for the control winding. The dc bias flux shifts the ac flux
toward the saturation region of the magnetization curve of the
steel, thereby modifying the inductive resistance of the device.
The voltage and current variation corresponding to this process
may be seen in Fig. 2. When the terminals of the grid winding are
connected to the grid and there is no energy in the control circuit
5
( , ) U i
c c
* *
= = 0 0 , alternating fluxes of the same magnitude and directi
on appear in the split rod. They do not exceed the saturation fluxes
in any cross section of the magnetic system, while the current in
the grid winding is practically zero ( ) i
g
0 . This is the idling mode.
The current and voltage variation for this case is shown in Fig. 2
for the time intervals from t
o
to t
1
and beyond t
8
. When energy is
supplied to ( ) U i
c c
* *
>0 or removed from ( ) U i
c c
* *
<0 the control circuit,
there is a transient increase or decrease in the grid current i
g
*
and
control current i
c
*
(time intervals t t
1 2
- , t t
3 4
- , t t
5 6
- , t t
7 8
- ). For
example, transition from one steady mode to another within two
periods of the grid voltage calls for a mean controlcircuit power of
around 5% of the rated controllablereactor power, but only during
the transient process. In any steady mode for example, semi pe
riodic (rated) or fully periodic (maximum) the power consumed
by the control circuit is sharply reduced, since it is only required
6
Fig. 1. Circuit diagram of one phase of a controllable electrical reactor (a) and a
possible equivalent functional circuit (b).
for compensation of the ohmic losses in the control winding and is
no more than tenths of a percent of the rated power.
The graphs in Fig. 2 are obtained by calculation using special
programs on the basis of Fig. la. However, these graphs may be re
produced with high accuracy using the equivalent functional circuit
in Fig. lb, where the phase element of the controllable reactor is re
presented as an opposing parallel thyristor pair with linear inductive
resistances in series. In the equivalent circuit, inductances L
gw
, L
cw
are the inductances of the grid and control windings with a comp
letely saturated magneticsystem rod; j is the thyristor control
angle, corresponding to the duration of the saturated rod state
within the half period of the grid voltage, expressed in electrical de
grees. The range of j from 0 to p corresponds to the whole possible
range of operating conditions. For example, the thyristor control
7
Fig. 2. Characteristic voltage and current curves for controllable reactor: U
g
*
, i
g
*
,
grid voltage and current; U
c
*
, i
c
*
, control voltage and current; j, thyristor control
angle.
angle j =0 corresponds to reactor idling. The angle j p = /2 corres
ponds to semiperiodic saturation or rated operation. Finally, j p =
corresponds to maximumcurrent consumption or fully periodic sa
turation.
The equivalent functional circuit in Fig. 1b not only permits the
combination of familiar devices so as to describe the characteristics
of a controllable reactor in a power system. It also clearly reflects
the economic potential of controllable reactors. We see that the re
actor consists structurally of a transformer that is very similar, in
terms of losses and consumption of materials, to the analogous
twowinding transformer of comparable power and vo At the same
time, in functional capabilities, the reactor corresponds to the
widely used thyristorreactor connected to a highvoltage grid
through a coupling transformer. Thus, in contrast to the traditional
desigi coupling transformer plus a reactor and a thyristor in series
we only need a specific transformer unit, in which the winding
inductance acts as the reactor, while the saturated rod acts as the
opposing parallel thyristor pair. Instead of three components, we
may use only one component, of power consumption comparable
with any of the three.
The concept of a reactor controlled by bias magnetization as a
transformer unit that serves the function a semiconductor device
underlies all the developments of the last decade and permits opti
mal use of current disigns both in the transformer industry and in
power electronics.
In 19951996, the production of controllable arcquenching re
actors for (635)kV distribution grids was organized at Energiya
Ramensk electricengineering plant. Operational experience comp
letely confirms their high performance; in particular, their use
halves the incidence of grid emergencies. Note that this effect is
greatest in grids with aging equipment. Judging from the orders re
ceived, we may look forward to the systematic replacement of seve
ral thousand electromechanical devices by arcquenching reactors.
8
Since 1998, the Russian ElectricalEngineering Institute,
Elektricheskie Upravlyaemye Reaktory Joint Stock Company, Za
porozhtransformator Joint Stock Company, and Ramenskii Elekt
rotekhnicheskii Zavod Energiya Joint Stock Company (Energiya
Ramensk electricengineering plant) have been preparing for the
production of controllable shunting reactors for (110500)kV grids.
Projects include the following:
in 19981999, the installation of a controllable reactor
(25 MVA, 110 kV) at the Permenergo Kudymkar substation;
in 20012002, the manufacture and installation of a control
lable reactor (100 MVA, 220 kV) at the Siberian Chita substation;
in 2002, the manufacture of a controllable reactor (180 MVA,
500 kV) for the Belenergo Baranovichi substation.
Expert evaluation of the results suggests that the largescale
introduction of shunting reactors controlled by bias magnetization
should be a priority in the reequipment of highvoltage
(110500 kV) grids. The total effect for the grid as a whole is 34 %
reduction in power losses, 3050 % increase in the throughput of
intersystem links, and restoration of the quality of the electric
power to meet international standards.
The development, production, and operation of reactors cont
rolled by bias magnetization will be considered in more detail in
the remainder of this issue.
First published: Electrical Engineering, vol. 1, 2003. pp. 24.
9
Magnetically Controlled Ferromagnetic Devices
with Extreme Saturation of Parts
of the Magnetic System
A.M. Bryantsev
The development of highcapacity controllable inductive devi
ces for shunt reactive power compensation in electrical grids plays
an important part in the enhancement of electrical energy quality
[1, 2]. The most widespread design in this area is regulation of
input current using a reactor connected inseries with a thyristor
switch [3]. Along with that, attempts are still made to develop mag
netically controlled reactors. Their advantage is a relatively low
control power, which is especially important for highcapacity ins
tallations.
A general analysis of controllable reactor designs existing now
allows to conclude that their main technical disadvantages are con
siderable distortion of current waveforms and increased loss in the
magnetic core during biasing magnetization. The need to suppress
nonlinear distortions by adjusting the circuit complicates the
design and worsens the performance. In particular, the experience
of manufacturing production prototypes has shown that the total
loss was 7 or 8 times higher than control power due to increased
loss in steel [4]. This is caused in large measure by the conventional
approach to the design of magnetic systems when the field intensity
of the fundamental frequency does not exceed 20 or 30 kA/m even
in highcapacity devices under rated operating conditions. The re
gulation capabilities of magnetized electric steel are used there to a
limited extent and nonlinear distortions are high (solid lines in
Fig. 1). With such a relatively low intensity of the biasing magneti
zation field, the active zone of induction is located mainly in the
hysteresis area of the magnetization curve, which increases loss in
the steel.
10
These disadvantages can be largely avoided by maximizing the
use of the control range of electric steel induction. Since nonlinear
distortions during the biasing magnetization of electric steel decrea
se in the area of technical saturation, it makes sense to put the
whole induction variation range within this area. The distortions of
the intensity curve disappear in this case (dotted lines in Fig. 1).
Further growth of the biasing magnetization field will not increase
any more the alternating component of the field intensity. If induc
tion varies in the fashion:
b M t
m
= cosw (1)
the field intensity can be represented as:
h B ctg t h B B
m m
= - =
*
a w j (cos cos ) * , (2)
where h* is a relative value of the field intensity for basic B
s
, m
o
1
:
h
b B
t b B
s
s
*
cos cos
=
=
- >

Oif
if w j
B B
m m
*
= is a relative value of the first harmonic component of in
duction; j = - arccos ( )/ B B B
s s o
corresponds to the moment of in
11
Fig. 1. The basis of determining the control ranges of electric steels (for piecewi
selinear approximation of the average magnetization curve [8])
duction transition to the area of technical saturation (in radians); a
is the slope angle of the linear part of the magnetization curve
(Fig. 1); and tga m =
o
.
The expansion of the function h* in the Fourier series yields the
following expressions for the amplitudes of the harmonic compo
nents:
H
o
*
(sin cos ); = -
1
p
j j j (3)
H
1
1 2
2
*
sin
; = -

p
j
j
(4)
H
i
i
i
i
i
i
*
sin( ) sin( )
=
-
-
-
+
+

1 1
1
1
1 p
j j
, (5)
where i = 2,3,4,5 are serial numbers of higher harmonic compo
nents.
The degree of steel saturation is characterized by the angle j in
this set of equations. The extreme saturation is achieved when
j p = . In this case H
I
*
=1, H
o
*
=1, H
i
*
=0. A numerical harmonic ana
lysis using more accurate approximating expressions that take into
account the smoothness of the transition of the magnetization
12
Fig. 2. The variation of the nonlinear distortion coefficient of a threephase device
for piecewiselinear approximation of the magnetization curve (the solid line) and
for the approximation in accordance with [5] (the dotted line).
curve to the technical saturation area [5] shows that the us of equ
ations (3), (4), and (5) results in a significant error only for a weak
biasing magnetization. The error in the main harmonic component,
the constant component and integral nonlinearity indices coeffi
cients of harmonics discussed below is reduced starting with
H* . ( / ) = 005 6 j p (Fig. 2).
The above expressions allow to estimate graphically basic regu
lating characteristics and specific features of the nonlinear distorti
ons that determine the electromagnetic state of a device for diffe
rent degrees of steel saturation. For example, the following aspects
are of interest for finding a desirable biasing magnetization mode:
the ratios of the first harmonic component of the magnetic field in
tensity to the effective intensity value (which determines the degree
of current density increase in windings during biasing magnetizati
on, k
D
) and to the effective values of even harmonics and of the
constant component (which defines the relative value of the control
current, k
y
), and the odd harmonic coefficients k
h
and the coeffici
ents of odd harmonics of positive and negative sequence, k
h3ph
(which define the distortions of current consumed by a onephase
and a threephase controllable ferromagnetic device, respectively).
The results of the calculations of these quantities and the ratios
x =H 2H
1 o
/ used as a criterion of biasing magnetization efficiency
[6] are given below:
j ,
degrees
H
1
*
k
D
k
y
k
h
k
h ph 3
x
36.87 0.052 1.787 1.263 0.772 0.302 1.357
46.57 0.094 1.644 1.163 0.593 0.141 1.328
53.13 0.141 1.560 1.103 0.465 0.077 1.298
60 0.196 1.504 1.064 0.363 0.076 1.268
72.54 0.312 1.442 1.019 0.198 0.080 1.207
84.26 0.436 1.417 1.002 0.062 0.036 1.143
13
90 0.5 1.414 1 0 0 1.111
101.5 0.626 1.424 1.012 0.076 0.042 1.043
113.5 0.748 1.455 1.052 0.093 0.031 0.972
126.8 0.858 1.507 1.175 0.062 0.015 0.854
143.1 0.948 1.590 1.235 0.042 0.016 0.811
161.8 0.993 1.686 1.357 0.009 0.006 0.737
180 1.0 1.732 1.414 0 0 0.707
It can be seen from the calculation results that if the coefficient
of biasing magnetization efficiency x is used as a criterion for selec
ting the normal rating of a device, the saturation of the magnetic
circuit should be as low as possible. In fact, however, the increase
in the consumption of active materials due to biasing magnetization
depends on the coefficient of loss increase in the winding, k
D
,
which takes its minimum value for H
1
*
= 0.5. To minimize nonline
ar distortions of the input current in normal operation the degree of
the magnetic system saturation should be even higher (H
1
*
= 1). The
higher harmonic components vary within the control range, in ac
cordance with (5),by the law described by the sum of two harmonic
oscillations with frequencies of i -1 and i +1 [7]. The number of ext
remums of the ith harmonic component is less than its serial
number by one (Fig. 3). The absolute maximum is the extremum
closest to the point j p = /2:
H
i
i
i
i
i(max)
*
( )
sin =
-
+

2
1
1
2
2
p
p . (6)
The maximum values of odd harmonics 3, 5, and 7 are equal to
0.06892, 0.02523, and 0.01293, respectively.
Higher harmonic components are absent in the extreme satura
tion mode (j p = , H
I
*
=1). There are nonlinear distortionsat the
point j p = /2, only for even harmonic components that cannot
flow out to the electrical grid both in onephase and in threephase
devices. If extreme saturation is provided under the rated operating
14
conditions, the coefficient of the distortion of current consumed by
a onephase device becomes zero at two points (j j = / , 2 j p = ) and
its value does not exceed 0.095 starting with j = 80. This value
does not exceed 0.08 in a threephase device starting with an angle
of j = 50. When j p > / , 2 the coefficient of harmonics in the
current of a threephase device is less than 0.05. So, the optimum ope
ration mode in terms of minimum nonlinear distortions and additional
consumption of winding metal lies in the range of h
I
*
. =005 to 1.
The values of field intensity corresponding to extreme saturati
on depend on the amplitude of the induction of the alternating
magnetic flux and the size of nonmagnetic channels between the
winding and the saturated part of the magnetic circuit. In extreme
case , the amplitudes of the main component field intensity and
specific magnetizing power for B H
m I
* *
= are:
H
B
s
1
=
m
o
1.6 MA/m;
15
Fig. 3. The variation curve of magnetic field intensity harmonics in the function of
the angle of induction transition to the technical saturation area of the magnetizati
on curve.
q
B
g
s
1
2
2
=
w
m
o
65 kWA/kg ,
where B T
s
2 [8]; g = 7650 kg/m
3
is the density of electric steel;
and w is angular frequency.
The specific parameters being so high, the saturated parts make
only a part of the magnetic system volume. For this reason, one
possible design of a controllable ferromagnetic device with biasing
magnetization close to the extreme is making active parts of the
magnetic conductor in the form of segments of limited length with
reduced crosssections (Fig. 4), [9]. To reduce additional loss from
leakage fluxes, these parts should be distributed along the magnetic
conductor, for example, using the method described in [8]. The re
duced crosssections of the parts S
y
and their total length l should
be chosen so that the required degree of their saturation
( .
*
05 1
1
h
H
) is achieved in the rated magnetization mode while the
rest of the magnetic conductor remains unsaturated (the maximum
induction value does not exceed the saturation induction of
steel B
s
):
B S B B S
s y
+ ( )
oH
, (7)
16
Fig. 4. The conceptual design of the magnetic conductor of a magnetically control
led ferromagnetic device with extreme saturation of the magnetic circuit parts.
where B
oH
is the rated value of the constant component of inducti
on in the parts with reduced crosssections.
The transformation of relationship (7) including the previous
expressions yields:
[ ]
k S S B
s y m i
= = - +
-
-
1
1
1 1
*
( cos ) j , (8)
where k
s
is the coefficient of reduction of the active parts of the
magnetic conductor; j
i
is the angle of the transition of induction
to the technical saturation area of the curve under the rated condi
tions.
The presence of a channal parallel to the part of reduced
crosssection influences the field intensity value with which the set
value of H
H 1
*
can be achieved since the slope of the weberampere
characteristic increases. In this case, in accordance with (2), the
field intensity under the rated conditions is
H H B B ctg
H B B k k
H H m s
H m s s
1 1
1
2
= =
* *
* *
a
m
p
o
, (9)
where k
p
is a coefficient to allow for the bulging of the field from
parts of reduced crosssection and the leakage flux of the winding.
The required total length of parts of reduced section can be
found from the equality of the first harmonic component of the
magnetizing force and the magnetomotive force of the winding [9]:
k lL
A
H B B k k
H m s s p
1
1
1
= =
-
m
o
* *
, (10)
where A is the rated amplitude of the linear density of the first har
monic component of the magnetizing force and L is the height of
the winding (Fig. 4).
The only constraint for selecting the induction of the alterna
ting flux in the parts of reduced crosssection is noload magneti
17
zing force that determines the depth of current regulation of the
device. Calculations have shown that even for B B
m s
= the portion of
noload magnetizing force is not greater than 3% to 5% of the
magnetizing force that can be achieved under extreme saturation
for modern electric steels.
In general, considering relations (8) and (10), the winding data
and the electromagnetic parameters of a ferromagnetic device con
taining the proposed magnetic system can be found conventionally
using wellknown methods based on the minimization of the calcu
lated costs of the active part.
The controllable ferromagnetic devices where a mode close to
extreme saturation is applied should have a relatively low level of
loss in steel under the rated conditions because the main part of the
induction range is shifted to the anhysteretic area in the parts of re
duced crosssection. The rest of the magnetic conductor remains
unsaturated up to the rated conditions, which also causes a relative
ly small increase in loss due to the shift of the minor hysteresis
cycle. The table below shows the data of testing a threephase
model of a 15 kvar controllable reactor assembled as shown in
18
Fig. 5. The schematic of loss measurement from the side of the power winding of a
15 kVA threephase controllable reactor.
Fig. 5 with a sixleg magnetic conductor. The magnetic conductor
was made at first with equal crosssections of all parts. Then, parts
of reduced crosssection with k
s
= 0.5 and k
1
= 0.045 corresponding
to H
H 1
*
= 0.5 were obtained by separating partially the yokes and by
appropriate displacement of the sheets of the cores in the areas of
yokecore joints. The mass of these parts (about 2 kg) was 1.13 %
of that of the magnetic conductor.
As can be seen from the table, the noload current and loss of
the device increased in the second case by factors of 1.66 and 1.08,
respectively. The loss dropped, however, in the rated mode of bia
sing magnetization, by about 40 %, mainly due to lower loss in the
steel
1
.
Comparison characteristics of a 220 kV 15 kVA threephase
controllable reactor
Parameter
Magnetic conductor design
With equal
crosssections of all
parts
With extreme
saturation of active
parts with reduced
crosssections
Noload current, A 1.63 2.7
Rated current, A 39.5 39.5
Noload losses, W 140 152
Rated loss, W 715 430
The coefficient of
current harmonics
under rated conditions
0.19 0.035
The induction of noload alternating flux was 1.1 T for both de
signs in the bulk of the magnetic conductor. The calculated nolo
ad induction grew up to 2.2 T in the parts of the magnetic conduc
19
1
The experiments were conducted and data processed by Engineers S.A. Gordeev
and V.N. Mozherin.
tor with reduced crosssections and the field intensity in the rated
operation mode reached 163 kA/m with the linear density of the
magneto motive forces of the windings being 7.4 kA/m. The distor
tion of rated current k
h ph 3
was caused by a relatively large length of
the unsaturated parts of the magnetic conductor (the impact of the
unsaturated parts will be less in reactors of higher capacity because
of a relatively larger mass of the active parts of the magnetic con
ductor). To provide the same level of nonlinear current distortions
in a model with the conventional biasing magnetization system, an
additional reactor (referred to as a compensating throttle in [6])
is required, whose mass is about 30 % of that of the active part of
the device. Hence, the extreme saturation of the active parts of the
magnetic system has a beneficial effect both by weight characteris
tics and by loss.
The disadvantage of the extreme biasing magnetization is a rela
tively inefficient use of electric steel in unsaturated parts of the
magnetic conductor. According to (4) and (7), the values of k
s
from 0.5 to 0.33 correspond to values of h
H 1
*
= 0.5 to 1.0 for B
m
*
= 1.
So, the induction of the alternating flux in the unsaturated part of
the magnetic conductor is within 0.67 T to 1 T despite the fact that
it is equal to the saturation induction B
s
in the active parts. An ana
lysis of the form and dimensions of the magnetic system over a
wide range of rated power values has shown that the relative size of
active parts is small for rated powers below tens of kvar and the
average alternating flux induction depends on the induction in the
unsaturated part of the magnetic system. As the rated power increa
ses, the relative size of active parts in the magnetic conductor
grows. The total length of the parts of reduced crosssections beco
mes comparable to the height of the winding starting with capaciti
es of 3040 MVA mainly due to higher linear density of magneto
motive force and leakage paths between the winding and active
parts. As the result of this, The average amplitude of alternating
flux induction in the whole magnetic system increases to between
1.3 T and 1.5 T as a result and the beneficial effect of the extreme
20
saturation of the active parts in the magnetic circuit can be felt to
the highest extent.
References (in Russian)
1. A.G. Kraiz and L.V. Leites. On Inductive Devices for Static Var Com
pensators. Elektrichestvo, No. 10, 1979.
2. Electric Equipment to Assure High Quality of Electric Power // I.M.
Bortnik, V.V. Khudyakov, V.N. Ivakin, at al. Elektrotekhnika, No. 3, 1981.
3. V.V. Khudyakov and V.A. Chvanov. A Static Controllable Reactive
Power Source. Elektrichestvo, No. 1, 1969.
4. A CoreType Controllable Reactor with a Spatial Magnetic Conductor
in 35110 kV Electrical Grid// A.M. Bryantsev, S.E. Sokolov, Sh.Sh. Biktas
hev, at al. Power Plants. Elektrostantsii, No. 5, 1982.
5. A.M. Bryantsev and E.N. Brodovoi. The Approximation of the Main
Magnetization Curve of Highly Saturated Ferromagnetic Devices. Power
Industry. Proceedings of Higher Education Institutes, No. 4, 1985.
6. A.M. Bryantsev. A Magnetic Thyristor Reactive Power Regulator.
Elektrotekhnika, No. 10, 1984.
7. A.A. Bulgakov. Electronic Devices of Automatic Control. Moscow:
Gosenergoizdat, 1951.
8. L.V. Leites. Electromagnetic Calculations of Transformers and Reac
tors. Moscow: Energy, 1981
9. A.s. 1164795 (USSR) An Electroinduction Device/ A.M. Bryantsev.
Published in BI, No. 24, 1985.
First published: Electricity, 1986, 2, pp. 2330.
21
Principal Equations and Characteristics
of MagneticRectifier Controlled Reactors
with Strong Saturation of the Magnetic Circuit
A.M. Bryantsev
The magneticrectifier controlled reactors were developed based
on the principle of formation and control of the biasing magnetiza
tion flux using successive cyclic shunting of a part of the windings
by the switch elements of the converter and on the idea of achie
ving strong saturation of the active parts of the magnetic circuit in
the rated duty when the operating point of the magnetic flux is
mostly situated in the technical saturation area of the magnetizati
on curve [1, 2]. Quite a large number of circuit versions of these
circuits is known today (Fig. 1).
We consider below the action, basic regularities and the qualita
tive pattern of magneticrectifier controlled reactors using a simpli
fied analytical model as an example to avoid particulars (Fig. 2)
and making the following assumptions:
The voltage of the source connected to the reactor is sinusoi
dal:
u U t
m
= sinw ,
The weberampere curve of the magnetic cores is piecewise:
F
R
s
=

- >

0 when
when
s
o s
;
( ) ,
m
where is the current flux value in a core;
s
is the saturation
flux; R
mo
is the magnetic core resistance in complete saturation.
No loss.
The magnetic field is insignificant outside the steel of the
magnetic conductor .
22
The rectifier switches of the converter are ideal.
The duration of switching transients is shorter than the ne
twork frequency period.
Two or more switches can close at the same time in the reac
tors electrical circuit only at the moment of their commutation.
We consider therefore only three basic conditions that determine
the operation of the device (Fig. 2 b, c, d). An analysis of each
condition and generalization of the findings imply the following
equations that determin the variations of magnetic fluxes (MF)
and phase currents:
d
d t
K t
U
W
t
m 1
1
1 w
d
d w
w = +
-

( ) sin ;
p
(1)
23
a)
b)
c)
d)
Fig. 1 Schematic examples of rectifier magneticrectifier controlled onephase (a,
b) and threephase (c, d) reactors.
d
d t
K t
U
W
t
m 2
1
1 w
d
d w
w = -
-

( ) sin ;
p
(2)
i
F F
W
K t
F F
W
p
=
+
+
- -
1 2 1 2
1
p p
( )
d
d
; (3)
i i i i
F F
W
K t
F F
W
c k k k
= + + =
-
+
-
-
o 1 2
c c
1 2 1 2
1
( )
d
d
, (4)
where U
m
is the amplitude of the voltage applied to the winding
ends; w is the angular frequency of the network; W
p
is the number
of turns in the phase winding; W
c
is the number of turns in the
control winding loop;
1 2
, are instantaneous values of magnetic
core fluxes; F F
1 2
, are instantaneous values of MF; s is the relative
number of turns in the winding sections shunted by a converter
switch; i
p
is an instantaneous value of the phase current; and i
c
is
an instantaneous value of biasing magnetization current shorted
through the switch elements of the converter.
The right side of equations (1) and (2) along with the sinusoidal
network voltage contains an expression for control voltage:
u K U t
c t m
=
-
( )
sin
s
s
w
1
. (5)
The specific form of the U
c
graph depends on the operation
mode of the converters switches , which is indirectly assigned by
the switching function in the form:
K
K
K
K
t ( )
;
;
=
-

1 1
0
1 2
is closed;
0; is closed;
is closed.

So, the shunting of some winding turns is equivalent in its

impact to an increase in the instantaneous value of voltage applied
to the switching sections of a halfphase by a value proportional to
s s ( ) 1
1
-
-
with simultaneous reduction of the voltage in nonswitc
24
hing sections by the same value. By synchronizing the converter
with the network frequency and changing accordingly the firing
angle of its switches we can change the value and the sign of the
constant component in the U
c
graph. As a result, bias magnetizati
on fluxes appear in the active part of the magnetic conductor along
with the main harmonic component of the flux despite the harmo
nicity of the applied voltage. Their rate and direction of increment
depend on the constant component of the control voltage . I
p
phase
current and I
c
control current contain two components each, the
first ones of which agree with classical equations describing currents
in saturable reactors. Their value and form depend on the saturati
on of the magnetic circuit and are magnetization currents in the
physical sense. The main components of the phase current, there
fore, is purely inductive. The components of the current proportio
25
p
c
p
c
c
a)
b)
c)
d)
c
Fig. 2 Phase analytical model (a) and its main conditions (b, c, d).
nal to s s ( ) 1
1
-
-
depend on the operation of the converter . The
control current steps are caused by a discrete change in the number
of turns of the control winding because some of these turns are
shunted by the converters switches. The additional component of
the phase current is nothing but the input current of the converter
reduced to voltage of the power winding. The nature of the conver
ters input current depends on the specific form of the function K
t ( )
and it can contain in principle both active and reactive components
of any sign. The active components appear when the magnetic field
energy changes in the reactor. The biasing magnetization current
increases when the sign of the active component is positive and
decreases when it is negative. The typical curves of the variations of
the control voltage and biasing magnetization currents of the reac
tor combined with the curve of the power winding voltage are
shown in Fig. 3. Thus, rectifier the magneticrectifier controlled re
actors are selfmagnetized inductive resistors. Their active part
combines the functions of a magnetized ferromagnetic coil and of a
transformer to supply power to the converter. The converter ensu
res an energy exchange regulated in intensity and direction betwe
en the magnetization loop and electrical grid. This conclusion is
true for any version of rectifier the magneticrectifier controlled re
actor. The difference between the electric circuits (Fig. 1) lies
mainly in different distribution of the harmonic components of bia
sing magnetization currents and of the converter current in winding
sections [3]. And the more individual non coincident loops are
there in a reactor, the more materials are needed to build it. From
this point of view, the most practical circuit is one shown in
Fig. 1a, which has only one AC/DC winding.
One of the most important characteristics of a controllable
device is its response time. To estimate the response time of the
magneticvalve controllable reactor, let us integrate (1), (2). We
obtain that the fluxes in halfphases contain timevariable constant
components equal in absolute value but opposite in directions along
with the main harmonic components, the same in amplitude and
direction in both halfphases, which can be found from the
wellknown expression
26

p
1m
m
U
W
=
w
. (6)
For the circuit (Fig. 2) under review, the maximum increment
of this component during the network frequency period is
D
omax ( ) ( )
= - =
-
- 0 0 1 1
4
1
n n m
s
s
. (7)
If we consider known the biasing magnetization flux
0r
at
which the reactor operates in the rated duty cycle, then, based on
(7), we can represent the minimum time needed for its transition
from idling to rated power, expressed by the number of the network
frequency periods in the form:
n
W
W
U
U
m
=
-
=
1 1
2
0
s
s p

0r
1r
c
p
0r
1r max
,
27
c
p
p
Fig. 3. The time charts of variation of the switching function, voltages and currents
of the reactor.
where U
0max
is the peak value of the constant component of cont
rol voltage (5) .
A simple quantitative analysis of (8) shows that when the ne
twork frequency f is 50 Hz, the time of the transition of the reactor
from idling to its rated duty can be 0.33 sec for s = 0.015 to 0.03 in
the technically practical range of
1m
and
0r
. If the response time
is increased to 0.1 sec, s does not exceed 0.1 (Fig. 4). It is possible
in principle to make a reactor with a response time about equal to
the network frequency period; but it is hardly practical because, as
s grows, the capacity of the converter increases to that of the reac
tor itself.
The currents of the reactor are functions of the MF, of the sa
turable parts of the magnetic circuit (3), (4). Accurate determinati
on of interrelationships between values of halfphase currents and
the MF of the windings in the active part of the reactor is a separa
te problem of calculating the magnetic circuit depending on its spe
cific design features. At the same time, the generalized results of re
search into different types of controllable reactors have shown that
the relative time of finding the operating point of the flux in the sa
turation area of the magnetization curve during a network frequen
cy period can be used as a general measure of the saturation extent
of the magnetic circuit to characterize the qualitative pattern of the
electromagnetic condition of a magnetized ferromagnetic device.
Numerically, this time is equal to the value of the MF cut off angle
of a part of the magnetic circuit. The basic regularities of the elect
28
c
p
Fig. 4. For the estimation of the response time of a controllable reactor.
romagnetic condition of magnetized steel as a function of the angle
j are discussed in [4]. The efficiency of biasing magnetization the
nature of nonlinear distortions, and the consumption of materials
for the active part was shown to depend unequivocally on the
extent of saturation of the active parts of the reactors magnetic cir
cuit in the rated duty j
r
. And the least consumption of active ma
terials corresponds to j
r
= 90 (halfcycle saturation). When
j
r
= 180 (fullcycle saturation), the nonlinear distortions in the
reactors currents are minimal.
In some cases, however, even the fullcycle saturation in the
rated duty is insufficient to meet the requirements for the harmoni
ca of the operating current, for instance, when this device is used as
an arcextinguishing reactor. The waveform the MF of the magne
tic circuit can be improved by saturating two subsequent parts ins
tead of one part.
The higher harmonic components in the MF waveform are re
duced most efficiently if the magnetic resistance of two saturated
parts is twice as much as that of saturation of one of them, the
second part to be saturated when the first part is in the condition of
semicycle saturation. The graphic explanation of the above can be
seen in Fig. 5. The harmonic spectrum of MF in such twostep sa
turation is characterized by the following expressions:
F F F F t
t m im
i
( )
sin
w
w = + +

=

0 1
2
, (9)
F
R
m
i j
j
0
0 1
1
2
= -

=
m
p
j j

(sin cos ); (10)

F
R
m
m
i
j
i
1
0 1
1
2 2
2
= -

=
m
p
j
j

sin
; (11)
F
R
i
i
i
i
jm
m
j j
i
=
-
-
-
+
+

=
m
p
j j
0 1
1
2 1
1
1
1

sin( ) sin( )

, (12)
where j
1
, j
2
are the switching angles of the twostep magnetizati
on curve (Fig. 5).
29
The results of calculating the MF of the third harmonic com
ponent for the cases of magnetizing one and two subsequent parts
of the magnetic circuit are shown in Fig. 6a. It can be seen that in
the second case the third harmonic components of the two parts
compensate each other to a great extent starting from the halfcycle
saturation of the first part and further on. The range of low distorti
ons (less than 5 %) in the waveform of the MF of the phase extends
to twothirds of the variation range of the main harmonic compo
nent of the phase (Fig. 6b). The maximum effective value of odd
higher harmonics of the MF does not exceed 5 % of the maximum
value of the MF of the main harmonic component.
The distortions of the phase current of the reactor are compo
sed of the distortions of the saturation current the first component
in equation (3) and of the converter current, which is the second
component of (3). The harmonic composition of the saturation
current repeats completely the odd harmonic series of the MF of
the magnetized part.
The distortions induced by the converter current depend to a
lesser extent on the saturation of the magnetic system and occur
even under full linearization of the latter. Their pattern depends on
the specific design and the operation mode of the converter switc
hes, which is described in sufficient detail in numerous publications
dedicated to the analysis of the converter devices supplying inducti
ve load. However, due to its relatively small quantity, the influence
of this component on the resultant waveform of the phase current
30
Fig. 5. For the explanation of the principle of twostep biasing magnetization of
two subsequent parts.
will be noticeable only in the reactors with high response time (less
than 0.1 sec).
The results described in this article were obtained after substan
tial simplifications in the design model of the magneticrectifier
controlled reactor. At the same time, they do not only clarify the
principle of operation and key regularities of the devices but also
define rather accurately some quantitative parameters and charac
teristics. For example, the expression for the estimation of response
time (8) by an unlimited surge of transient was derived without
regard to any loss in the device, and the results of calculation using
a more accurate model and experiment yield practically the same
values. This is because the time constant of the natural damping of
transients caused by the loss is equal to dozens of seconds, which is
about two orders of magnitude higher than the time constant of dy
namic processes in the super excitation mode. The use of improved
approximating expressions instead of piecewiselinear approximation
virtually has no effect on the qualitative and quantitative results of
31
a)
b)
Fig. 6. The variations of the third harmonic component of the MF(a) and of the
coefficients of odd harmonics and of the first harmonic component (b) when one
(curve 1) and two subsequent parts with interconnected geometry (curve 2) are sa
turated.
the calculations of the harmonic composition of the current sand re
gulating characteristics. The results and conclusions of the integrated
analysis of the electromagnetic condition of a ferromagnetic device
according to the switching angle of the magnetization curve remain
completely valid in the case of more rigorous equivalent circuits of
the active part taking into account the relationship of the geometri
cal dimensions of the magnetic conductor and the windings.
However, the assumptions thus made restrict the scope of these
expressions. For example, it is impossible to calculate the firing delay
angles of the converter without regard to loss for the steadystate
conditions of different current capacities of the reactor. One cannot
calculate the MF of the weakly saturated parts of the magnetic circu
it and noload currents of the reactor without improved approxima
tion. The answers to these and other questions are separate problems
of further research, whose formulation and solution methods are lar
gely dependent on specific design features, capacity, and application
of rectifier magneticrectifier controlled reactors.
References (in Russian)
1. Authors Certificate No. 989597 (USSR). The An Electric Reactor
with Magnetization/ A.M. Bryantsev// Otkrytiya. Izobreteniya. , 1983, No. 2.
2. Authors Certificate No. 1061180 (USSR). An Electrical Inductor/
A.M. Bryantsev// Otkrytiya. Izobreteniya. . , 1985. No. 24
3. A.M. Bryantsev, E.N. Brodovoy, I.I. Leonov, and S.A. Gordeev. A
Method of Adjusting the Current Waveform of ThreePhase Controllable
Ferromagnetic Devices. University Proceedings. Electrical Engineering
series, 1986, No. 6
4. A.A. Bryantsev. Magnetized Ferromagnetic Devices with Extreme Sa
turation of the Magnetic System Parts. Elektrichestvo, 1986, No. 2.
First published: Electrical engineering, 1991, 2, p. 2428.
32
Electromagnetic Processes
in HighPower Controlled Reactors
M.A. Biki, E.N. Brodovoi, A.M. Bryantsev, L.V. Leites,
A.I. Lurie, Yu.L. Chizhevsky
Theoretical and experimental studies to develop magnetically
controlled reactors (CR) have been carried out in Russia and other
several decades. The results of these efforts are described in publi
cations by M.S. Libkind, A.M. Bamdas, H. Becker, E.D. Friedlan
der and others. The interest in shunt CRs has increased dramatical
ly, however, in the last few years for a variety of reasons. Firstly, as
compared with static VAR compensators (SVC) of reactive power,
the CRs are less costly per unit of reactive power, their operation is
simpler and their production can be quickly mastered by transfor
mer manufacturers. Secondly, new design solutions were proposed
including those that increased sharply effective inductance, impro
ved winding connections, etc. Finally, there was an increased need
for controllable shunt reactors for the power transmission lines that
are frequently under loaded.
The Moscow Electrical Plant and the Zaporozhye Transformer
Works (ZTZ) started recently to develop 180MVA CRs in the
threephase bank to meet the needs of the electrical power indust
ry. These manufactures adopted the connection circuit of the reac
tor described in [1]. ZTR separated the operating (power) winding
(PW) and control winding (CW)for a 525 kV reactor for a variety of
reasons (high voltage of the power winding, etc.). All the designs
make use of biasing magnetization with strong saturation of parts of
the magnetic circuit[2].
The publications dedicated to magnetic amplifiers (saturable
core reactors and transducers), for instance [3, 4] described a great
number of complicated circuits and conditions had been considered
but the approach and results set forth below were not found there.
The wellknown theory of magnetic amplifiers took into account
33
first of all the electrical of circuit elements, immaterial for a
highpower shunt reactor, and ignored leakage fluxes between the
windings, quite important in this case. An objective of this article is
to take the latter factor into account.
A simple and graphic design method [5] is needed for enginee
ring a commercial reactor along with the machine computation
that takes into account not only the primary but also the secondary
circuit and design features. This method should explain the electro
magnetic processes in the reactor and help to apply efficiently the
design methods and software developed for power transformers and
uncontrolled reactors.
A piecewiselinear representation of the electric steel response
can provide sufficiently accurate results for strong saturation. It
allows to estimate quantitatively the extent of biasing magnetization
as a portion of a period of the network frequency, within which the
instantaneous value of the flux exceeds the saturation flux of a
magnetized part [6].
The idealized schematic circuit of connection between the win
dings of two cores of a singlephase CR coincides with one of the
common circuits of magnetic amplifiers (Fig. 1). There are two
34
Fig. 1. The schematic circuit of a CR with the series connection of PW and CW
parts.
PW
CW
y
c
c
c
c
c
c
y
y
y
y
y
y
closed magnetic conductors each of which is enveloped by a part
(half) of each winding and CW. The respective parts are connec
ted in series, one accordant and the other opposite. For example,
Fig. 1 demonstrates the accordant connection of the PW parts
(which is equivalent in essence to one winding enveloping two
cores at once) and the opposite connection of the CW parts. The
electrical resistances of the windings are very small compared to in
ductive resistances and the supply voltage of the CW required in the
steadystate mode is low.
Assumptions. 1. There is no loss, i.e., there is no CW voltage in
the steadystate mode (u
y
= 0).
2. The induction curve of the magnetic core steel is piecewi
selinear (Fig. 2):
H when B B
H B B when B B
s
s s
= <
= - >

0
0
( )/m
(1)
where |H| is the magnetic field strength modulus, m p
0
7
4 10 =
-
Henry/m is the magnetic constant; |B| is the magnetic flux density
modulus in steel; and B
s
is the saturation induction of steel; B
s
=
= 2.0 T or 2.1 T.
35
Fig. 2. The adopted approximation of the flux density curve of steel.
3. The yokes of the magnetic conductor are not saturated and
their magnetic conductivity is infinite in all modes reviewed here
( ) m = .
4. The magnetic induction at all the points of the core steel is the
same prior tosaturation, i.e., the whole core is saturated simultaneo
usly. This assumption is close to reality because the height of the
transformer core and winding is usually much larger than the radius
(confirmed by studies of the transformer resistance to short circuits).
5. The flat surfaces of wide unsaturated yokes adjoin the ends of
the cores and of the concentric equidistant windings of equal he
ights. It is this assumption including assumptions 3 and 4 that redu
ces the field problem to the circuit calculation. Certainly, the de
signed heights of the aperture and windings can differ here from the
actual winding heights just like it happens in designing equivalent
circuits of multiwinding transformers [7]. The length of a core as
sumed in calculating its magnetic resistance can differ from the
actual height of the aperture. The intervals between the winding
ends and yokes and the unevenness of the windings can be taken
into account for calculating the magnetic field in the aperture using
REST [8] or other software. The assumptions 3, 4, and 5 are not
required for toroidal design with windings evenly distributed over
the circumference.
6. All the parameters of the windings of the two cores pairs and
of cores A and X themselves are equal. The cores are magnetically
independent (there are unsaturated lateral yokes in the case of a
common magnetic system ).
7. The windings are slim. The same area enveloped by the equi
valent middle turn of the core winding is included in the calculati
ons of magnetic fluxes and flux linkages. The influence of the finite
thickness of the windings is insignificant as a rule. This influence
can be accounted by using the method, given in [9].
The following conditions are introduced below to simplify the
designations and formulas, to make the narrative and perception
easier, and to avoid ambiguity in the description:
36
8. CW is the internal winding and PW is external (Fig. 3). The
area enveloped by a PW turn (S
C
) is equal to the sum of the leakage
path area (S
p
) and the area enveloped by a CW turn (S
y
), that is
S
C y p
S S = + . Refs. [1, 2] consider only a special case when the same
windings are used as PW and CW, i.e., the windings are combined.
The combination allows reducing the consumption of materials and
loss in comparison with the separate windings but the converter
turns out to be under the potential of the power winding middle
point. In this special case, there is no leakage path between the
windings (S
p
= 0), the areas enveloped by the PW and CW turns are
equal (S
C y
S = ) and the expressions for reactor parameters are simp
ler than the general formulas derived below. When the PW is loca
ted inside near the core and the CW is external, which impossible
in lowpower reactors, the relations can be found in a similar
manner. Some of them are given below but without derivation.
9. The numbers of turns are the same ( ) w w w
PW CW
= = . The le
akage inductance L
p
of the winding pair of the core (PW and CW)
and the dynamic inductances (L d di = Y/ see Section 126 of
GOST 1988074) of the power winding L
C
and of the control
winding L
y
of the core have the same type of expressions for the
saturated core , which correspond to the absence of the core under
37
Fig. 3. The adopted layout of windings on the CR core.
y
CW PW
p
st
L w S h
p p
=m
0
2
/ , L w S h
c c
=m
0
2
/ , L w S h
y y
=m
0
2
/ , (2)
10. assumption 2:
And assumption 7 and condition 8 imply that:
L L L
c y p
= + . (3)
When the numbers of the turns are not the same, the currents
and voltages derived below should be reduced to the real number of
turns for the given winding. For example, if it is designated that
w w
CW
= , then current of the CW should be multiplied and the CW
voltage divided by the ratio w w
PW CW
= .
10. The network voltage curve u (on PW terminals) is sinusoi
dal:
u U t
m
= cosw .
Equations. The following relations for the voltages u, currents i,
magnetic flux densities B and fluxes can be written using the cir
cuit and designations in Figs. 1 and 3, A and X subscripts for the
left core and right core, respectively, l for the leakage path, p for
the PW and c for the CW:
u u u
cA cX c
+ = ; i i i
cA cX c
= = ; u u u
yA yX y
+ = ; i i i
yA yX y
= = ; (4)
B i w h B i w h
B B B i w h
A A
A X
p c pX cX
p p p c
= =
= = =

m m
m
0 0
0
/ ; / ;
/ ;
(5)


p p p p
c y p cX yX p
A A p p p X
A A
B S B S = = = =
= + = +

;
; ;
(6)
u =
u =u +
c c p
c c p
A A yA yA
A X
w
d
dt
w
d
dt
u w
d
dt
w
d
dt
= = +

;
,
(7)
which implies for u
y
=0 (assumption 1):
38
u u
yA yX
= ; u u u
cA cX c
= = /2 , (8)
that is the network voltage is divided equally between the power
windings of the two cores.
The main feature of this paper is the representation of each
mode as an alternation of the following possible conditions of the A
and X cores as follows:
Both cores are unsaturated (B B
stA s
< and B B
stX s
< ) and we
denote this condition below by the subscript 0.
One of the cores is unsaturated while the other is saturated
(B B
stA s
< and B B
stX s
> or B B
stA s
> and B B
stX s
< ), that is the relative
number of saturated cores is 0.5 hence the subscript 0.5.
Both cores are saturated (B B
stA s
> and B B
stX s
> ), which con
dition is denoted by the subscript 1.0.
If one of these conditions occurs during the whole period of the
mode under review, such mode is called the characteristic mode
and is designated by an appropriate subscript.
Consider these conditions.
It follows from the Amperes circuital law for the unsaturated
core A (B B
stA s
< ) under assumption 2 that i w i w
C y
+ =0, whence
i i
c y
=- , (9)
and for the unsaturated core X (B B
stX s
< ) we have i w i w
C y
- =0, that
is
i i
c y
= . (10)
If both A and X cores are unsaturated, then the only possibility
to comply with equations (9) and (10) is the absence of both cur
rents, that is i
c
=0 and i
y
=0. Hence, the currents in the windings
can exist only when at least one of the cores is saturated. The ab
sence of the PW current is associated with the infinite inductance
of this winding, L
0
=.This condition corresponds to the noload
operation of the transformer.
39
If one of the cores is saturated and the other is not, the magne
tic induction B
y
in the channel between the core and the control
winding of the unsaturated core is zero and is doubled in the satu
rated core in the leakage path of this core
B
i w i w
h
B
y.sat
c y
p
=
+
= m
0
2 . (11)
The magnetic induction in the steel of the saturated core is gre
ater than B
y. sat
by the steel saturation induction B
s
:
B B B B B
s y st. sat . sat s p
= + = +2 . (12)
When one of the two cores of the reactor is saturated (subscript
0.5), the dynamic inductance of PW ( )
.
L
05
can be determined, for
instance, from the magnetic field energy W for the current i
c
:
[ ]
L
W
i i
B h
S S S
w S S
p y
0 5
05
2 2
2
0
2
2
2
4
2 4
,
.
( )
= = + + =
= +

c c
p
0
p p y
2m
m / ( ). h L L L L = + = + 2 4 2
p y c y
(13)
In terms of the magnetic field outside the steel, this condition
corresponds to a transformer whose secondary winding (CW) is
under inductive load and to a yoke reactor with a subdivided win
ding two windings with series accordant connection (CW and
PW) and ferromagnetic yokes adjoining their ends for the windings
of the saturated core.
When both cores are saturated, a change in the i
PC
current pro
vokes the same change in the the induction and magnetic fluxes in
the sections of the two coresand, therefore, induced electromotive
force in the CW circuit is zero, because the CWs of the A and X
cores are opposite. Consequently, the dynamic inductance of the
PW provided that all the cores of the reactor are saturated (subsc
ript 1.0) is:
L L
l c ,
.
0
2 = (14)
40
Here the ac component of the magnetic field outside the steel
corresponds to a yoke reactor with one winding (PW). The CW
current does not change under this condition, i
y
=const. The cha
racteristics of all abovedescribed possible conditions of a reactor
are listed in Table 1 below.
Table 1
Possible conditions of the reactor
Relative
number of
saturated
cores
m
r
of cores
Ratio
of currents
Dynamic
inductance
A X
0 i i
C y
= =0
0.5 1

1
i i
C y
=
i i
C y
=-
2(L L
C y
+ )
1.0 1 1 i
y
= const 2L
C
Characteristic steadystate modes. If none of the reactor cores
are saturated during the whole period , the currents of both win
dings are zero. This mode can be called the noload mode
(NLM) or zero mode (subscript 0). The magnetic induction is zero
outside the steel and sinusoidal inside the steel:
B B t B
m st
= + sin

w
0
, (15)
where B B t B
st m
= + sin

w
0
; B

is an arbitrary (based on history

data) value of the average induction during the period within
- ( ) B B
s m
besides, the values of the induction B
0
in the A and X
cores may differ; and S
st
is the steel crosssection in one core.
If each core is saturated during a halfperiod (we denote this
mode with the subscript 0.5 calling it the mode of halfperiod satu
ration), the dynamic inductance of the reactor PW is constant
during the whole period and is equal to L
05 .
. Under these conditi
41
ons, the PW current and induction in the leakage path B
p
are sinu
soidal. According to (9) and (10) the CW current is equal to the
PW current sinusoid modulus i i
y PW
= . According to (11), the in
duction B
y
in the channel between a core and CW is equal to
double induction in the leakage path ( ) B B
y
=2
p
during one halfpe
riod and is zero (B
y
=0) during the other halfperiod. The induction
curve in the steel of a core is the sinusoid halfwave during one
halfperiod when this core is saturated. It is equal to doubled in
duction in the leakage path and is shifted from the time line by the
steel saturation induction B
s
. The induction is also the sinusoid
halfwave during the other halfperiod. The amplitude of the sinu
soid is equal to doubled induction in the leakage path multiplied by
the ratio of the area S
y
(enveloped by the middlle turn of the CW)
and the area S
st
(steel crosssection). This halfwave is shifted from
the Xaxis by the same saturation induction B
s
.
The voltage of each CW of the cores u
yA
and u
yX
is sinusoidal
and according to (6) with regard to (2), (3) and (13) is equal to
u
d
dt
d
dt
u wS
dB
dt
u
wS
di
d
yA
yA
cA A A
= = - = - = - ( )
p c p
p
c
p
c
2
0
m
t
u
L
u
L
u
L L L
L L
u
L
L L
=
= - =
+ -
+
=
+
c
p
c
c
c y p
c y
c
y
c y
2 2
05 .
( )
.
(16)
If both cores are saturated during the whole period, the mini
mum induction modulus in the steel being equal to the saturation
induction (this mode is denoted by 1.0 and is called as the fullpe
riod, extreme saturation mode), the dynamic inductance of the PW
is equal to L
10 .
during the whole period. Under these conditions, the
PW current and leakage path induction are sinusoidal and the CW
current is constant and equal to the amplitude of the PW current.
The curves of the induction in the channel near a core and of the
induction in core steel are sinusoidal, one of them lying on the
time line and the other being shifted from this line by the saturati
42
on induction value. The voltage of each CW of the core is similar to
(16) and is equal to
u
u
L
u
L
u
L L
L
u
L
L
yA
= - =
-
=
c
p
c
c
c p
c
c
y

2 2 2
10 .
. (17)
The amplitude of the PW current I U L
m m 10
2
.
/( ) = w
c
is used fur
ther as the basis for calculating the currents and for their harmonic
analysis in other modes.
The expressions for currents, inductions in all the paths and in
both cores and for the voltages of the CW parts in the three charac
teristic modes described above are given in Table 2. Their curves
for L L
y c
/ . =0 4, B B
m s
/ = 0.85, B B
pm m
/ = 0.125, S S
st y
/ = 0.5 are
shown in Fig. 4 with solid lines. The voltages of the PW parts in all
of the modes according to (8) are equal to the voltages of the CW
parts in the noload mode as follows:
Table 2
The formulas for the currents, inductions and voltages of the CW parts
for all the characteristic modes of CRs
Parametr Mode
Noload
operation
(subscript 0)
Halfperiod saturation
(subscript)
Fullperiod
saturation
(subscript 1)
0< < w p t p w p < < t 2
I
m
0
I
U
L L
m
m
y
0 5
2
,
[ ( )]
=
+ w
c
I
u
L
m
m
1 0
2
,
( )
=
w
c
i
c
0 I t
m0 5 ,
sinw I t
m1 0 ,
sinw
i
y
0 I t
m0 5 ,
sinw -I t
m0 5 ,
sinw I
m1 0 ,
B
m p 0
B I w h
m m p 0 5 0 0 5 , ,
/ =m
B
I w h
m
m
p 1 0
0 1 0
,
,
/
=
=m
B
p
0 B t
m p 0 5 ,
sinw B t
m p 1 0 ,
sinw
B
A y
0 2B t
m p 0 5 ,
sinw 0 B t
m p 1 0
1
,
(sin ) w +
43
B
X y
0 0 2B t
m p 0 5 ,
sinw B t
m p 1 0
1
,
(sin ) w -
B
A st
B t
B
m
cpA
sinw +
+
2B t B
m s p 0 5 ,
sinw +
2
0 5
B
S
S
t B
m
y
s
p

,
sin

+ w
B t
B
m
s
p 1 0
1
,
(sin
)
w +
+ +
B
X st
B t
B
m
cpX
sinw +
+
2
0 5
B
S
S
t B
m
y
s
p ,
sin
st

- w
2B t B
m s p 0 5 ,
sinw -
B t
B
m
s
p 1 0
1
,
(sin
)
w -
- -
u u
A X y y
=
U t
m
cos / w 2
U tL L L
m c
cos /( ) w
y y
+
U tL
L
m
cos w
y
c
2
Apparently, the reactor does not generate higher harmonic
components of the current (strictly under the above assumptions
and almost ideally in actual reactors) in both halfperiod saturation
and fullperiod saturation modes. It was confirmed by modelbased
analysis and by tests of the highpower reactor described below.
It is advisable, therefore, to choose one of these modes as the
rated duty. Where the halfperiod saturation mode is selected the
steel is used slightly worse but the loss in the control winding is
much lower than in fullperiod saturation. This can be seen quite
well in Fig. 4 where the halfperiod saturation mode is marked with
a cross. If a power system has several banks of reactors at adjacent
substations, the control is possible such that all the banks except
one operate in the noload or rated mode, i.e., they do not genera
te any harmonics [10]. Under this control, the currents of the har
monic getting into a network are substantially lower than for the
case when all the reactors have the same loads but the overall loss is
slightly higher.
A further increase in the CW current of the reactor above Im1
(extreme saturation) does not affect the PW current and the ac
components of inductions and voltages. As the CW current grows,
the loss in the CW increases as do the forces of the network frequ
ency, which cause noise and vibration (usual forces have double
network frequency).
44
Intermediate steadystate modes. It is convenient to characterize
the modes by the K
b
b p = / factor, where, according to [6], b is half
the duration of the saturated state of the core in radians within one
period, that is K
b
is the relative portion of the period, during which
each core is saturated. The value of K
b
=0 corresponds to the
noload mode, K
b
=0 5 . to the halfperiod saturation mode and
K
b
=10 . to the fullperiod saturation mode.
If each core is saturated less than for half the period (K
b
<0 5 . ),
the process goes on according to the noload curves in Fig. 4
during the portion of the period ( ) 1 2 - K
b
. If a
1
is the moment of sa
turation of the A core with a p
b 1
0 5 = - ( . ) K , these are parts of wt
from 0 to a
1
, from ( ) p a -
1
to ( ) p a +
1
, from ( ) 2
1
p a - to ( ) 2
1
p a + and
so on. The process follows the halfperiod saturation curves in
45
Fig. 4. The curves of the currents, magnetic inductions and voltages of the CW
parts under the noload (0), halfperiod (0.5) and fullperiod (1) saturation (solid
lines) and when the A core is saturated at the moments a
1
(dash line) and 2
2
p a -
(dashanddot line).
Fig. 4 in the parts from a
1
to ( ) p a -
1
and from ( ) p a +
1
to ( ) 2
1
p a -
(during the 2K
b
period portion), , the curves of currents and induc
tions beingshifted vertically so that there are no steps at the mo
ments a
1
, ( ) p a -
1
and so on (dash lines in Fig. 4). The angles a
1
and b are related through the formula b p a = - ( . ) 0 5
1
. For the
halfperiod saturation a
1
= 0 and in the noload mode a p
1
2 = / .
When each core is saturated longer than half the period
( . ) K
b
>0 5 , the process follows the maximum (fullperiod) saturation
curves in Fig. 4 during the portion of the period ( ) 2 1 K
b
- . These are
the parts from 0 to a
2
, from ( ) p a -
2
to ( ) p a +
2
and from ( ) 2
2
p a - to
2p, where a
2
is the moment of withdrawal of the X core from the
saturated state and of the transition from saturation of both cores to
the saturation of only A core, where a p -0.5
b 2
= ( ) K . The process
follows the curves of halfperiod saturation in Fig. 4 during the rest
of the period (the parts from a
2
to ( ) p a -
2
and from ( ) p a +
2
to
( ) 2
2
p a - , the current and induction curves being shifted vertically
so that there are no steps at the moments a
2
, ( ) p a -
2
and so on
(dashanddot lines in Fig. 4). The angles a
2
and b are related
through the formula b p a = + ( . ) 0 5
2
. For the halfperiod saturation
a
2
0 = and in the noload mode a p
2
2 = / .
The expressions for voltages, currents and inductions derived
above in the form of piecewise sinusoidal curves allow to determine
the parameters of the modes in the range from noload to fullperi
od saturation.
In particular, the following expressions were obtained in [10]
for the amplitudes of harmonic components of the winding cur
rents:
I I K H
nm m L n
= +
10
1
.
*
( ) ( ) b when b p / , 2 K
b
b p = / . ; 0 5 (18)
[ ]
I I H K H
nm m n L n
= + -
10 .
* *
( ) ( ) b p b when b p / , 2 K
b
0 5 . , (19)
where n = 0, 1, 2, is the number of the current harmonic compo
nent, n = 0 is a constant component, n = 1 is the main component;
46
I
m1.0
is the amplitude of the PW current in the fullperiod saturati
on; K
L
is a factor that characterizes the position of the windings
and their spacing; K L L L L
L c y c y
= - + ( )/( ) ; H
n
*
( ) b and H
*
( ) = - p b
is the relative harmonic current when the windings are combined
(L
p
=0 and K
L
=0) for the argument j equal to b and ( ) p b - , , res
pectively, according to [2], the relative currents (magnetic field
strengths) being defined as:
H
0
*
(sin cos )/ ; = - j j j p (20)
H
1
2
*
( sin )/ ; = j -0.5 j p (21)
H
pn
n j
n
n j
n
n 2 3
1 1
1
1
1
, ,...,
*
sin( ) sin( )
=
-
-
-
+
+

. (22)
The examples of the dependence of the current harmonic com
ponents on K
b
and K
L
are given in Fig. 5 and the dependence of I
1
on I
0
is shown in Fig. 6.
Formulas (18) to (22) and the curves in Fig. 5 pertain to the net
currents (by MMF and by ampere turns) of all core windings (PW,
CW and an additional winding if any). The odd harmonic compo
nents of the current flow in the PW and even and null harmonics
flow in the CW. If the internal CW is connected into the delta in a
threephase reactor or in a threephase bank of reactors, the cur
rents of odd harmonics with the numbers multiple of three will flow
in this winding instead of the PW.
When the CW is internal and the PW is external, we have
L L
y c
< and 0 1 < < K
L
and when the windings are opposite, L L
y c
>
and - < < 1 0 K
L
. For halfperiod saturation (K
b
= 0.5) and when the
windings are combined (L L
y c
= , K
L
=0), the PW current is exactly
half the current in the fullperiod saturation and is greater then the
half when the PW is external and is less than the half, when it is in
ternal.
47
The K
b
factor was chosen in Fig. 5 and the average CW current
(constant component) in Fig. 6 as the mode characterizing argu
ments. These relationships are universal for all the CR types under
review. It can be seen in Fig. 6 that the current consumed by a re
actor from the network is almost exactly proportional to the cons
tant component of the current in the range from noload operation
to the halfperiod saturation mode while further the relationship is
nonlinear.
The input impedance and loss of the reactor. The input impedan
ce of the reactor for the fundamental harmonic is:
z U I U I I I
m m m m m m 1 1 10 1 10
= =( / )/( / ),
, ,
where I I
m m 1 10
/
,
is the parameter from Fig. 5 or 6. In particular, in
the of halfperiod and fullperiod saturation modes:
48
Fig. 5. The examples of the relationship of the constant component of the current
I
0
and of the amplitudes of the 1st, 2nd, 3d, and 5th harmonic components and
K
b
b p = / for combined windings (L L
y c
= , K
L
=0 shown by solid lines),for the exter
nal PW (L L
y c
=04 . , K
L
= 0,43 shown by dash lines) and for the internal PW
(L L
y c
=2 , K
L
=- 0,33 shown by dashanddot lines).
z x L L
c y 1 0 5 0 5
2
, , ,
( ) = = + w
and
z x L
c 110 10
2
, , ,
. = = w
The noload current specified in Table 2 is shown to be zero,
which corresponds to the idealized characteristic of the steel
(Fig. 2). The actual noload current and loss of the reactor can be
found using the calculation method for the noload mode of ordi
nary highpower transformers because fluxes in the reactor cores
are sinusoidal in this mode. In other modes, the iron loss has the
same order of magnitude as in the noload mode.
The iron loss in the mode of fullperiod saturation are invari
ably less than that in the noload mode because the ac component
of the magnetic induction in the cores is several times less than in
noload mode (Fig. 4).
The reactor loss caused by winding currents (load loss) can be
calculated by the methods used in the transformer industry. In
49
Fig. 6. The examples of the relationships of I
m 1
and of the distortion current I
dist 5
(beginning from the 5th harmonic component) and I
0
(see the designations in
Fig. 5).
particular, major losses in halfperiod and fullperiod saturation
are, respectively:
I r r w w
m
CO OY
CO OY 0 5
2 2 2
2
,
( / )/ +
and
I r r w w
m
CO OY
CO OY 10
2 2 2
2 2
,
( / )/ + ,
where r r
PW CO
( ) and r r
CW OY
( ) are the dc resistances of the PW and
CW of the reactor phase and w w
PW CO
( ) and w w
CW OY
( ) are the
numbers of turns of the PW and CW.
An additional loss in the halfperiod saturation mode is equal to
the halfsum of the losses from two calculations including the case
when the MMFs of the PW and CW are accordant (the half period
in the saturated core) and opposite (the core is unsaturated). Addi
tional loss in the fullperiod saturation mode are caused by the
MMF of the PW only because there is no ac component in the
CW. The loss in intermediate modes can be determined approxima
tely using quadratic interpolation of the losses in the characteristic
modes.
The total loss in a highpower reactor is below its rated capacity
by two or three orders of magnitude. Therefore, it practically does
not affect the input impedance of the reactor.
Transients. The transients in the CR can be calculated approxi
mately using the above relationships based on the listed assumpti
ons . The most interesting and practically important is power
pickup and shedding by the reactor.
Suppose constant voltage is applied stepwise to the control win
ding in the power pickup mode (forcing). If the reactor operated
in the minimum power mode before that (null or noload mode),
the transient consists in the winding currents appearing and increa
sing, and in the successive transition of the reactor into the halfpe
riod saturation (0.5) and fullperiod saturation mode (1.0). The
time needed to achieve the modes 0.5 and 1.0 can be estimated by
formulas:
50
t
T
Uw
U w
B
B
T B
B
Q
KQ
y
y c
s
m
s
m
0 5
444 444
,
, ,
= =
p

; (23)
t t
B
B
S
S
m
s
y
c
10 0 5
1
, ,
= +

. (24)
The times t
0 5 ,
and t
10 ,
include a nocurrent pause
t t
B B
B
s m
s
10 0 5 , ,
=
-
,
where T f =1/ is the voltage period of frequency
f f Hz T ( , . sec) = = 50 0 02 ; U
y
is the constant CW voltage; U is the
rms network voltage, U U
m
= / 2; Q
p
is the power of the reactor;
Q
np
is the capacity of the control system converter; and K is the re
lative factor whose value depends on how the capacity of the con
verter is defined.
The first version of formula (23) can be usedto calculate the
response speed of the reactors and the second version to compare
approximately the reactors response speed with the relative capaci
ty of the control system (for instance, if
KQ Q t
p
= 003 015
05
. . sec
.
).
Formulas (23) and (24) are convenient for estimating the CR
response speed because the 0.5 mode is usually close to the rated
duty, and the 1.0 mode to the extreme load mode. They can be also
used to estimate power shedding time (unforcing). In addition,
quite simple estimates can be obtained for the case of intermittent
CW voltage (i.e., taking into account voltage drop in the converter
network).
Pilot reactor. The abovedescribed approach makes it possible to
apply methods and design programs intended for ordinary power
transformers and reactors operating with sinusoidal currents and
voltages to designing a highpower CR for which halfperiod satu
ration is the rated duty. In particular, additional loss caused by
51
eddy currents in magnetically transparent parts winding wires
and small structural elements (also approximately in the massi
ve structural elements) is equal to the halfsum of loss caused by
the magnetic field of the sinusoidal currents of the winding on the
saturated core (opposite MMFs, transformer mode), and by the
field of the windings on the saturated core (accordant MMFs, re
actor mode). It increases significantly the reliability of the calcula
tions and allows to build highpower reactors without largescale
physical modelling. The manufacturing process of the CR differs
little from that for generalpurpose power transformers by process.
In 1991, ZTZ made a model (actually a pilot) of a singlephase
500kV shunt CR designated RODTsU60000/500U1 for operation
in a threephase 180 MVA bank. Its rated parameters were as fol
lows: (1) voltage: 525/ 3 kV, (2) power: 60 MVA, (3) frequency:
50 Hz, (4) regulation range at the rated voltage: 1 % to 140 % of
rated power (maximum power being proportional to square voltage
for different voltage rating ), (5) power rate of change: 180 MVA/s
per phase, (6) total weight: 153 tons, (7) copper weight: 13 tons, (8)
steel weight: 70 tons, (9) rated loss: 440 kW, (10) noload loss:
60 kW, (11) threephase power winding connection: Y, and (12)
control winding connection: D.
The power winding of the reactor has the middle input in the H
connection, i.e., it has four parallel branches. To avoid high volta
ges between adjacent parallel branches in case of accidental closure
of all valves, these branches are transposed several times. A thyris
tor converter is used for regulating the dc component of the CW. It
is supplied through an auxiliary transformer from the same CW.
The converter operates like a rectifier when the reactor picks up
power or when its power remains constant, and like an inverter
when the reactor power is shedded. The capacity of the converter
in a continuous duty equals only the loss in the control winding,
i.e., it amounts to several tenths of percent of the CR rated power.
The capacity of the converter is 2 % or 3 % for forcing that ensure
a response speed of 0.3 to 0.5 sec. When the branches are provided
52
from 2 % or 3 % of the CW turns, the auxiliary transformer is not
required. The magnetic conductor of the CR is shellcore with two
cores and two lateral yokes.
As opposed to ordinary shellcore transformers, the direction of
the ac magnetic fluxes of the two cores was chosen to be accordant
to reduce the crosssection of the lateral yokes and to make possib
le closure of the dc component of the flux constant by relatively
short end yokes. The magnetic leakage flux is closed by magnetic
shunts at the ends of the windings, which are made in the form of
wound split rings. According to calculations, the rated duty practi
cally coincides with the halfperiod saturation mode.
The loss, weight, and dimensions of the CR are approximately
the same as those of a doublewound transformer of respective ca
pacity and voltage with an OLTC device.
Tests carried out by the manufacturer and at the Belyi Rast
Substation have confirmed the operability of the reactor and have
proved the acceptable accuracy of the abovedescribed method for
the analysis of electromagnetic processes and of expressions derived
for calculations of the key characteristics of the reactor. Standard
tests (GOST 348488, GOST 1167785, and GOST 1946974),
noise measurements in noload and shortcircuit tests, thermal tests
in the nearrated duty, an analysis of the PW current harmonic
composition, and power pickup and shedding time measurements
were carried out. The results of the measurements given below were
compared with the data obtained by calculation using the above
formulas and computer methods, which take into account more ac
curately, among others, the nonlinearity of the steel magnetization
curve [11, 12].
The halfperiod saturation current of the reactor calculated by
formulas (3) and (13) was 203 A for the rated dimensions of the
magnetic conductor and windings. The PW current was sinusoidal
in this mode under the assumptions used in the article. According
to a more accurate calculation on a computer allowing for a
smooth inflection of the steel magnetization curve [13], the third
53
harmonic component of the singlephase reactor current was 1.1 %
of the first harmonic component, the fifth harmonic component
was 0.28 %, the seventh harmonic component was 0.22 %, the
ninth harmonic component was 0.11 % and the eleventh harmonic
component was 0.07 %. The calculated distortion current
I I I
dist
= + + = ( ...) . %
.
3
2
5
2 05
12 . The test results have shown, that
halfperiod saturation occurs when the current is 213 A (which is
5 % higher than the calculated current and 7 % higher than the
rated current). The currents of these harmonics measured with a
nonlinear distortion meter were 0.6, 0.26, 0.22, 0.18, and 0.08 %,
respectively, and the distortion current was 0.75 %, which is subs
tantially less than that calculated according to [1113].
The measured time of transition from noload to the rated duty
was 0.28 sec, the calculations by the method of [11] yielded
0.29 sec and the estimate by approximate formula (24) 0.3 sec. The
results seem to be very encouraging for the introduction of control
led shunt reactors of this type.
Tentative calculations have demonstrated the possibility of de
veloping 750kV and 1150kV controlled shunt reactors.
References
1. A.M. Bryantsev. A Magnetic Thyristor Reactive Power Regulator. Elektro
tekhnika, 1984, No. 10. Elektrotekhnika (In Russian).
2. A.M. Bryantsev. Magnetized Ferromagnetic Devices with Extreme saturation
of Parts of the Magnetic System. Elektrichestvo, 1986, No. 2.(In Russian).
3. H. Storm. Magnetic Amplifiers. M.: Foreign Literature Publishers, 1957.
(In Russian).
4. M.A. Rosenblat. Magnetic Amplifiers, 3d ed. M.: Sov. Radio, 1960.
5. Electromagnetic Process in HighPower Controlled Reactors / M.A. Biki,
E.N. Brodovoi, A.M. Bryantsev et all. ISEF91. International Symposium on
Electromagnetic Fields in Electrical Engineering. Sept. 1820, 1991, Southam
pton University, England. Warszawa: Instytut Elektrotechniki, 1991.
6. H. Becker, D. Brandes, . . ThreePhase Shunt Reactors with Conti
nuously Controlled Reactive Current CIGRE. Pap. 3113. Paris. 1972.
54
7. L.V. Leites. Electromagnetic Calculations of Tranformers and Reactors.
M.: Energiya, 1981. (In Russian).
8. M.P. Saveliev, A.N. Panibratets. Calculations of the Electrodynamic Resistan
ce of Transformers on a Minsk32 Computer. Elektrotekhnika, 1978, No. 4.
9. N.A. Blavatskaya, L.V. Leites. Use of MagnaticCircuit Diagrams to Calculate
the WeberAmpere Characteristics of Reactors. Elektrotekhnika, 1985, No. 5.
(In Russian).
10. A.M. Bryantsev. MagneticRectifier Controlled Reactors with Extreme Satu
ration of the Magnetic Circuit (Theory fundamentals, Implementation Principles,
studies, Examples of Manufacture). Doctoral Thesis. AlmaAta, 1992. (In Russi
an).
11. G.A. Evdokunin, E.V. Korshunov, E.A. Sepping, Y.Y. Yarvik. A Compu
terAided Calculation Method for Electromagnetic Transients in Ferromagnetic
Devices with an Arbitrary Structure of the Magnetic and Electrical Circuit.
Elektrotekhnika, 1991, No. 2.
12. E.V. Korshunov, V.A. Krasnopivtsev. Static and Dynamic Characteristics of a
500kV Controlled Reactor. Elektrotekhnika, 1991, No. 2.
13. A.M. Bryantsev, E.N. Brodovoi. Approximation of the Main Magnetization
Curve of Strongly Saturated Ferromagnetic Devices. University Proceedings.
Energetika, 1985, No. 4.
First published: Electricity, 1991, 6, p. 110.
55
Shunting Reactors Controlled by BIAS
Magnetization for (35500)kV Grids
A.M. Bryantsev, E.E. Makletsova, A. G. Dolgopolov,
A.I. Lurie, G. A. Evdokunin, Yu. A. Lipatov
A group consisting of the Zaporozhtransformator Joint Stock
Company, the Ramenskii Elektrotekhnicheskii Zavod Energiya
Joint Stock Company, the Elektricheskie Upravlyaemye Reaktory
Joint Stock Company, and the V.I. Lenin AllRussian Electri
calEngineering Institute has developed a series of highvoltage
controllable reactors for (35500)kV grids. Analysis of the charac
teristics and functional capabilities of these reactors by Russian,
Mexican, Chinese, Brazilian, Indian, and other specialists shows
that shunting reactors controlled by bias magnetization provide a
unique combination of voltage stabilization, reduced losses, and in
creased operational reliability in extended transmission lines and
grids. Such reactors cost practically half as much as units with ana
logous capabilities and earn back their costs in 1.52 years.
The use of such controllable reactors in place of reactors that
are uncontrollable or stepwise controllable is especially expedient in
grids with a variable load graph. Together with capacitor batteries,
controllable reactors act as synchronous or static thyristor compen
sators; the largescale use of controllable reactors is an effective and
economical means of optimizing grid operation, improving the qu
ality of the power supplied, and extending the working life of elect
rical equipment. Controllable reactors are most promising for tran
sverse compensation in extended high and superhighvoltage lines.
Their use permits:
automatic stabilization of the voltage or a specified operatio
nal parameter, with simultaneous unloading of the switchgear in
voltage control circuits;
reduction in the power losses in grids and increase in the
operational reliability, in part on account of much less frequent
operation of the transformer voltage limiters;
56
increase in the limiting transmitted power in terms of static
and dynamic stability of the system.
The producers of reactor components are Zaporozhtransforma
tor Joint Stock Company (electromagnetic elements of the reac
tors) and Ramenskii Elektrotekhnicheskii Zavod Energiya Joint
Stock Company (the transformer and converter, with the associated
control system; the neutralizer; the unit correcting the shape of the
current). Compliance with customer specifications, coordination of
production, insitu testing, and guaranteed maintenance are the
responsibility of a special scientific and engineering center: Elekt
richeskie Upravlyaemye Reaktory (ELUR) Joint Stock Company.
The partners in the development group, with unique experience in
the design, manufacture, and introduction of various controllable
reactors, have signed a comprehensive contract defining the terms
of their collaboration. The creation of ELUR Joint Stock Compa
ny. The partners in the development group, with unique experience
in the design, manufacture, and introduction of various controllab
le reactors, have signed a comprehensive contract defining the
terms of their collaboration. The creation of ELUR Joint Stock
Company was preceded by many years of work by specialists at the
leading electricalengineering facilities within the Commonwealth
of Independent States (CIS) and successful experience in creating
prototypes. The most notable achievements include: organization of
the production of RUOM controllable arcquenching reactors [1,
2], for which there is a stable demand; and the development, ma
nufacture, and introduction of the RTU 25,000/110 threephase
controllable reactor at the Kudymkar substation of Permenergo
Joint Stock Company [3,4]. The new series of highvoltage (35500
kV) controllable shunting reactors uses the best available technolo
gies, as recognized by a diploma by the International Forum on
Defense Technologies, awarded in 2002 [58]. Interest in the cont
rollable reactors is evident both in Russia and elsewhere.
RTU controllable reactors include: the electromagnetic compo
nent; a transformer with a builtin semiconductor converter; a con
57
trol, safety, and automation system; a device for correcting the
shape of the current; and a zerosequence grounding filter (a neut
ralizer). The generalized circuit of the controllable reactor is shown
in Fig. 1.
The basic power component of the controllable reactor is the
electromagnetic component 1, consisting of a threephase transfor
mertype unit in an oilfilled tank. It is intended for outdoor instal
lation, in climatic conditions of class Ul or UKhL. The electro
magnetic component of the reactor is intended to draw reactive
power from the grid. Depending on the saturation of its magnetic
system, the power consumed may vary widely. The degree of satu
ration is regulated by the excitation of a direct current in the cont
rol winding: larger current corresponds to greater reactive power
consumption.
The transformer with a builtin converter 2 is intended to regu
late the direct current in the control winding of electromagnetic
component 1, by changing the rectified converter voltage. It con
sists of a threephase twowinding transformer, to the lowvoltage
side of which is connected a semiconductor converter 2. The device
is of unitary construction and located in one or two oilfilled tanks.
As for electromagnetic component 1, this module is suitable for
outdoor installation in climatic conditions of class Ul or UKhL.
The rated power of the transformer with the builtin converter is no
more than 1 % of the rated reactor power.
Control system 3 generates command signals for the converter,
determining the rectified voltage and hence the power consumed.
The control, safety, and automation system is a unitary module in
tended for internal installation in a heated building at distances of
up to 500 m from electromagnetic component 1. The power consu
med by the control system is no more than 1 kW.
The unit 4 correcting the shape of the current and zerosequen
ce grounding filter (neutralizer) 5 perform auxiliary functions. Unit
4 compensates the fundamental of the reactor current in idling
mode and improves its shape in other operating conditions; it con
sists of a threephase powercapacitor battery, whose power is
58
around 5 % of the rated reactor power. This unitary module with
air cooling is installed outdoors, in climatic conditions of class Ul
or UKhL. The zerosequence grounding filter 5 fixes the compen
sationwinding potential relative to the substation grounding circuit
and consists of a threephase singlewinding transformer in an equ
alarm zigzag circuit configuration. In an oilfilled tank, the unit is
installed outdoors, in climatic conditions of class Ul or UKhL.
The reactor series developed includes models of four different
power levels, with two voltage classes for each (Table 1). The reac
tor power and voltage are selected in the light of their most promi
sing application, in the grid of EES Rossii Joint Stock Company,
on the basis of ESP, VNIIE, and ENIN data and queries from
power systems and system groups.
Manufacturers are preparing for the production of reactors with
the rated parameters in Tables 24.
The same FMZO310/11MU1 zerosequence grounding filter
is used for all the RTU reactors.
RTU controllable shunting reactors include the five components
already described. The composition of the equipment, its rated para
meters, and the circuit configuration may be different, depending on
the point of reactor attachment (bus, line) and the functions and pa
rameters required at the point of attachment. In addition, all RTU
reactors correspond to a minimum set of basic technical require
ments developed by the leading research and design institutes of EES
Rossii Joint Stock Company. The technical requirements take acco
unt of the wishes of the specialists running the highvoltage grids.
These requirements not only correspond to EES Rossii recommen
dations, but to the guidelines of power companies within and beyond
the CIS. In each RTU reactor, the power consumed is regulated
automatically or manually within the range from 0.01 to 1.2 of the
rated value, with no limit on the variability; the equivalent time con
stant of the transient process from one steady normal mode to anot
her is no more than 23 sec; the effective distortion current drawn
from the grid is no more than 5% of the rated fundamental current,
over the whole range of regulation.
59
60
Fig. 1. Generalized circuit configuration of RTU controllable reactors: 1) RDTU
electromagnetic component; GW, grid winding; CW, compensation winding;
CoW; control winding; 2) TMP transformer with builtin converter (TBC); HV,
LV, high and lowvoltage transformer windings; Bl, B2, circuit breakers; SC, se
miconductor converter; 3) control, safety, and automation system (CSAS); MMI,
monitoring and measuring instruments; ES, external unit specifying the mismatch
signal; Bl, B2, B3, control inputs of circuit breakers; SRS, substation relay safety
system; 4) UKF unit correcting the current shape; 5) FMZO zerosequence groun
ding filter (neutralizer).
With slight change in the parameters, RTU controllable reac
tors acquire additional capabilities: a guaranteed rate of forced
smooth power variation, with an equivalent time constant of
0.030.05 sec; noninertial transition (in no more than 0.02 sec)
from any power value to rated or idling mode; correction of the
shape of the consumed current, with reduction in the distortion
current to 2% of the rated fundamental value; viability in asymmet
ric conditions or when some of the phases are missing; power take
off on the lowvoltage side; and arc quenching in the intermission
of the automaticrestart procedure.
Besides their technical benefits, RTU reactors have some eco
nomic advantages: the losses in the reactors and the consumption
of materials in manufacturing the reactors are no more than 1.52
times those for conventional shunting reactors.
The basic functional capabilities of RTU reactors are as follows.
1. Automatic compensation of the excess charging power of the
Table 1
Rated Parameters of RTU Reactors
Power, kVA Voltage, kV Current, A
32,000 38,5 480
32,000 121 153
63,000 121 301
63,000 242 151
100,000 242 239
100,000 347 167
180,000 347 300
180,000 525 198
61
transmission lines by operator specification of the inductance set
ting for electromagnetic component 1 in control system 3. In this
case, regardless of the voltage at the reactor, the transformer with
builtin converter 2 will generate a control current ensuring the re
quired inductance.
Table 2
Rated Parameters of RTDU Reactor Electromagnetic Components
Power, kVA
Winding voltage, kV, and current, A
GW/CW/CoW GW/CW/CoW
32,000 38,5/11/11 480/240/1250
32,000 121/11/11 153/240/1250
63,000 121/11/24 300/475/1250
63,000 242/11/24 151/475/1250
100,000 242/11/24 239/750/2000
100,000 347/11/24 167/750/2000
180,000 347/11/38,5 300/1350/2000
180,000 525/11/38,5 198/1350/2000
Table 3
Rated Parameters of TMP Transformer with Builtin Converter
Power, kVA
HV/LV voltage, kV
Rectified voltage,
V/current, A
400 10/0,24 320/1250
630 10/0,38 500/1250
1000 10/0,38 500/2000
1600 10/0,66 800/2000
62
Table 4
Rated Parameters of UKF Unit Correcting the Current Shape
Power, kVA Voltage, kV
1800 11
3000 11
4800 11
8400 11
63
Fig. 2. Basic control characteristic: I) minimum power consumption (idling);
II) rated operation.
2. Automatic voltage stabilization at the substation buses or
lines, by smooth variation in the power consumed by electromag
netic component 1, in accordance with the mismatch signal gene
rated by control system 3. The current consumed by electromagne
tic component 1 varies as a result of bias magnetization of its mag
netic system by the direct current generated in the thyristor conver
ter built into transformer 2. With 0.55% increase in grid voltage,
the specified consumedpower setting for reactor 1 varies smoothly
from idling to the rated power.
3. Control of reactor operation by the control, safety, and auto
mation system (CSAS). The control procedure in normal symmet
64
Fig. 3. Transient processes in normal symmetric operation: 0I) steady rated opera
tion ( ) a a =
r
; III) power release from reactor by commutation of control winding
( ) a
cow
, from 100 to around 50% in 0.01 sec; IIIII) smooth decline in reactor po
wer from 50% to idling in 0.02 sec, with reverseforcing of the converter ( ) a
-f
;
IIIIV) power uptake by reactor from idling to 50% by forcing ( ) a
-f
; IVV) steady
state at 50% power ( ) a a <a
id r
< ; VVI) brief power uptake of reactor, from 50 to
100%, in 0.01 sec, by commutation of the compensation winding ( ) a
cw
; VIVII)
power release from 100% to idling in 0.02 sec, by commutation of control winding
( ) a
cow
; VII and beyond), steady state ( ) a a =
id
.
ric operation consists in minimization of the mismatch signal bet
ween the specified control parameter (the voltage or reactive
power) and its actual value. As well as its primary function, the
control system switches the reactor from manual to automatic con
trol and back; transfers the reactor to backup manual control; disp
lays the operational parameters, the specified control settings, and
the state of the system; generates overload and damage warnings;
monitors the current overload, with subsequent automatic limitati
on of the reactor power; protects against internal damage in the
converters and against shortcircuits in the control winding and
compensation winding; and responds to control signals from exter
nal safety and automation units, in order to prevent shortcircuits,
overloads, and voltage surges.
Typical operating conditions of the controllable reactors may be
noted. Since common engineering and circuit designs were adopted
in the design of all the RTU reactors, the electromagnetic processes
characterizing each reactor are qualitatively similar. A generalized
65
Fig. 4. Connecting reactor to highvoltage grid.
computer model of the RTU reactor may be used for detailed cal
culation and graphical illustration of its operational modes, in di
mensionless units. The controllable reactor influences the grid con
ditions on account of change in its current consumption. Variation
in the current consumed by the reactor is accompanied by corres
ponding change in the voltage at the point of reactor attachment
and in the power consumption in the adjacent grid. The dependen
ce of the voltage at the point of reactor attachment on the current
consumed in normal symmetric operation is the basic regulatory
characteristic of the controllable reactor. The reduction in voltage
when the reactor switches from idling to rated operation is propor
tional to the ratio of the reactor power to the grid shortcircuit
power.
The variation in reactor phase currents and phase voltages at
the point of attachment is illustrated in Fig. 2. The reactor phase
currents ( , , ) I I I
a b c
vary as a result of bias magnetization of the elec
tromagnetic component by the control current. With zero control
current, the reactor phase currents are capacitive and amount to
around 34% of the rated current. The initial capacitive phase current
is due to the capacitive load of the unit correcting the current shape
and depends on its relative power. With increase in magnetization
current, the capacitive component is completely compensated, and
the reactive current fundamental in the reactor phases is then zero. In
Fig. 2, this instant is interpreted as minimum power consumption or
idling of the reactor. Then, after around 0.5 sec, the reactor current
increases to the rated value or, if necessary, even higher (see the
graphs of I I I
a b c
, , ). Increasing the reactor current reduces the vol
tage at its point of attachment (see the graph of U
a b c , ,
).
The operation of the controllable reactors utilizes the nonlinear
properties of steel, and consequently regulation of the consumed
current is accompanied by distortion of the current. In turn, this
influences the shape of the grid voltage, which, in principle, may
limit the possible applications. In RTU reactors, nonlinear current
distortions are almost completely localized within the reactor, do
not affect the grid, and have no particular influence on the shape of
66
the voltage. Thus, in normal symmetric operation, the controllable
reactor in the grid behaves as a linear inductance with smoothly
controllable power consumption and the possible selection of any
required value within the range of regulation.
In transient processes during normal symmetric operation,
three control procedures may be adopted.
1. Changing the converter control angles in the interval between
the rated angle a
r
and the idling angle a
id
a a<a
id r
< .
The controllable reactor is in a steady state here or passes from
one steady state to another within 510 sec.
2. Setting a forced a
f
or reverseforced -a
f
(converter control
angle.
In this case, the reactor passes from any state to a state with
consumption of the rated power a
f
or a state with consumption of
the idling power -a
f
.
3. Switching the cutouts of compensation winding a
cw
(power
uptake) or control winding a
cow
(power release).
In this case, transition from one steady state to another takes no
more than 0.02 sec.
The current variation in the reactor phases under the influence
of these three control procedures is illustrated in Fig. 3.
It is evident from Fig. 3 that the RTU reactors have a wide range
of dynamic capabilities; transition from one steady state may occur
with an equivalent time constant ranging from 23 to 0.01 sec.
When connecting an RTU reactor to a highvoltage grid, ne
arrated phase currents immediately appear in the grid winding
(Fig. 4). As well as the fundamental, the currents include a dam
ping aperiodic component. The presence of aperiodic components
does not interfere with regulation of the fundamental of the phase
currents immediately after the reactor is connected to the grid.
With voltage loss on the 50Hz grid side, the phase currents in
the reactors are fixed at the instantaneous values corresponding to
voltage loss (Fig. 5). When the voltage is restored, nearrated phase
67
currents again appear in the reactor, with subsequent damping to
the initial state. These changes are all parametric; there are no
changes in the circuit or on the controlwinding side.
For RTU reactors, the relative power of the compensation win
ding is 2530% of the gridwinding power. The compensation win
ding is loaded with odd higher harmonics, especially the third har
monic. When idling, the power consumed is insignificant. At half
reactor power, the power consumed by the compensation winding
increases to around 15%; at the rated reactor load, it falls to
22.5%. Because the maximum of the compensationwinding cur
rent (half the reactor power) does not correspond to the maximum
of the total load (rated operation), an additional arbitrary (inclu
ding capacitive) load of at least 2025% may be introduced in the
compensation winding in longterm steady operation, on the basis
of the permissible thermal conditions. In principle, the structure
may be modified to increase the power of the compensation win
ding. In this case, the power uptake may be increased to 100%.
68
Fig. 5. Transient processes in controllable reactor with brief voltage loss on
gridwinding side.
Contracts have been signed for RTU controllable reactors, and
a number of commercial proposals have been prepared. The propo
sed devices are characterized by a cost of $812/kVA and rated
losses of 47 W/kVA.
According to EES Rossii and nonRussian data, these figures
justify the replacement of up to a third of existing shunting reactors
by RTU controllable reactors. The effectiveness of such reactors is
illustrated by operational experience with the RTU25,000/110 re
actor at the Kudymkar substation. Introducing the reactor limits
the voltage oscillations at its point of attachment to 1.5 % of the
voltage setting, with simultaneous reduction in frequency of safe
tymodule triggering by a factor of practically 100. At the maxi
mum of the load graph, the energy losses in the adjacent grid are
reduced to 2.0 MW, which means that the reactor earns back its
cost in less than three years. Uninterrupted power supply to consu
mers in the KomiPermyatskii autonomous region is ensured, so
that construction of the 220kV line at the north of the Permsk
region may be postponed by 1015 years.
References
1. A.M. Bryantsev, B.I. Bazylev, A.G. Dolgopolov, et al., Automatically
controlled RUOM arcquenching reactors, in: Promising Trends in the De
velopment of the Power Industry and Electrical Equipment: Proceedings of
the Fifth Symposium on Electrical Engineering in 2010 [in Russian],
VEITRAVEK, Moscow, pp. 104106, 1999.
2. A.M. Bryantsev, B.I. Bazylev, A.G. Dolgopolov, et al., Magnetically
controlled arcquenching reactors with automatic compensation of the capa
citive current corresponding to shortcircuiting to ground, for (635)kV
grids, Elektr., no. 7, pp. 5968, 2000.
3. A.M. Bryantsev, A.G. Dolgopolov, S.G. Dolgopolova, et al., Introducti
on and industrial operation of magnetically controlled threephase shunting
reactor (110 kV, 25,000 kVA) at Permenergo substation, in: Proceedings of
the Sixth International Symposium on Promising Trends in the Development
of the Power Industry and Electrical Equipment [in Russian], VEITRAVEK,
Moscow, vol. 2, 2000.
69
4. A.G. Avdonin, A.M. Bryantsev, B.I. Bazylev, et al., Threephase mag
netically controllable RTU25,000/110 shunting reactors, in: Promising
Trends in the Development of the Power Industry and Electrical Equipment:
Proceedings of the Fifth Symposium on Electrical Engineering in 2010 [in
Russian], VEITRAVEK, Moscow, pp. 102104, 1999.
5. A.M. Bryantsev, Patent 1164795 USSR. ElectricalInduction Device
[in Russian], 1985.
6. A.M. Bryantsev and A.G. Dolgopolov, Russian Patent 2124259. Method
of Proceeding a Controllable Reactor against Internal Short Circuits [in Rus
sian], 1998.
7. A.M. Bryantsev, M.A. Biki, A.I. Lur`e, et al., Russian Patent 2132581.
Magnetically Controllable ThreePhase Electrical Reactor [in Russian], 1998.
8. A.M. Bryantsev and A.G. Dolgopolov, Russian Patent 2130677. Method
of Automatic Tuning of ArcQuenching Reactor and Corresponding Eguip
ment [in Russian], 1997.
First published: Electrical Engineering, 2003, 1, pp. 24.
70
Effectiveness of HighPower
Controllable Shunting Reactors
V.G. Pekelis, S.Yu. Chashkina
Installing highpower controllable shunting reactors (CSR) is
expedient as a mean of stabilizing the voltage levels in
(330500)kV grids with minimal load. The basic economic benefits
of the CSR are noted. A special procedure for optimal placement
of a limited number of reactors in a grid so as to absorb the excess
reactive power is described.
As we know, the function of shunting reactors (SR) is to absorb
excess reactive power (RP), so as to stabilize the voltage conditions.
The use of controllable shunting reactors (CSR), which are at the
stage of industrial adoption [1], offers fundamentally new possibili
ties. Using CSR, the grid voltage may not only be brought within
the permissible range, but maintained at any specified value.
Recent research and design work in the Belarus power system has
permitted the determination of the conditions of effective SR and
CSR use. It is expedient to introduce four 330kV, 180Mvar SR,
two of which are controllable, while two are not. The uncontrollab
le SR are currently being installed. Careful economic analysis sup
ports the decision to use such expensive equipment (especially the
CSR). Currently, in the absence of SR, stabilization of the voltage
with minimal powersystem loads entails the use of uneconomical
measures accompanied by considerable energy losses, such as: dis
connection of part of the 330kV line in order to reduce the char
ging capacity; largescale disconnection of capacitor batteries at the
consumers; and the use of synchronous compensators and genera
tors with consumption of excess reactive power.
As shown by the economic analysis, the additional energy losses
are so great that SR, although expensive, pay for themselves within
five years. Increased grid voltage is a particular problem for the
71
power system, since aboverated voltage at the consumer terminals
results in useless power consumption. In the Belarus power system,
as in many others within the former Soviet nations, the elimination
of the excess RP at minimum load has been a concern for many
years.
The main reason for the excess RP is that the charging power of
the 330kV line exceeds the RP losses in the line. Excess RP in the
330kV grid leads to impermissible voltage levels, which are hazar
dous for the insulation. There are two fundamentally different met
hods of eliminating excess RP: 1) disconnection of the equipment
generating the RP at minimum load; 2) absorption of the excess
RP by synchronous machines (SM) or shunting reactors. As we
know, uncontrollable sources of RP include transmission lines and
shunting capacitor batteries (SCB) that cannot be disconnected.
These sources impair the regulation of the system: their power inc
reases with increase in voltage. In turn, since there are only two
330Mvar, 750kV SR in the power system at present, much of the
excess RP is absorbed by SM: in particular, synchronous generators
(SG) and synchronous compensators (SC). Disconnection of the
lines and SCB leads to large additional power losses. In turn, ab
sorption of the excess RP by the SG and particularly the SC is also
associated with considerable additional losses. Moreover, use of the
SG in RP consumption (underexcitation) mode reduces their ope
rational stability and accelerates their wear, because the extreme
activesteel assemblies or structural components of the generators
are overheated on account of the considerable increase in the resul
tant magnetic fields in the frontal regions of the stator winding in
such conditions. This means that the methods currently used to eli
minate or absorb the excess RP are ineffective and must soon be
replaced by better methods, such as 330kV shunting reactors, es
pecially CSR.
Recently, asynchronous turbogenerators (ATG) produced by
Elektrosila Joint Stock Company have been introduced at Russian
power systems to absorb excess RP. Some specialists regard these as
72
alternatives to SR, including CSR [2]. Effective application of ATG
demands careful consideration. It must be noted that switching or
dinary synchronous generators to RP consumption sharply reduces
their margin of stability. With the large perturbations arising in
emergencies, the SG may fall out of synchronism, in principle, alt
hough this has never been observed in the Belarus power system
over many years of using SG with incomplete excitation. Asynchro
nous operation of the SG is possible because the speed of the exci
ting system of ordinary generators is insufficient to ensure dynamic
stability, since rotor inertia prevents fast regulation.
Because of the risk of SG stability loss, powersystem personnel
responsible for turbogenerator operation have sharply reduced (so
metimes to zero) the permissible range of operating conditions with
RP consumption.
Asynchronized turbogenerators do not have this problem.
Thanks to rapid water cooling, the rotor may accommodate two
exciting windings supplied from separate sources and controlled by
a common automatic regulator. This permits rapid control of the
rotation of the resultant magneticfield vector with respect to the
rotor. As a result, the required static and dynamic stability of ATG
isensured over practically the whole range of operating conditions
permitted by temperature constraints.
Installing ATG permits significant increase in static and dyna
mic stability of the power system as a whole, improvement in the
power generated, and sharply reduced (or no) operation with unde
rexcited SG in parallel with the ATG.
Turbine units with asynchronized generators are more reliable
and capable of RP uptake in view of the possibility of operating
with power supply to only one or the rotor exciting windings or in
uncontrollable asynchronous conditions with shortcircuiting of the
exciting windings. In this case, without stopping the generator, pre
ventive or repair operations may be undertaken in the exciting
system.
73
It is very important that synchronous and asynchronized gene
rators of the same rated power do not differ much in cost.
However, with all the benefits of ATG, SR are preferable in one
fundamental respect. In contrast to ATG, SR may be installed not
only at power stations (newly constructed, expanded, or reconst
ructed) but also at that point of the grid where they will have the
greatest effect, in two respects: stabilization of the voltage at cont
rol points of the grid; and reduction of the energy losses. This is a
very important consideration, since the active power and energy
losses may be markedly different when the RP absorber is installed
at different locations. The corresponding cost differences here may
be comparable with the costs of both generators and reactors.
Hence, installing ATG at individual power stations does not rule
out the introduction of SR (especially CSR) in grids, i.e., at the
points of excess RP formation, permitting RP absorption without
intermediate transformation. This is very important. Accordingly,
there is no alternative to the use of powerful 330kV SR for excess
RP absorption in 330kV grids for the Belarus power system. The
minimal possible number of SR that may be introduced is four, as
determined by economic considerations. The question is which
type of reactors to install, and what their optimal configuration
might be.
The relation between the RP losses in lines and their charging
capacity varies in the course of the day and in the course of the
year. Of course, the proportion of the excess RP that may be absor
bed also changes. If the reactor power remains constant in such
conditions, there will be an unjustified voltage drop and increase in
power losses in the grid. Hence, uncontrollable reactors must be
switched on and off. Note that selecting the most appropriate time
to switch off the SR is not easy. Each disconnection of the SR is
accompanied by strenuous switching processes, which are hazardo
us both for the circuit breaker and for the reactor itself. Installing
voltagesurge protectors (SP) does not solve all the problems, since
the frequency spectrum of the switching surges is very wide, and
74
the SP is not absolutely noninertial. To maintain the RP balance
and avoid switching the SR on and off, we need to use a control
lable SR, i.e., there must be provision to regulate its power, over a
sufficiently broad range.
At the end of the 1980s, static thyristor reactivepower compen
sators (SRPC) of various designs were widely introduced outside
the Soviet Union [3]. In the simplest case, the SRPC consists of an
uncontrollable capacitor battery (UCB) in parallel with a
threephase linear reactor that has thyristor control. Thyristor cont
rol of inductive components, especially at high voltage, is complex,
expensive, and unreliable. Moreover, installing UCB in power sys
tems with a predominant RP excess makes no sense, in principle.
For these reasons, power systems within the Soviet Union, and
subsequently the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS),
have not used classical SRPC, especially because only absorbers of
the excess RP, i.e., shunting reactors, are needed in conditions of
load decline.
Analysis shows that major firms such as ABB, Alstom, and Sie
mens may only produce CSR with stepwise power regulation in the
range from the rated value to 5545 % of the rated value, on acco
unt of the use of builtin voltage regulators. Such control cannot be
regarded as optimal, first because the regulators must be used very
intensively, with rapid wear and the risk of accidents, and second
because regulation of the reactor power in the range from 100% to
5545% is usually inadequate. However, stepwise regulation of the
power over a broader range (using the voltage regulator) is impos
sible, since practically the whole winding must be shunted. There
fore, the development and manufacture of smoothly controllable
shunting reactors based on bias magnetization offers fundamentally
new prospects for the control of voltage and RP in power systems.
A special method must be developed to select the locations of the
reactors in the power system.
75
Table 1
Loca
tion
in
sys
tem
Sub
station or
power station
Voltage
before
SR
intro
duction
kV
Losses
in grid,
MW
Absolute and
relative reduction
in total losses
Mean and
absolute
relative
reduction in
voltage
Overall
effec
tive
ness
P
ef
MW % kV %
705 Ross 330 361.2 34.517 0.715 2.03 6.62 1.84 3.743
701 Grodno 330 359.0 34.500 0.732 2.08 5.30 1.48 3.070
642 Baranov 330 360.9 34.802 0.43 1.22 6.84 1.91 2.328
318
Mira
dino 330
362.2 34.879 0.353 1.00 6.65 1.86 1.859
409 Zhlobin 330 361.4 34.973 0.259 0.74 6.74 1.88 1.381
428
GSM
330
358.9 34.900 0.332 0.94 5.21 1.45 1.370
710
Lida
330
361.7 35.047 0.185 0.53 5.90 1.65 0.864
429
Zhlobin
Zapad
naya 330
361.4 35.088 0.144 0.41 6.93 1.93 0.790
401 Gomel 330 355.6 35.054 0.178 0.51 4.52 1.26 0.637
430 BMZ 361.3 35.158 0.074 0.21 6.95 1.94 0.407
292 Belarus 357.2 35.166 0.066 0.19 5.74 1.60 0.300
201 Molod. 330 359.4 35.196 0.036 0.10 5.60 1.56 0.160
720
Smor
gon 330
360.0 35.329 0.097 0.28 4.93 1.37 0.379
310 Krichev 330 354.8 35.484 0.252 0.72 2.75 0.77 0.548
293
Kali
nayaa 330
359.9 35.379 0.147 0.42 6.24 1.74 0.726
340
Mogilev
Sev. 330
359.7 35.801 0.569 1.62 1.94 0.54 0.872
460 Mozyr 330 364.6 35.416 0.184 0.52 6.24 1.74 0.909
290 Slutsk 330 357.0 35.525 0.293 0.83 6.58 1.83 1.525
303 Mogilev 330 360.1 35.495 0.263 0.75 7.47 2.08 1.555
505 Polotsk 330 357.9 35.849 0.617 1.75 5.12 1.43 2.499
76
101
Minsk
Sever
naya 330
356.6 35.943 0.711 2.02 6.64 1.85 3.738
516 Vitebsk 330 355.7 36.212 0.98 2.78 5.40 1.50 4.186
91
Minsk
TETs4
355.0 36.137 0.905 2.57 6.68 1.86 4.783
102
Kolya
dichi 330
355.3 36.237 1.005 2.85 6.56 1.83 5.214
103
Minsk
Vostochnaya
330
357.0 36.225 0.993 2.82 6.72 1.88 5.285
142
TETs5
sh330
354.8 36.383 1.151 3.27 5.94 1.66 5.411
598
Mika
shevich 330
366.0 36.269 1.037 2.94 6.66 1.86 5.463
503 Lukom. SRES 355.7 36.311 1.079 3.06 6.91 1.93 5.897
518 Orsha 330 359.2 36.254 1.022 2.90 7.42 2.07 5.998
171 Borisov 330 357.2 36.470 1.238 3.51 6.93 1.93 6.788
This method is essentially as follows. SR installation is assumed
to be possible, in principle, at all 330kV substations, of which
there will soon be 30 in the power system, including ORU330 kV
outdoor switchgear. Obviously, even if (because of financial const
raints) the number of reactors is limited at the outset to four, each
of power 180 Mvar, the number of possible combinations of four
locations from the 30 possible sites is enormous. Hence, simple se
lection of the locations is not an option. To formulate a selection
criterion for the most effective reactor locations, their influence on
the two most important operational parameters of the power system
is analyzed. These parameters, as we know, are: the voltage at va
rious points of the grid, before and after installing the reactors; and
the absolute and relative reduction in losses in the grid. Calculati
ons are undertaken for the most strenuous minimal operating con
ditions, in which the voltage at the control grid points is the maxi
mum possible. Obviously, in this case, the reactor power must be a
maximum. On this basis, the SR power for all the grid points must
77
be assumed to be the same in the comparative calculations: specifi
cally, the rated SR power is assumed.
Introducing a 180Mvar SR at different substations has different
effects on the mean voltage in the 330kV units of the system and
the total losses in the grids. Obviously, in installing a 180Mvar SR
at any substation, the voltage is reduced there (to the greatest
extent) and at the other substations. Therefore, the mean decrease
in voltage may be regarded as the basic measure of the effectiveness
of introducing the SR. No less important is the reduction in power
losses in the grid. Note that, in contrast to the voltage, the power
losses may either increase or decrease when a SR is installed.
Taking account of the foregoing, the effectiveness of introducing an
SR may be characterized by means of the mean absolute decrease
in voltage dU
me
and the mean relative decrease in voltage dU
me*
and, correspondingly, the absolute dP
S
and relative dP
S*
, reducti
on in the total power losses. These characteristics are determined
by multivariant calculations with successive introduction of reactors
at different substations. Besides these characteristics, the economic
effectiveness may be evaluated on the basis of the resultant effecti
veness P
ef.res
P
S ef.res me*
=d d U P
*
.
On this basis, the relative effectiveness of SR introduction at
different grid points (at different substations) may be judged. Table
1 gives these characteristics for all the components of the Belarus
power station, including power stations with 330kV buses. Note
that, whereas SR insertion has a clearcut influence on the mean
voltage, which always falls, the power losses may, as already noted,
either fall (a favorable effect) or rise (an unfavorable effect). Obvio
usly, comparison and ranking of the substations in terms of P
ef.res
only makes sense if dP
S*
, is positive.
Table 1 illustrates the effectiveness of introducing 330kV SR
(initial losses 35.232 MW). The system components are ranked in
order of declining P
ef.res
. As is evident from Table 1, P
ef.res
is only
78
positive for 12 of the 30 components considered. The reactor loca
tions are selected from among those components for which P
ef.res
> 0. Besides P
ef.res
, other factors are taken into account: in particu
lar, the time when the substation goes into operation, the availabili
ty of a site for the SR, and the possibility of supplying RP from ad
jacent power systems (such as the Baltic nations).
Given that, in the prevailing economic conditions, all the
power systems within the CIS are short of cash, it makes sense to
consider the optimal locations of a limited number of SR; this is
evidently of interest for any power system with excess RP at mini
mal load. Prospectively, improvements in CSR structure and ma
nufacturing technology will permit improvement in their mass and
size and hence reduction in their cost. This would greatly expand
the applicability of highpower CSR; in particular, they could be
installed at individual (330500)kV transmission lines where there
are large RP fluxes, with corresponding reduction in the RPindu
ced losses. Calculations show that this in itself may permit CSR to
pay for themselves within an acceptable period, especially given the
ongoing increase in fuel prices and the corresponding increase in
the cost of power losses.
The selection of optimal power regulation for the reactor is an
important independent problem. The simplest and most natural re
gulation of the reactor power is voltage stabilization at its point of
attachment. On switching from minimum to maximum load, the
excess reactive power sharply declines. The voltage at the substation
buses will decline here, while remaining within permissible limits.
In such conditions, the power consumed by the SR may expedient
ly be reduced, so as to lower the losses due to RP transmission in
the grid and in the reactor itself. When corona losses are relatively
small (in good weather), the voltage at the point of SR connection
is expediently maintained at the maximum possible level. The
power consumed by the SR will then be the minimum possible, and
correspondingly the losses due to RP transmission to the reactor
will be minimal. In other words, what is required is not simply sta
79
bilization of the voltage but voltage stabilization at the maximum
permissible value (disregarding corona losses). Taking account of
corona losses, the optimal voltage may be somewhat lower.
References
1. A.M. Bryantsev, Electrical reactors controlled by bias magnetization
in power systems, Elektrotekh., no. l,p. 2,2003.
2. G.A. Dmitrieva, S.N. Makarovskii, A.Yu. Pozdnyakov, et al., Prospects
for using asynchronized turbogenerators in the European territories of the
Russian power system, Elektr. Stants., no. 12, 1997.
3. I.M. Bortnik, S.F. Buryak, M. V. Olshvang, and I.P. Taratuta, Static
thyristor compensators for power systems and grids, Elektr., no. 2, 1985.
First published: Electrical Engineering, 2003, 1, pp. 1318.
80
Controllable Shunting Reactors
for ReactivePower Compensation and Voltage
Regulation in Kazakhstan Power Grids
S.V. Zhakutova
There is a pressing need to use controllable shunting reactors
for voltage regulation and reactivepower compensation in the Ka
zakhstan power system. Successful operation of such reactors in the
Russian power system is described. The need for collaboration in
installing such reactors in Kazakhstan power grids is noted.
Ensuring normal powersystem operation, with the required qu
ality and reliability of the power supply, entails the use of automa
tic voltage regulation and reactivepower compensation.
Optimal control of the power supply in Kazakhstan has been
hindered by the reduced demand over the past decade, the prolon
ged (19901999) shortage of funds for modernization of electrical
equipment, and also specific features of the Kazakhstan grid
system, in particular: the great extent of the highvoltage transmis
sion lines, generating considerable uncompensated reactive power;
and sharp oscillation in the currents in key links.
The traditional means of voltage regulation and reactivepower
(RP) compensation available to the central dispatcher in the Ka
zakhstan power station include shunting reactors, transformers and
autotransformers equipped with load regulators (LR), synchronous
compensators (SC), and staticcapacitor batteries (SCB), which
operate reliably within their operational ranges. Compensation of
the excess RP is also possible by means of synchronous generators
(SG) operating with belowrated excitation. However, this reduces
the operational stability and leads to accelerated wear of the SG,
which is very problematic when electrical grids within a region have
different owners. The ability of SC and SCB to generate RP in pro
81
longed operation with excess RP is an unwanted function of these
devices.
Thus, despite the extensive use of such equipment for voltage
regulation and RP compensation, they are unable to ensure the re
quired quality of the power supply, and they have no further reser
ves of regulating ability. As a result, the operation of the Kazakhs
tan national grid in recent years has been consistently characterized
by high voltage, increased losses due to the excess reactive power,
and excessive triggering of the safety trips. At a number of 500 and
220kV substations, the mean voltage in the grid reaches the limi
ting permissible value. At some points, the maximum permissible
value is much exceeded: 540 kV in a 500kV grid, 262 kV in a
220kV grid! Voltage stabilization and RP compensation is of part
icular urgency for the Agadyr, YuKGRES, and Almaty 500kV sub
stations and the Makinsk, Metallurgicheskaya, Balkhash, Mirga
limsai, Kyzylordinskaya, Taldykorganskaya, and Pravoberezhnaya
220kV substations.
To reduce the voltage in summer, at the expense of reliability,
parallel lines, including systemforming lines, must be relegated to
backup status. This measure is often ineffective; the voltage is only
reduced by 45 kV. The prolonged action of high voltage on the in
sulation of expensive equipment significantly reduces its working
life, on account of accelerated aging of the insulation, with corres
ponding increase in the operating costs.
The operation of the northsouth (220500)kV transmission
line, consisting of the NuraAgadyrYuKGRESAlmatyBish
kekZhambyl (220500)kV segments, is of particular interest. This
line is used to transfer power from northern producers to southern
consumers in Kazakhstan and also facilitates parallel operation of
the Kirgiz, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Russian systems when wor
king as a unified power system.
In fall and winter, the northsouth line operates at the limit of
power transmission in terms of stability; operational wear of the
basic substation equipment and the relay safety and automatic acci
82
dentprevention systems is considerable. Sharp increase in the trig
gering of the automatic accidentprevention systems in the
northsouth line in winter (many times a day) poses the risk of pre
mature burnout of the circuit breakers for 500kV shunting reac
tors. For example, at the YuKGRES 500kV substation, since the
last major overhaul, the 500kV circuit breaker of reactor 1 has
been tripped more than 130 times (the limit is 250 times); since the
introduction of reactor 3 (27 March 2001), the V32 and V33 SF6
circuit breakers have operated more than 250 and 126 times, res
pectively (the limit is 2000). Besides premature circuitbreaker bur
nout, each disconnection of the shunting reactor is accompanied by
severe switching processes that pose risks both for the circuit brea
ker and for the reactor itself. Obviously, disconnection may be avo
ided if the reactor is controllable. The central dispatch office of the
Kazakhstan power system and the Almaty branch of the KEGOC
power system have repeatedly expressed concern regarding the via
bility of substation equipment in the northsouth power line and
noted the urgent need to equip the 500kV substations with smooth
regulators. The introduction of the Zhambylsk power system and
the isolation of the Central Asian power system have eased the situ
ation somewhat but are not permanent solutions, from an econo
83
Fig. 1. Operational principle of controllable reactor in (35500)kV grids.
mic perspective. The restoration of parallel operation with the Cen
tral Asian power system and the return of winter climate will inten
sify the problems and call for new measures to stabilize the operati
on of the northsouth line.
The use of smoothly controlled RP compensation instead of
uncontrollable shunting reactors at no less than two points of the
northsouth line might prevent premature wear of the switchgear
and increase the throughput of the line by up to 30 %. Correspon
ding calculations were undertaken in the 1990s by the Kazenergo
setproekt Institute and by specialists at St. Petersburg State Tech
nical University (Russia). The measures considered ensure voltage
stabilization and integrity of the insulation, and minimize the
power losses in the adjacent grid by optimizing the reactive power
fluxes. The use of controllable shunting reactors for smoothly ad
justable RP compensation and voltage stabilization in the 1990s was
adopted at various levels and recommended for Kazakhstan power
grids by the Kazenergosetproekt Institute, the Kazakhstan Ministry
of Power, the Kazakhstan Ministry of Science and New Technolo
gy, and the Kazakhstanenergo power system [1].
According to specialists estimates [2], power transmission with
controllable shunting reactors in the whole range of line lengths
considered is the most effective option. Preliminary estimates sug
gest that the introduction of a controllable shunting reactor will pay
for itself within 45 years on account of the reduction in grid power
losses and within 1.52 years if all factors are taken into account.
For grid operators, who need to cover the costs of the power losses
in transmission, this is very important.
An equally significant consideration is that, in market conditi
ons, attention must be paid to the quality of the grid power, which
is specified in the commercial contracts governing power transmis
sion. In this context, RP compensation for voltage stabilization and
improvement in grid operation must be regarded as a simple neces
sity.
84
Since the early 1980s, the development of electrical reactors
controlled by bias magnetization has been a priority among manu
facturers of highvoltage power equipment. Careful analysis of the
characteristics and functional capabilities of such reactors by Russi
an, Mexican, Chinese, Brazilian, Indian, and other specialists
shows that controllable shunting reactors are uniquely effective in
stabilizing the voltage, reducing the losses, and increasing the ope
rational reliability in extended transmission lines and grids. The
cost of such reactors is about half that of competing designs. For
instance, the manufacture of a static thyristor compensator of the
same power is at least twice as expensive, because of the need to
use a thyristor switch of the same power as the device, while the
operating costs are incomparably higher. At the same time, the
operating conditions of controllable reactors are the same as for or
dinary power transformers.
85
Fig. 2. Example of a transient process in an RTU controllable reactor: 01) idling;
III) transition from idling to rated operation; IIIII) rated operation; IIIIV) tran
sition from rated operation to idling; IVV) idling.
The deficiencies of the stepwise controllable shunting reactors
produced by ABB, Alstom, and other European firms include a
range half that of other devices, accelerated wear of the load regu
lator, and increased cost.
In the reactors controlled by bias magnetization, the inductance
is regulated by changing the degree of saturation of the magnetic
system. As a result, the power consumed by the reactor is smoothly
regulated practically from zero to the rated value. Longterm over
loads of up to 20% and shortterm overloads of up to 40 % may be
tolerated. The reactor configuration in a grid is shown in Fig. 1.
With change in the voltage level at the point of connection (VT),
taking account of the current at the reactor (CT), a mismatch
signal is formed, inducing the controllable reactor (CR) to shed or
take on power to the required level.
An example of a transient process from minimum power con
sumption or idling (practically zero power) to the rated power,
steady operation at rated power consumption, and transition back
to idling under the action of the mismatch signal is shown in Fig. 2.
Years of work by specialists at large power concerns in Russia,
Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan (V.I. Lenin AllRussian Electri
calEngineering Institute, Zaporozhtransformator Joint Stock
Company, Ramenskii Elektrotekhnicheskii Zavod Energiya Joint
Stock Company, Belenergosetproekt Institute, etc.) have culmina
ted in the mass production [3] of the RTU controllable shunting
reactors for a highvoltage (110500 kV) grids, controllable shun
ting reactors for (635)kV grids, and RUOM controllable arcqu
enching reactors for 6, 10, and 35kV grids with an isolated neut
ral line. Producers and suppliers of this equipment include the Za
porozhtransformator, Ramenskii Elektrotekhnicheskii Zavod Ener
giya, and Elektricheskie Upravlyaemye Reaktory (ELUR) Joint
Stock Companies.
All the RTU reactors meet the basic technological requirements
developed by the research and design institutes of EES Rossii Joint
Stock Company. The technical requirements take account of the
86
recommendations of organizations operating highvoltage electrical
grids within and beyond the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS) [4]. The high performance of this equipment is confirmed by
its wide use in (635)kV grids in Russia, Belarus, and Moldova
and the stable demand for RUOM reactors, as well as successful
operational experience with the RTU25,000/110 threephase con
trollable reactor at the Permenergo Kudymkar substation [3]. Int
roducing this reactor at the Kudymkar substation in 1999 reduced
voltage fluctuations at the point of attachment to 1.5 % of the
voltage setting; the triggering frequency of the SCB and LR at the
transformers was reduced by a factor of 100; thanks to reduction in
the grid power losses, the reactor paid for itself within three years;
the operational reliability increased, and uninterrupted power
supply to consumers was ensured, which delayed the need to const
ruct a 220kV line by 1015 years.
In 2002, after successful grid tests at the Chita500 substation in
the Siberian power system, the RTU100,000/220Ul controllable
reactor (100 Mvar, 220 kV) went into operation. Its functions are
RP regulation and voltage stabilization. Previously, RP regulation
in the Chitaenergo system was the responsibility of two 100Mvar
uncontrollable shunting reactors in the buses of the TETsl and
Kharanorskii GRES power stations. In winter, the circuit breaker
of the reactor at the TETsl buses was tripped at least twice a day.
That was eliminated by the controllable reactor, thanks to the unli
mited scope for power variation within the specified range. In Bela
rus, the effectiveness of a controllable shunting reactor at the
330kV Baranovich substation has been confirmed by specialists
from the Belenergosetproekt Institute. The RTU180,000/330
controllable reactor for the Baranovich substation is being manu
factured at the Zaporozhtransformator plant. It is planned to install
a controllable shunting reactor at the 220kV Osetr substation of
Mosenergo Joint Stock Company. Thus, the largescale introducti
on of the new controllable reactors within the CIS is underway.
87
The introduction of improved technology, though of great ur
gency, must wait in Kazakhstan. Despite the obvious benefits of
controllable reactors, confirmed by research and operational expe
rience, the Kazakhstan national grid continues to install uncontrol
lable shunting reactors, without thought of controllable reactors.
The gradual installation of improved regulators in grids with exten
ded lines where the load fluctuates (in Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukrai
ne, Brazil, Argentina, India, and elsewhere) is an important issue
of our time. In many respects (including manufacturing and opera
ting costs), controllable reactors are without rival. At the same
time, if such reequipment of power grids is to be a real option, Ka
zakhstan must seek partners.
References
1. E.N. Brodovoi, A.M. Bryantsev, and S.V. Zhakutova, Prospects for
magnetically controlled shunting reactors in Kazakhstans power grids,
Energ. Topi. Resursy Kazakh., no. 2, pp. 2631, 1992.
2. A.M. Bryantsev, A.G. Dolgolpolov, A.I. Lurie, and G.A. Evdokunin,
Operational data for magnetically controlled threephase shunting reactor,
Elektr. Stants., no. 12, pp. 4450, 2001.
3. G.N. Aleksandrov, V.A. Kashina, and T.V. Lisochkina, Economic ef
fectiveness of an ac power line with controllable shunting reactors, Elektr.
Stants., no. 12, pp. 611, 1991.
4. A.M. Bryantsev, A.G. Dolgopolov, Yu.A. Lipatov, et al., Shunting reac
tors controlled by bias magnetization for (35500)kV grids, Elektrotekh.,
no. 1, 2003.
First published: Electrical Engineering, 2003, 1, pp. 1822.
88
ThreePhase Controllable Shunting Reactor (100
MVA, 220 kV) at the Siberian Chita Substation
A.M. Bryantsev, A.G. Dolgopolov, A.I. Lurie,
S.M. Zilberman, M.A. Biki and S.V. Ukolov
The development of powerful controllable reactivepower com
pensators in highvoltage transmission lines has been of interest for
many years. In highvoltage lines, the scope for ongoing change in
the grid remains limited, because of the restrictions on the use of
transformer load regulators (due to their poor reliability) and
highvoltage cutouts (due to their limited switching life). Static
compensators and thyristorreactor groups used for this function,
which include expensive highvoltage converters, requiring highly
skilled operating staff, are not widely used in Russia. Therefore, re
actors controlled by bias magnetization (CR) have been proposed
for highvoltage transmission lines [1]. However, for many years,
there was little progress in producing effective CR and putting them
to use in industrial grids. Reactor specialists know that developing a
powerful new reactor is always a large risk, since, besides the pre
dicted phenomena, which may be taken into account in the design
process, unexpected and often undesirable effects may appear, such
as the appearance of new secondary power losses and local heating.
As a rule, therefore, reactor production must be preceded by the
development and investigation of a fullscale model of the new re
actor, because the new effects may not show up in a smaller model.
However, the manufacture and fullscale (at maximum power) tes
ting of such models is expensive and involves significant risk. These
factors have stymied CR production and application.
The most significant breakthrough in the introduction of po
werful CR for highvoltage lines was the development of the
RODU60,000/500 singlephase controllable shunting reactor (of
power 60 MVA) for 500kV lines. This reactor was manufactured
89
and successfully underwent comprehensive testing at the Zapo
rozhsk transformer plant and at the Belyi Rast grid teststand (1989)
and until recently was the only highpower and highvoltage sing
lephase CR [2]. Unfortunately, only a single phase of the
RODU60,000/500 reactor was produced, and this reactor has
never operated. The creation of a 500kV CR and the development
of new CR depended on the combined efforts of specialists interes
ted in the investigation, design, and practical introduction of com
plex new devices of transformer type. This project permitted the
creation of a theory of electromagnetic processes in CR and an en
gineering method for their calculation [2], as well as the confirma
tion of scientific ideas such as the possibility of reactor operation
with induction in the steel significantly greater than the saturation
induction. This possibility was regarded with much skepticism until
the first 500kV CR was produced and tested. The project yielded
extensive scientific information. Many interesting engineering ideas
were incorporated in the design of the 500kV reactor [35].
Other landmarks in CR development include the RUOM series
of arcquenching reactors, for which there is steady market demand
[4] and the development, manufacture, and introduction of the
RTU25,000/110 threephase controllable reactor, as well as the
RTU100,000/220 threephase controllable reactor, which is the
most powerful highvoltage threephase shunting CR. On 10 April
2002, after successful grid tests, this reactor went into experimental
industrial operation at the 500kV Chita substation of the Siberian
power system (Fig. 1)
1
.
The RTU100,000/220 reactor has five components: the
RTDU electromagnetic component; the TMP transformer with bu
iltin converter; the SURZA control system; the UKF unit correc
ting the shape of the current; and the FMZO neutralizer.
90
1
Participants in the reactor tests at the Chita substation included B.I. Bazylev,
A.I. Zaitsev, and S.G. Dolgopolov. Developers of the equipment employed in the
RTU100,000/220 reactor included V.F. Karmanov, E.E. Makletsova, A.N. Panib
ratets, and V.P. Zenova.
The electromagnetic component of the shunting CR is its main
power component. It consists of a threephase electromagnetic
device of transformer type in an oilfilled tank, intended for outdo
or locations. A threephase multirod magnetic system is employed.
In ordinary uncontrollable shunting reactors, the rods have non
magnetic gaps. This design tends to increase vibration and noise.
The controllable reactors have laminated rods, with reduced vibra
tion and noise. For example, the noise of an RTU100,000/220 re
actor measured in plant tests is 79 dBA, which corresponds to the
noise level of a transformer of the same power. Note that the CR
has a frequency spectrum of magnetostrictional noise differing from
that of transformers; in particular, because of the bias magnetizati
on of the steel, there is a larger content of the 50Hz harmonic. (In
transformer noise, the 100Hz component dominates.) Therefore,
91
Fig. 1. RTU100,000/220 controllable shunting reactor at the Chita substation.
the noise of a CR operating at a substation seems unusual at first.
The rods of the threephase magnetic system accommodate the
three highvoltage phases of the grid winding, the control (bias)
winding, and the three phases of the compensation winding. The
compensation winding performs several important functions. First,
it supplies power to the converter transformer for bias magnetizati
on of the reactor. Second, the compensation winding is in a trian
gular configuration, which captures the higher current harmonics
that are multiples of three, and consequently these do not appear in
the reactor grid current. Third, an inductivecapacitive filter is
connected to the compensation winding so as to reduce the higher
harmonics in the reactor current. Because of the compensation
winding, the RTU100,000/220 reactor is in fact both a reactor and
a transformer. The compensation winding has a copper cross secti
on corresponding to around 20 % of the reactor power. Because of
the capacitor battery connected to the winding (to reduce the fifth
and seventh current harmonics in the grid winding), the reactor, in
the absence of bias magnetization, is not a consumer but a source
of reactive power. Some of the capacitorbattery power (which is
4 % of the reactor power) is consumed in dealing with the idling
magnetizing reactive power of the transformer; therefore, the mini
mum reactor power is not zero (or a small positive value) but a
small negative value (around 2.5 %). In RTU reactors, there is
scope for increasing the power of the compensation winding; in this
case, the compensation winding may be used not only to connect a
more powerful capacitor battery but also to supply local power
needs in the substation.
The converter required to supply power to the reactor control
winding (a controllable thyristor rectifier) is located in an oil tank
with natural cooling. An oil transformer supplies power to the con
verter. The rated power of the converter and transformer is no
more than 1 % of the rated reactor power. The converter and trans
former are mounted on a common frame (part of the TMP reactor)
and located in an open area of the substation. The SURZA control
92
system is an electronic device in the form of a crate located in the
control region of the subsystem. The FMZO zerosequence groun
ding filter (neutralizer) consists of a threephase oil transformer
without a secondary winding, in an equalarm zigzag configuration;
it is located in an open area of the substation.
The basic functions of the reactor at the Chita substation are to
regulate the reactive power and stabilize the voltage. The most typi
cal control characteristic for CR, i.e., the dependence of the reac
tor power on the magnetizing current at constant grid voltage, is
shown in Fig. 2. In grid tests, the bias magnetization of the reactor
(the power supply to the control windings) is first switched off, and
the reactor operates with minimum power (idling mode, by analogy
with the idling mode of transformers). Then, the bias magnetizati
on is increased in stages, so that the reactor power increases by
10 %. The maximum reactor power is established at around 110 %.
93
Fig. 2. Control characteristic oftheRTU100,000/220 reactor, i.e., the dependence
of the reactor current ( ) I
ph
on the biasmagnetization current, as well as the depen
dence of the distortion current ( ) I
dis
when the UKF currentcorrection unit is on
(total system) and off (without UKF) on the biasmagnetization current.
The given control characteristic is practically a straight line, which
is favorable for automatic control of the reactor power.
It is of interest to test the reactor in automatic voltagestabiliza
tion mode. The daily variation in voltage, grid current, and reactor
power is shown in Fig. 3. It is evident that the voltage at the busses
of the 220kV grid fluctuates within narrow limits: 235240 V. The
reactor current varies widely (21.9249 A), as does the power
(8.3102 MVA). It follows from Fig. 3 that the reactor power
varies repeatedly and widely over the course of the day; i.e., the re
actor is well suited to its basic function of voltage stabilization.
In the tests, the RTU100,000/220 reactor is subjected to a
longterm load (72hr continuous operation in a 220kV grid, sus
taining the rated load for no less than 12 hr) and also to a 2hr load
at increased power (110 MVA). In all longterm tests under load,
the heating of the oil is acceptable.
Specialists sometimes assert, wrongly, that CR have two intrin
sic problems: nonsinusoidal current; and low speed. In fact, this is
far from the case. Instead of theoretically, as in [2] and elsewhere,
we may consider these problems in terms of the test data for the
RTU100,000/220 reactor.
In recording the control characteristic at each power level, the
harmonic composition of the reactor current is determined. Two
94
Fig. 3. Daily graph of reactor operation: 1) voltage in 220kV gridU
g
, kV;
2) reactor current I
r
, A; 3) reactor power Q
r
, MVA.
curves of the distortion current (the effective total current of the
higher harmonics) are shown in Fig. 2, for cases in which the in
ductivecapacitive higherharmonic filter is on (lower curve) and
off (upper curve). The electrical filter consists of: a threephase re
actor in the tank of the electromagnetic current; and the UKF unit
correcting the shape of the current (a threephase capacitor batte
ry), located in the open area of the substation.
It follows from Fig. 2 that, as corresponds to theory, the distor
tion of the reactor current in rated operation and in idling mode is
minimal: less than 1 % of the rated current (which is at the limit of
sensitivity of the recording equipment). The maximum distortion
appears at 7080 % reactor power. Connecting the UKF unit (ca
pacitor battery) to the compensation winding reduces the distortion
of the reactor current significantly (by around half). In this case,
the maximum distortion of the current (around 2.5 %) corresponds
to 7080 % reactor power; at other power levels, the distortion is
significantly less. As is evident, the nonlinear distortion of the CR
is relatively small.
Note that, for practical purposes, what is important is the per
centage distortion of the grid voltage at the point of reactor attach
ment and not the overall distortion current of the reactor. (Often,
these very different quantities are wrongly assumed to be the same.)
The overall percentage voltage distortion is not determined by the
CR alone; it depends largely on the character of the consumers in
the grid and the resistance ratio of the reactor and the grid. Grid
measurements and calculations show that, as a rule, the grid distor
tion is much less (on a percentage basis) than the distortion of the
reactor current. In that case, the voltage at the point of reactor
connection in tests of the RTU100,000/220 unit has a very low
content of distorting higher harmonics (less than 1 %), both when
the UKF unit is connected to the reactor and when it is disconnec
ted. The sensitivity of the recording equipment proves inadequate
for accurate determination of this component. By the way, analo
gous observations are made in tests of the RTU25,000/110U1 re
95
actor in operational conditions, when more than 1 % higher har
monics in the grid voltage cannot be recorded even at the maxi
mum reactor distortion current [5].
Note also the following general point. All types of equipment
permitting smooth regulation of the reactive power (STK static
compensators, TRG thyristorreactor groups, UShTR controllable
transformertype shunting reactors [6]) use thyristor converters of
power equal to the total power of the unit. In RTU reactors, by
contrast, the converter power is low (around 1 %), and the
switchtype properties of the magnetization characteristic of steel is
employed. These properties appear at an induction significantly ex
ceeding the saturation induction of the steel. In thyristor switches,
there are two states: conducting and not conducting. In a magnetic
switch, there are also two states: in one, the winding with an unsa
turated ferromagnetic rod has very large inductance; in the other,
with a saturated rod, the winding inductance is very small. The
switch properties of all smoothly controllable devices are the main
source of the nonlinear current distortions, for which electrical fil
ters are employed, where necessary. As shown by theoretical calcu
lations and mathematical simulations, the nonlinear distortions in
reactors controlled by bias magnetization are somewhat less than
that in comparable devices, other conditions being equal, since
there is additional favorable magnetic coupling between the win
dings in the electromagnetic component. Therefore, the filter
power in the RTU reactors is less.
In comparing different devices for smooth inductance regulati
on, it makes sense to consider another important factor. All cont
rollable highvoltage sources and consumers of reactive power have
highvoltage windings and inductive coupling. In RTU CR and in
UShRT units, these are highvoltage grid windings (there are also
control and compensation windings). In STK and TRG units, there
are high and lowvoltage windings of the stepdown transformers,
since the converter operates much more satisfactorily and simply at
full power when the voltage is considerably lower than the grid vol
96
tage (110500 kV). The presence of highvoltage grid windings and
transformer (inductive) couplings means that the approaches adop
ted to ensure the necessary grid conditions (phasebyphase power
regulation, multiple restart capabilities, arc quenching in intervals
between restart episodes, etc.) and to counter switching and light
ning voltage surges (including determination of the influence of the
surge on the reactivepower source and the influence of the sources
97
Fig. 4. Example of the transient process from minimum power or idling mode
(practically zero power) to the rated power (a) and back from the rated power to id
ling mode (b): 1) voltage in 220kV grid; 2) current of a single phase of the
RTU100,000/220 reactor; 3) biasmagnetization current.
on the grid during surges) are basically the same, with very slight
differences. Where necessary, these differences may be addressed in
the CR by means of several familiar circuit and design modificati
ons. Given the similarity of the fundamental electromagnetic pro
cesses, other considerations determine the use of a particular device
to regulate the reactive power, including: the converter power and
cost; the need for water cooling; and the need for qualified substa
tion staff. In these respects, RTU reactors have undoubted advanta
ges over STK, TRG, and UShRT units, since they are essentially
simple transformers, characterized by relatively low cost and losses,
a traditional cooling system, and the traditional requirements for
staff training. Also in their favor is successful experience in produ
cing such controllable reactors at Russian and Ukrainian plants, as
well as operational experience from many regions: a 25MVA
shunting CR at the 110kV Kudymkar substation (three years); a
1.5MVA CR in parallel with a capacitor battery at an Elektrostal
metallurgical plant (five years); and more than 50 arcquenching
CR (up to 10 years).
The speed of SR is of special interest to specialists, on account
of the erroneous and frequently repeated contention that these re
actors are highly inertial. Tests indicate that without forcing, when
the converter power is no more than 0.2 % of the rated reactor
power (which is the converter power required to maintain the rated
reactor power), the time for the reactor to switch from idling mode
to rated power is 5 sec. However, this parameter, whose experi
mental value agrees well with theoretical calculation, is not in fact
of great practical relevance. When using the total converter power
(for operation with forced magnetization), which is around 1 % of
the reactor power, the time from idling mode to rated power is
0.4 sec, according to the oscillogram of the transient process. The
time for forced transition from rated power to idling is about the
same (Fig. 4).
The speed parameters obtained in grid tests of the
RTU100,000/220 reactor are in full agreement with the corres
98
ponding theoretical results [1]. In particular, the time for the cont
rollable reactor to reach full power may be estimated from the for
mula
t
TB Q
B kQ
m
=
s r
co
4.44
,
where T f =1/ is the period of a voltage of frequency f (f = 50 Hz,
T = 0.02 sec); B
s
is the saturation induction of the steel (B
s
= 2 T);
B
m
is the induction in the rod (B
m
= 1.71.9 T); Q
r
is the reactor
power; Q
co
is the power of the controlsystem converter (the mag
netization power); K is a coefficient depending onhow the rectifier
power is defined ( ) K 1.
It follows that the reactor speed may be significantly increased
(when operating conditions require it, which is by no means always
the case) by increasing the power of the converter supplying the bi
asmagnetization winding. In fact, the CR is noninertial with a
converter power equal to around 25 % of the reactor power. While
this is a relatively high figure, it is much less than the 100 % in the
STK, TRG, and UShTR units. Moreover, a power of 25 % need
only be applied briefly, in transient forced modes. To satisfactory
practical requirements, a converter power equal to 1 % of the reac
tor power is sufficient.
The reactor speed may also be characterized by the time to
reach full power when the CR is introduced in the grid. This is im
portant, for example, for reactor operation in automaticrestart
mode. Corresponding tests of the RTU100,000/220 reactor show
clearly that the reactor reaches full power with practically no inertia
(within the halfperiod of the industrial frequency; Fig. 5). This is
not a random result; the reactor design provides for the creation of
some initial induction (of the order of the residual induction in the
steel) in the magnetic rods of the reactor, by means of a special
lowpower converter (less than 1 kW, i.e., fractions of a percent of
the rated reactor power), with a power supply independent of the
reactor voltage.
99
For the RTU100,000/220 reactor, the speed parameters obtai
ned are quite adequate, since its basic function at the substation is
voltage stabilization with load variation over the course of the day.
Given specialists concerns about the speed of CR, the develo
pers and manufacturers of RTU and RUOM reactors (ranging in
power from hundreds of kVA to hundreds of MVA and in voltage
from 6 to 500 kV) have proposed and introduced a number of
design and circuit innovations, yielding, where necessary, a respon
se time of up to 0.1 sec [24] and sometimes better (for instance,
around 0.010.02 sec for arcquenching reactors controlled by bias
magnetization [5]). This means that CR developers and manufactu
rers are able to meet the most stringent requirements imposed by
power specialists in particular, for grid shunting reactors.
Basic Technical Parameters
of RTU100,000 220 Reactor, Confirmed by Grid Tests
Rated power, MVA 100
Range of smooth consumed reactivepower regulation,
Mvar
from 2.5
to +113
Rated voltage, kV 242
Maximum working voltage, kV 254
Rated gridwinding current, A 238
Maximum tolerable longterm gridwinding
current, A
261
Idling current at rated voltage, A < 1
Power of converter in TMP transformer, MVA (%) 1 (1)
Rated biasmagnetization current, A 1900
Preliminary bias current, A 50
Meansquare value of higher gridwinding harmonics:
in rated operation and idling mode, %
< 1
in intermediate modes, A (%) 6 ( 2.5)
100
Time to switch from idling mode to rated power
(or back), sec
0, 4
Time to reach the rated power when switched
on with preliminary independent lowpower
bias magnetization, sec
< 0.01
Range of voltage settings in automatic operation, kV 220 245
Specified tolerance of controlsystem regulator, % (kV) 2 (4.5)
Actual reduction in the 220kV grid voltage
on transition from idling to rated load
(depending on the systems operating conditions), kV
10 15
The reactor may operate in two modes: automatic voltage stabi
lization at 220V buses or manual regulation of the consumed
power and grid current.
The RTU100,000/220 reactor is characterized by simultaneous
power regulation in three phases. Where necessary (as may be the
case in shunting reactors), phasebyphase power regulation is also
possible in RTU reactors.
101
Fig. 5. Transient process when the reactor is connected to a 220kV grid (prelimi
nary magnetization of the reactor by a lowpower rectifier): I) voltage in 220kV
grid; 2) phase currents of RTU100,000/220 reactor (currents in grid windings);
III) current in one phase of the compensation winding in a triangle configuration;
IV) biasmagnetization current in control circuit.
According to plant tests, the total losses at the rated power and
rated voltage are 558 kW; the idling losses are 87.7 kW. The mass of
the electromagnetic component of the reactor is 183 tons; the reac
tor contains 21.722 tons of copper, 64.239 tons of steel, and 62 tons
of oil.
These and other parameters are within the technical specificati
ons.
It is great importance for CR developers that the experimental
data obtained in grid tests agrees with the results of numerous cal
culations conducted during reactor design and the formulation of
the test program and also with theoretical data obtained prior to re
actor development. This suggests the fundamental soundness of the
CR design and facilitates their wide introduction.
Some aspects of the introduction of the RTU100,000/220 re
actor at the Chita substation are of interest. Its basic functions are
reactivepower regulation and voltage stabilization. Before its intro
duction, the Chitaenergo system included two uncontrollable
100Mvar shunting reactors at the buses of the TETs1 and Khara
norskii GRES power stations. In summer, the circuit breaker for
the reactor at the TETs1 buses was tripped at least twice a day.
The use of a controllable reactor, permitting unlimited power varia
tion within the specified range, eliminates such circuitbreaker trig
gering, associated with sharp change in the 220kV voltage and twi
ceannual maintenance (review) of the circuit breaker. Note also
that the new VL220 overhead line (500kV class) at the Chita500
substation cannot be switched on in idling or automaticrestart
modes without the installation of a RTU100,000/220 reactor.
The two threephase groups of singlephase 33Mvar, 110kV
uncontrollable reactors installed in the Chitaenergo system close to
the Chita substation for reactivepower compensation are connec
ted to the 220kV grid through two 125 MVA, 220/110kV autot
ransformers. The cost of one new set of such equipment is signifi
cantly (30 %) greater than the cost of a single RTU100,000/220
102
reactor, which was a major consideration in choosing to install the
RTU reactor at the Chita substation.
Besides cost factors, another important advantage of the
RTU100,000/220 reactor over the autotransformer with an uncon
trollable reactor is that the losses are less. The load losses
(shortcircuit losses) of the autotransformer are 315 kW; its idling
losses are 65 kW; the losses in the three singlephase uncontrollable
reactors are 3125 kW, i.e., 375 kW. Hence, the total losses are
755 kW. The losses in the RTU100,000/220 reactor are 90 kW at
minimum power (idling mode) and 560 kW at the rated load. Since
the load coefficient of the daily load graph is around 0.3, the mean
reactor losses over the day are not 500 kW but significantly less,
around 250 kW, which is markedly below the total losses in the
autotransformer and the uncontrollable reactors.
Note, in conclusion, that the performance of the
RTU100,000/220 and RTU25,000/110 reactors is unmatched
anywhere in the world. In design, operating conditions, and ease of
operation, these CR are comparable with ordinary transformers and
reactors. In functional terms, they are automatically controlled
electricalengineering systems ensuring new levels of grid control
and optimization. The cost of these reactors is significantly less
than for other options.
The benefits of CR recommend them for use in the develop
ment of new highvoltage and superhighvoltage transmission lines
and in modernizing existing lines. The extensive scientific and en
gineering research on reactors controlled by magnetic bias, together
with experience in their manufacture and operation, give grounds
to hope that they will be widely introduced in practice.
Currently, technical support, testing, and servicing of CR is the
responsibility of a specialized scientific and engineering center:
Elektricheskie Upravlyaemye Reaktory (ELUR) Joint Stock Com
pany. Manufacturers of CR components include Zaporozhtransfor
mator Joint Stock Company (the electromagnetic component), Ra
menskii Elektrotekhnicheskii Zavod Energiya Joint Stock Company
103
(the neutralizer), and EnergiyaT Joint Stock Company, Tolyatti
(the transformer/converter assembly, the control system, the UKF
unit). AllRussian ElectricalEngineering Institute participated in
the development of the reactor components and in the correspon
ding research and testing. These partnerships are based on multila
teral contracts that have already been in effect for several years.
References
1. Controllable reactors, Elektrotekh., no. 2, 1991.
2. M.A. Biki, E.N. Brodovoi, A.M. Bryantsev, et al., Electromagnetic
processes in powerful controllable reactors, Elektr., no. 6, pp. 19, 1994.
3. A.M. Bryantsev, B.I. Bazylev, M.A. Biki, et al., Shunting reactors con
trolled by bias magnetization: A new electrical component, Elektr., no. 7,
1999.
4. A.M. Bryantsev, A.I. Lurie, A.G. Dolgopolov, et al., Arcquenching re
actors controlled by bias magnetization, with automatic compensation of the
capacitive shortcircuit current to ground for (635)kV grids, Elektr., no. 7,
2000.
5. A.M. Bryantsev, A.G. Dolgopolov, A.I. Lurie, et al., Introduction and
experimental operation of threephase shunting reactor controlled by bias
magnetization (110 kV, 25,000 kVA) in the Permenergo system, Elektr.
Stants., no. 12, 2001.
6. G.N. Aleksandrov, Introduction of highspeed controllable transfor
mertype reactor (420 kV, 50 Mvar), Elektr., no. 3, 2002.
First published: Electrical Engineering, 2003, 1, pp. 2230.
104
Industrial Operation of a Controllable
ThreePhase Shunting Reactor
(110 kV, 25,000 kVA) at the Permenergo
Kudymkar Substation
A. G. Dolgopolov, S.G. Dolgopolov, A.I. Zaitsev,
V.P. Shipitsin
Three years industrial operation of a prototype shunting reactor
controlled by bias magnetization (110 kV, 25,000 kVA) at the Per
menergo Kudymkar substation is described. The basic design featu
res and functional capabilities of these reactors are discussed.
An industrial prototype of the RTU25,000/110Ul controllable
reactor was manufactured in 1997: Zaporozhsk transformer plant
produced the electromagnetic component; Energiya Ramensk plant
produced the magnetization system, and the Tolyatti Scientific
and Engineering Center of AilRussian Electrical Institute (SEC
AEI) produced the control system. In 1998, the reactor underwent
acceptance tests and then experimental industrial operation at the
powerful SEC AEI teststand. In May 1999, the reactor was sent to
the customer, the northern electrical grids of the Permenergo
power system and installed at the 110kV Kudymkar substation. In
September, after adjustments and troubleshooting, the reactor went
into operation, in combination with the existing 52Mvar capacitor
battery.
In collaboration with Permenergo operational services, specia
lists at St. Petersburg State Technical University undertook the
economic analysis of the reactor operation at the Kudymkar substa
tion and calculation of the relevant operating conditions. Three
Moscow organizations were responsible for project coordination
and technical support: Elektricheskie Upravlyaemye Reaktory Joint
Stock Company, V.I. Lenin AllRussian ElectricalEngineering In
stitute, and the ElectricalGrid Department at EES Rossii Joint
105
Stock Company. In the present work, design aspects and functional
capabilities of such RTU reactors are outlined, along with the re
sults of three years industrial operation of the prototype in the Per
menergo system.
The basic functions of the controllable reactor are voltage stabi
lization and reduction in the losses due to reactivepower fluxes at
the Kudymkar substation, to which power is supplied from the Per
menergo power system in two 110kV lines of length more than 100
km. Sharp daily and seasonal load variation, together with the con
siderable distance from the power source, has resulted in regular
voltage swings, between a low of 97 kV (without the capacitor bat
tery) and a high of 120 kV, daily triggering of the capacitor battery
(up to 800 times a year), and constant operation of the transfor
mers automaticrestart units (around 1800 incidents per year). The
voltage surges on capacitor switching reached 1015 kV. Worsening
the situation was the presence of deadend 110kV lines running to
the north, which are also longer than 100 km. Besides nonstandard
voltage fluctuation and wear of the circuit breakers with the auto
maticrestart units, the power system incurred additional costs due
106
Fig. 1. Basic circuit diagram of RTU25,000/10Ul reactor: 1)
RTDU25,000/110electromagnetic component; 2) transformer with builtin
TMP160/10(120/800) converter; 3) CSAS.
to losses in reactivepower fluxes from the power source with the
capacitor battery turned off and in the opposite direction when it is
turned on. As an alternative, the construction of a parallel 220kV
transmission line was considered; its construction costs are more
than an order of magnitude greater than the cost of the 110kV re
actor.
Table 1
U
out. CSAS
, V 2.5 3.0 3.4 3.8 4.25 5.0 7.25
I
CW.RTU
, A 34 113 252 430 577 740 940
I
ph.RTU
, A 20 40 60 80 100 120 142
U
L. bus
, V 117 116 114 112 110.5 109 107
In its functional capabilities, the controllable reactor, together
with the staticcapacitor battery (SCB), matches the synchronous
compensator of analogous power at the substation or a static thyris
tor compensator (STC) of the same power. For the reactor with a
SCB, however, the manufacturing costs are considerably lower.
Moreover, the installation and operating costs are significantly
lower, since the installation and operation of the main highvoltage
equipment of the reactor is the same as for transformers or uncont
rollable reactors of comparable voltage and power, and there is no
need for an enclosed building nor for highly qualified specialist
staff. Thus, at the Kudymkar substation, the reactor was successful
ly introduced in the existing setup, with traditional transformer
equipment, and its operation did not require any increase in size or
training of the staff.
The RTU25,000/110Ul controllable reactor has the following
characteristics:
Rated power, kVA 25,000
Rated voltage, kV 121
Power range, kVA 250 25,000
107
Rated phase current of grid winding, A 114
Maximum rate of power variation, kVA/sec 20,000
Maximum value of any higher phasecurrent harmonic, A 5
Idling losses, kW 25
Shortcircuit losses, kW 175
Mean noise level in any mode, dBA 85
Rated power of magnetizing transformer, kVA 160
Rated rectified magnetization current, A 800
Range of voltage settings, kV 105 125
The control, safety, and automation system (CSAS) of the reac
tor has three modes: manual operation, with a reactor phase cur
rent specified by the operator; automatic maintenance of specified
108
Fig. 2. Oscillograms of transient power takeup of reactor. From the top: the bus
voltage of the 110kV substation; three phase currents of the reactor; the SCB pha
se current; the total contact current; the TMP phase current; and the magnetizing
current in the reactor control winding.
reactive power; and automatic voltage stabilization at the load
point (the basic mode).
Thanks to the small idling current of the reactor (less than 1 A),
it could be connected directly to the line or to the substation bus
through a circuit breaker, with significant cost reduction relative to
the STC, for which a stepdown transformer and a highvoltage
cutout are required. In this case, however, the reactor at the Ku
dymkar substation is connected in parallel with a SCB through a
common preexisting 110kV cutout. Recommendations of the
Tolyatti Scientific and Engineering Center of AllRussian Electri
calEngineering Institute, based on tests and experimental operati
on, permit the selection of the safety system and its settings, with
combined disconnection of the reactor and SCB in emergencies.
The operating principles of controllable reactors with limiting
saturation of the magnetic system were described in [13]. The
basic circuit of the RTU25,000/110Ul reactor are illustrated in
Fig. 1. The gridwinding phases of the reactor are connected in a
doublestar configuration with grounded neutral lines; there are bu
iltin current transformers and connections to the substation buses.
The magnetizing windings, in an open doubletriangle configurati
on, are connected by means of equipotential (in terms of the alter
nating current) leads to the output of the converter built into the
magnetization transformer, which is in a triangle/sixpointed star
configuration. The control system incorporates measuring transfor
mers and the control inputs of the converter and sixpulse rectifier.
Structurally, the controllable reactor consists of a threephase
RTDU25,000/110Ul electromagnetic component, a magnetizing
transformer with a builtin TMP160/10 converter, and the CSAS.
The electromagnetic component is analogous in structure, installa
tion, and maintenance to a twowinding transformer of the same
class, is located close to the outdoor distributor beside the capacitor
battery, and is connected, together with the SCB, to the 110kV
bus of the substation through a common 110kV circuit breaker.
The TMP160/10 unit is installed beside the electromagnetic com
109
ponent on ferroconcrete posts and is connected by cable to a
ZRU10 kV cell and to the magnetizingwinding leads by means of
a bus. The CSAS is installed in the substation control board and
connected to the phasecurrent transformers of the reactor and the
voltage transformer of the substation buses and, by means of the
output circuits, to the control inputs of the TMP converter. With
variation in CSAS output signal from 2 to 7 V, the output current
of the converter through the reactor magnetizing winding varies
from 0 to 800 A; the phase grid currents of the reactor vary corres
pondingly from the idling current to the rated current.
Since voltage stabilization at the buses of the 110kV substation
with variation in the daily load graph does not require high speed,
the specifications for the prototype call for a 1sec time constant
for the variation in reactor power. The rated magnetizing power is
0.4% of the rated reactor power, which permits the use of a signifi
cantly simpler and cheaper TMP unit.
110
Fig. 3. Oscillograms of steady normal reactor operation. From the top: the bus vol
tage; three reactor phase currents; and the SCB phase current.
The reactor prototype has undergone three test cycles: plant
tests in the manufacture of its components at the relevant facilities;
comprehensive tests at the Tolyatti teststand; and acceptance tests
according to a specified program at the Kudymkar substation in the
course of debugging. All the tests confirm that the reactor and its
components meet the corresponding technical specifications.
After installation and troubleshooting of the reactor compo
nents at the Kudymkar substation, the following characteristics of
the reactor and SCB are investigated:
the control characteristics;
the dynamic characteristics;
static operation and nonlinear distortion of the gridwinding
current;
switching conditions;
automatic operation.
Table 1 gives the control characteristics of the reactor with the
SCB, corresponding to the variation in steady phase grid currents
of the reactor as a function of the control voltage and the magneti
zing current, as well as the influence of the degree of reactor loa
ding on the substation bus voltage in typical load conditions.
The notation in Table 1 is as follows: C/oulCSAS is the CSAS
output voltage; ICW.RTU is the controlwinding current of the re
actor; /ph.RTu is the phase current of the reactor grid winding;
C/Lbus is the line voltage of the substation 110kVbus.
The control characteristics of the reactor are investigated in the
course of multiple switching operations and variation in the current
consumption produced by the control system, with the following
results:
Idling current (effective value) 7^, A 0.6
Maximum reactor phase current with fully
open TMP thyristors /, A
142
Semisaturation current (minimum nonlinear
distortion in reactor grid current) 7sl, A
117
111
The effectiveness of voltage regulation at the point of reactor
connection (at the 110kV buses of the Kudymkar substation) is
70 V per 1A change in reactor grid current.
In investigating the dynamic properties, the following experi
mental data are obtained:
the reactor transition time from idling (0.6 A) to the rated
current (114 A) with fully open TMP thyristors is 5 sec, which
agrees with calculation results;
the time constant of power uptake in automatic voltage stabi
lization is 1.5 sec;
the time constant of power release in automatic voltage stabi
lization is around 2 sec.
Characteristic oscillograms of transient power uptake are shown
in Fig. 2. The oscillograms are obtained by means of a Parma (St.
Petersburg) multichannel digital accident recorder.
At the Kudymkar substation, the harmonic composition of the
grid current and substation bus voltage is investigated on the basis
of oscillographs of steady reactor operation at phasecurrent inter
vals of 20 A between idling and the rated current. Typical oscillog
rams for the rated phase current are shown in Fig. 3.
As is evident, the maximum of the higher harmonics in the
phase current does not exceed the theoretical and permissible (in
terms of the operating conditions) values (5 %). The nonlinear dis
tortion of the 110kV bus voltage is no more than 1 % in all condi
tions here.
The switching characteristics are investigated by switching the
reactor on and off repeatedly at various values of the grid current
and the magnetizing current, with and without the SCB. No volta
ge surges or unexpected current surges are observed in the reactor
windings and the adjacent grid. The maximum phase current when
the magnetizing reactor is switched on, taking account of the aperi
odic component, is no more than triple the rated current. Switc
hing oscillograms obtained in the case of preliminary magnetization
of the reactor in combination with the SCB are shown in Fig. 4. In
112
terms of voltage fluctuation, the optimal switching conditions cor
respond to switching on the SCB and reactor with preliminary set
ting of the required bias magnetization, since this ensures noniner
tial transition of the reactor to the reactorpower consumption es
tablished by the magnetizing current.
During automatic industrial operation of the reactor, the reac
tor current and bus voltage are monitored in the telemechanical
channel. In Fig. 5, the daily operational graph of the reactor with
the SCB in the case of automatic voltage stabilization is shown.
Specialists from the department of electrical grids at EES Joint
Stock Company and representatives of various power systems part
icipated in a seminar after nine months of reactor operation in Per
113
Fig. 4. Switching oscillograms with preliminary bias magnetization of the reactor
with the SCB. From the top: the voltage at the reactor; three reactor phase currents
(maximum 370 A); the magnetizing current; the SCB phase current; and the total
contact current
menergo systems northern grids. The concluding documents of
that seminar note the following results of industrial operation of the
prototype 110kV controllable reactor:
the voltage fluctuations at the point of connection in automa
ticstabilization mode are no more than 1.5 % of the voltage set
ting;
the number of switching operations of the SCB and automa
ticrestart units is reduced practically a hundredfold, to one a
month on average;
at the maxima of the load graph, the power losses in the adja
cent grid are reduced by 2.5 MW, which means that the reactor can
pay for itself within three years;
in automatic operation, the reactor requires no interference
by the operating staff;
114
Fig. 5. Daily operating graph of reactor with SCB in automatic voltage stabilizati
on: 1) bus voltage; 2) reactor current
consumers in the KomiPermyatsk autonomous region are
assured of uninterrupted power supply, permitting postponement of
the construction of 220kV lines in the northern Permsk region by
1015 years.
Since September 1999, there have been no emergency reactor
shutdowns or unnecessary triggerings of the relay safety system.
Substation staff have not had to intervene in reactor operation.
Conclusions
1. The RTU25,000/110Ul controllable reactor is an effective
means of stabilizing the voltage, reducing the losses, and reducing
the frequency of operation of circuit breakers and automaticrestart
units in extended lines with a variable daily load graph.
2. In combination with a staticcapacitor battery, the
RTU25,000/110Ul controllable reactor may be recommended for
use in place of synchronous and static compensators.
References
1. Controllable reactors, Elektrotekhnika, no. 2, 1991.
2. A.M. Bryantsev, A.G. Dolgopolov, A.I. Lurie, et al., RussianPatent
2132581. Threephase electrical reactor controlled by bias magnetization",
Otkryt., Izobr., no. 18, 1999.
3. A.M. Bryantsev, B.I. Bazylev, A.G. Dolgopolov, et al., Shunting reac
tors controlled by bias magnetization: A new electricalengineering compo
nent, Energ., no. 1, 2000.
First published: Electrical Engineering, 2003, 1, pp. 3035.
115
Power Control of ThreePhase Controllable
Shunting Reactor
A.M. Bryantsev, A.G. Dolgopolov, O.M. Dubrovina
Reactors controlled by bias magnetization, with limiting satura
tion of the magnetic system, are increasingly used in grids and su
perhighvoltage lines [1,2]. The range of functional capabilities of
these reactors, on the one hand, and the breadth of requirements
on line and substation reactors of different voltage classes, on the
other, determine the size and complexity of their control algo
rithms.
The main functional capabilities of threephase controllable
shunting reactors with limiting magneticsystem saturation are as
follows:
1) a wide range of smooth regulation (from idling to the rated
or limiting permissible power), with an unlimited frequency of
transition to the required power consumption;
2) ability to withstand longterm overloads of up to 20 % and
shortterm overloads of up to 100 %;
3) variation in the powerregulation time constant (speed) bet
ween 0.1 and 1 sec, according to customer requirements or locati
on;
4) noninertial power uptake at startup or double forcing (within
one or two industrialfrequency periods), if necessary;
5) the possibility of reducing the nonlinear distortions in the re
actor grid current from 4 to 1 % of 7 rat, depending on the require
ments and form of the equipment;
6) the ability to operate in parallel with a capacitor battery (with
the possibility of connecting to terminals of the secondary win
ding), in order to expand the range of reactivepower consumption
and generation (this combination is a complete replacement for a
synchronous compensator);
116
7) the ability to supply the internal substation power needs or
another active substation load from the 10kV terminals of the re
actor, with corresponding increase in power of the secondary win
ding, which is in a triangle configuration (i.e., the reactor may fun
ction as a transformer);
8) phasebyphase variation in reactor utilization when connec
ted to lines with automaticrestart equipment, to permit quenching
of capacitivecurrent arcs;
9) modification of the reactor structure from minimal (the elec
tromagnetic component with a magnetizing system) to complete,
including a broad range of components (filters, switches, capaci
tors, arcquenching units, etc.), depending on the requirements;
10) beyond the basic control channels (automatic voltage stabi
lization at the point of attachment and manual regulation of the
consumed current or power), capabilities such as: automated
remote control of the power, forcing and reverse forcing, control
within the delays of automaticrestart systems, and matching with
other control systems.
Thus, the control procedures and algorithms and hence the cor
responding volume of the shunting reactors control, safety, and
automation system (CSAS) will depend on its function and the
composition of the equipment. Nevertheless, experience in develo
ping 110, 220, and 330kV reactors (introduced at Kudymkar,
Chita, and Baranovichakh, respectively) with analog control sys
tems shows that the CSAS circuit is relatively simple and reliable if
a basic core (with manual and automatic control of the magneti
zing system) is supplemented by components such as display and
diagnostic equipment, external control and telemetric channels,
and modules for preliminary magnetization, forcing and reverse
forcing, and arc quenching.
Without detailed discussion of these functions and algorithms,
attention focuses here on improving the reliability and functional
capabilities of the most uptodate shunting reactors (RTU units of
voltage 35500 kV and power 32180 Mvar).
117
Since the appearance of the first RTU prototypes, control pro
cedures and equipment have been developed for these reactors,
which include the reactor and its windings, the power circuit for dc
magnetization (for example, a transformer with a builtin semicon
ductor converter), and a pulsephase control system, which modi
fies the magnetizing current in the reactors control winding in a
specified manner and hence changes its inductance and, correspon
dingly, the current and power consumed by the grid winding [1],
In existing magnetizing systems, a separate power source is re
quired; for example, the transformer with the builtin converter
may be connected to the (610)kV source for the substations in
ternal power needs [2]. In that case, the synchronization voltage in
the control system is supplied from the voltage transformer of the
substation buses, and the specified gridwinding current or power is
maintained in the closed control circuit by means of proportio
nalintegrating regulators (PI regulators), with a significant time
constant of the integrating components. As a result, the relations
between the reactor and substation components are complicated,
and the control time is increased, along with the oscillation of the
control system as a whole.
In addition, because of the known inertia of the reactor, which
has considerable inductance, there is a delay in reaching the requi
red reactivepower consumption; this delay corresponds to the
gridwinding time constant of the reactor and is 0.32 sec, depen
ding on the power. However, for many applications, such as
threephase shunting reactors of (220500)kV lines turned on
when idling, this delay is unacceptable and leads to voltage surges
in the line.
To simplify the power circuit, increase the reliability and stabi
lity of regulation, and reduce the delay in reaching specified reacti
vepower consumption, significant modifications in reactor design
and control procedures have been introduced. Fundamental struc
tural changes in the electromagnetic component eliminate the elec
tromagnetic interaction of the dc and ac windings in transient and
118
dynamic conditions, permitting reduction in the delay to
0.050.1 sec, with 12 % power of the magnetizing system.
The most important of the other modifications to the circuit
design, components, and control procedures of the reactor, which
always includes a grid winding, a control winding, and a compensa
tion winding (the control and compensation windings may be com
bined), as well as a transformer with a builtin semiconductor con
verter for magnetization and a pulsephase control system, are as
follows:
1) the transformer with the builtin converter is connected to
the terminals of the compensation winding;
2) the synchronization voltage for the pulsephase control
system is supplied from the secondary winding of the transformer
with the builtin converter;
3) the reactors gridwinding current is subjected to proportio
nal control, in which the control angle of the converter thyristors is
linearly proportional to the mismatch between the voltage setting
and the voltage at the point of reactor connection; with increase in
the specified voltage setting, the thyristor control angle varies smo
othly from the idling angle to the rated angle, with corresponding
increase in the magnetizing current in the control winding, while
the current in the grid winding and the reactor power increase from
the idling to the rated values;
4) to reduce the delay in reaching the required reactivepower
consumption, a circuit consisting of a diode and thyristor in series
is connected to the reactor control winding, in parallel with the ter
minal of the magnetizing converter; with no voltage at the reactor,
voltage is supplied continuously to this circuit from the premagne
tization source, ensuring dosed preliminary saturation of the reac
tor magnetic system by the direct current of the control winding;
when a voltage appears at the grid winding, the reactor switches
noninertially to the specified reactivepower consumption.
One version of a modified controllable (220500)kV threepha
se shunting reactor is shown in Fig. 1. In this case, the controllable
119
reactor (CR) includes three threephase windings: the grid winding
(CW), the control winding (CW) and the compensation winding
(CoW), mounted coaxially on the corresponding magnetic rods.
The dc magnetization unit is a freestanding TMP 10/0.4kV
oilfilled transformer with a builtin semiconductor converter (SC)
on the secondary winding side. The TMP converter is controlled by
120
CW
SC
PS
Regulator
CW CW
Fig. 1. Controllable threephase shunting regulator.
a pulsephase control system (PPCS), which opens the correspon
ding converter thyristors at a control angle specified by a proportio
nal voltage regulator (P regulator).
The grid winding in this case is in a star configuration and is
connected to (220500)kV substation buses or lines. The phases of
the control winding are connected in parallel to the terminals of
the dc output voltage of the TMP converter. The compensation
winding is connected in a triangle configuration and serves to eli
minate harmonics that are multiples of three; the terminals at the
vertices of the triangle are connected to the highvoltage grid win
ding (HV), which is in a star configuration. The secondary winding
(LV), in a triangle configuration, supplies the converter, whose thy
ristors are connected in a Larionov circuit. The pulsephase cont
rol system (PPCS) may implement any of the familiar procedures
and is connected through synchronization circuits to the TMP se
condary winding and through the reference signal to a proportional
regulator, whose output signal depends linearly on the mismatch
between the voltage setting ( ) U
set
and the voltage at the point of re
actor connection ( ) U
c
.
In addition, the terminals of the control winding are connected
in parallel with the TMP converter output to the dc prelimina
rymagnetization circuit, consisting of a diode and thyristor in
series, to which the magnetizing voltage is supplied from a separate
power source (PS) in all cases where there is no grid voltage at the
reactor (before the idling line is switched on, in the automaticres
tart delay, etc.).
In this case, the structure of the magnetic system, the winding
configuration, and the type of TMP converter are of no fundamen
tal importance and may be selected as required from the available
options. Significant changes with respect to the prototypes are as
follows.
1. The terminals of the compensation winding, selected for the
corresponding voltage and load current, permit direct power supply
of the TMP from the reactor, without a separate highvoltage ac
121
source in the form of a free 10kV cell of the substation. Thus,
selfmagnetization of the reactor in working conditions is possible,
and the overall coupling of the reactor is simplified; elimination of
a power feeder on the 10kV side reduces the reactor cost. More
over, since the voltage at the compensationwinding terminals de
pends on the current in the load (with increase in the reactor load,
the current in the compensation winding increases and the voltage
at its terminals declines), there is additional voltage forcing of the
magnetizing system (TMP unit) on transition from nearzero load
to the rated reactor load, which correspondingly increases the reac
tor speed in the given conditions.
Note that selfmagnetization of the reactor by thyristors at ter
minals of the grid winding or control winding is possible [1, 2]. Ho
wever, in terms of reliability and technological convenience, this is
only possible for lowervoltage controllable reactors, since at large
reactor voltage and power a considerable number of semiconductor
switches in a common tank or a large number of external winding
leads (with thyristors external to the winding terminals) would be
required. The additional voltage forcing is also absent in this case,
which reduces the speed of the reactor.
2. The reactor circuit design is reduced, and its operational reli
ability is increased, by optimizing the control circuits: by transfer of
the synchronizing voltages to the PPCS directly from the TMP se
condary winding, which supplies the converter circuits. As well as
shrinking the secondary circuits relative to the case with synchroni
zation by the substation voltage transformers, this simplifies the
operational algorithm of the premagnetization circuits, since the
absence of voltage at the TMP unit and in the synchronization cir
cuits indicates conditions in which there is no voltage at the reactor
and premagnetization is required.
3. The control circuit and the method of formulating a referen
ce voltage for the PPCS are modified. Previously, both proportio
nal and integrating elements (PI regulators) were used in reactor
voltage and power control circuits. With an inertial reactor, the in
122
tegrating element in the regulator creates a closed regulation system
of no less than second order, which leads unavoidably to oscillation
(requiring an additional circuit for its minimization) and also to re
duction in speed, since the time constant of the integrating element
is chosen so as to be larger than, or equal to, that of the reactor.
At the same time, when proportional regulation is permissible,
inertia of the reactor permits the use of a proportional regulator (P
regulator) in which all the components are noninertial. Then, the
control system will be of first order; the transient processes are ape
riodic; and oscillation of the system is eliminated. The reactor
itself, as the inertial element or integrator in the control system,
smooths the random fluctuations and fast transient processes both
in the grid and in the control circuit. With noninertial formulation
of the reference control signal by the P regulator on the basis of the
mismatch between the grid voltage and the voltage setting, the grid
current and reactor power are regulated with a gridwinding time
constant of around 0.1 sec.
4. If a premagnetization circuit consisting of a diode and triode
in series is connected to the terminals of the control winding in pa
rallel with the TMP output, noninertial switching of the reactor to
the required reactivepower consumption is ensured when the vol
tage is applied to the grid winding. To this end, in all cases where
there is no grid voltage at the reactor for example, when the line
or reactor is first switched on, when voltage is restored after the
delay of the automaticrestart unit (following a shortcircuit in the
grid) as indicated by the absence of a synchronizing voltage from
the TMP unit in the PPCS, voltage is supplied to the premagneti
zing circuit and the control voltage is applied to the thyristor in
that circuit. This voltage generates the premagnetizing current thro
ugh the diode and thyristor in the reactor control winding; as a
result, the magnetic system is partially saturated by the constant
magnetic flux. When the grid voltage of the reactor phase is switc
hed on, reactive power is noninertially taken on; the magnitude of
the reactive power corresponds to the premagnetizing current thro
123
ugh the additional diode/thyristor circuit at the controlwinding
terminals. By changing the voltage and premagnetizing current, the
gridwinding current may be regulated, along with the correspon
ding power noninertially acquired by the reactor when the grid vol
tage is applied. The power of the premagnetization source is less
than 1 kVA.
The controllable threephase shunting reactor (Fig. 1) operates
as follows. When the circuit breaker on the gridwinding side is off,
there is no voltage at the reactor, no voltage at the TMP, and no
synchronizing voltage at the PPCS from the secondary TMP win
ding. A voltage of 220 V is applied to the diode and thyristor in the
premagnetization circuit from the power source PS of the control
system (CS or CSAS). Rectification and regulation of this voltage
by the diode and thyristor ensure a rectified current in the control
winding corresponding to dosed saturation of the magnetic system
in accordance with the reactive power to be inertially acquired by
the reactor after the grid voltage is applied.
When voltage is applied to the reactor, by switching on a
(220500)kV circuit breaker (or when switching on an idling line
or after the automaticrestart delay), the reactor switches noninerti
ally to the level of reactivepower consumption corresponding to
the premagnetization current. At the same time, the voltage from
the premagnetization source is removed; voltage is applied to the
TMP unit from the compensation winding, and the synchronizing
voltage is applied from the TMP unit to the PPCS. Further regula
tion of the grid current and the reactive power of the reactor is by
means of the TMP converter, in accordance with the aperture
angle of the converter thyristors; the PPCS specifies this angle on
the basis of comparison of the sawtooth voltage with a reference
signal from the P regulator. The closed automatic control circuit
consisting of a P regulator, the PPCS, the TMP unit, and the cont
rol winding maintains a magnetizing current in the control winding
such that the saturation of the reactor magnetic system ensures in
ductance and current of the gridwinding phases consistent with the
124
reactivepower consumption of the reactor that corresponds to the
mismatch signal between the voltage setting and the voltage at the
point where the reactor is connected to the (220500)kV grid.
With increase in grid voltage above the setting by a specified margin
of around 25 %, the mismatch at the input of the P regulator inc
reases; as a result, the aperture angle of the TMP converter thyris
tors falls from the idling value to the rated value, with correspon
ding increase in the magnetizing current in the control winding, sa
turation of the reactor magnetic system, and increase in the grid
current in phases A, B, C. Accordingly, the reactivepower con
sumption smoothly and linearly increases from the idling value to
the rated value (or falls back from the rated value to the idling
value).
The measures proposed permit minimization of the equipment
and couplings within the reactor, increase in the operational relia
bility and stability, and maximum speed in the required conditions
on account of voltage forcing at the TMP unit and preliminary
magnetization of the magnetic system.
Note that smooth power adjustment in a Pregulator channel
with a sufficiently large time constant corresponds to quasisteady
grid operation, when there is no sharp deviation from the rated vol
tage or the voltage specified by the dispatcher. When the voltage
passes beyond the range of normal regulation (the specified tole
rances), the control system permits forcing and reverse forcing of
the magnetizing winding with a time constant of around 0.1 sec,
when all the available power of the magnetizing system is utilized
(around 1 % of the reactor power).
To this end, the CSAS includes a circuit ensuring forced power
uptake by the reactor to the rated gridwinding current. The con
verter thyristors then continuously receive control signals with an
angle corresponding to their maximum aperture (a
min
). Forced
power uptake to the rated gridwinding current is required when
the bus voltage is above U
max
and the gridwinding current is no
more than 70 % of the rated value for the reactor: U U
bus set
< ;
125
I I
gw gwrat
<07 . . The forcing angle amin is maintained until the
gridwinding current reaches the rated value or the bus voltage is
within the normal range of regulation.
The CSAS also permits reverse forcing (accelerated shedding of
grid current and power) by generating control signals with an angle
a
max
at the TMP converter. Reverse forcing is required when the
bus voltage is below the voltage setting and the gridwinding cur
rent is no less than 30 % of the rated value: U U
bus set
< ,
I I
gw gwrat
03 . . Reverse forcing is maintained until the reactor is in
idling mode or the bus voltage is within the range of normal regula
tion (U U
bus set
).
These measures have been adopted in the RTU100,000/220
reactor (Chita substation) and the 180,000/330 reactor (Baranovich
substation) and have been investigated in plant and grid acceptance
tests. The results indicate that the controllable reactor and its com
ponents are effective, viable, and reliable.
References
1. Controllable reactors, Elektrotekh., no. 2, 1991.
2. A.M. Bryantsev, B.I. Bazylev, A.G. Dolgopolov, et al., Shunting reac
tors controlled by bias magnetization: A new electricalengineering compo
nent, Elektrotekh., no. 7, 1999.
First published: Electrical Engineering, 2003, 1, pp. 3541.
126
FMZO Neutralizers
for Ruom Controllable Arcquenching Reactors
in Grid with Isolated Neutral Line
A.I. Lurie, A.N. Panibratets, V.P. Zenova,
V.N. Elagin, B.I.Bazylev
Reliable power supply during accidental singlephase
shortcircuiting to ground depends on the use of arcquenching
reactors, which, when tuned to resonance with the grid capaci
tance, reduce the industrialfrequency current at the site of the
problem to acceptable minimum values and ensure smooth phase
voltage recovery after arc quenching without any voltage surges.
Threephase (635)kV grids usually have an isolated neutral line
(Fig. 1). In this case, the artificial neutral line required for connec
tion of the arcquenching reactor is formed by means of a special
threephase reactor: a neutralizer, whose windings are in a zigzag
configuration [1,2].
RUOM controllable arcquenching reactors and the corre
sponding FMZO neutralizes are in production at Ramenskii
Elektrotekhnicheskii Zavod Energiya Joint Stock Company [2, 3].
The FMZO neutralizes are a new product, complying with Tech
nical Specifications TU 1699 IRFU.672266.001. Table 1 summa
rizes the basic parameters of the FMZO neutralizes.
Table 2 presents the dimensions and mass of the FMZO neu
tralizes (Fig. 2), while a photograph of the FMZO310/11 neutral
izer is shown in Fig. 3.
As of September 2002, 60 6.6 and 11kV FMZO neutralizes of
power around 15,000 kVA had been produced and supplied.
In IEC Publication 289 (Reactors), the neutralizing reactor is
called a grounding transformer (neutralizer). Other terms employed
in the literature include auxiliary grounding transformer,
137
threephase grounding reactor, threephase transformer with a
single zigzagconfiguration winding (withno secondary winding),
and supplementary filter. Ramenskii Elektrotekhnicheskii Zavod
Energiya Joint Stock Company characterizes the FMZO reactor as
a zerosequence oilfilled grounding filter; this term, encountered
elsewhere in the literature, characterizes the main function of the
device (for the directand inversesequence voltage, the FMZO
reactor has a very high resistance, several times greater than the
idling resistance of a twowinding transformer of analogous power,
while its resistance for the zerosequence voltage is low), whereas
the other terms characterize structural features of the transformer
module.
FMZO neutralizes are used in the circuits of grounding
arcquenching devices (for example, the RUOM arcquenching
controllable reactor with automatic compensation of the capacitive
shortcircuit to ground) or grounding resistors or in circuits with a
parallel arcquenching reactor and grounding reactor. The basic
neutralizer circuit connections are shown in Fig. 1.
Structurally, the neutralizer is an oilfilled threephase,
threerod power transformer (all FMZO neutralizes are based on
138
Fig. 1. Circuit diagram of grid with arcquenching reactor and FMZO neutralizer
(a) and voltage vector diagram (b): 1) power transformer; 2) FMZO neutralizer; 3)
arcquenching reactor; 4) distributed capacitance of grid.
TM transformers corresponding to AllUnion State Standard
GOST 1167785), without a secondary winding, with two cylin
drical laminar halfwindings at each rod, connected in a zigzag
configuration with an isolated neutral line (Fig. 4).
In operation, a symmetric threephase grid voltage is applied to
the neutralizer (idling mode). Therefore, neutralizer development
focuses on reduced magnetic induction in the steel, corresponding to
small idling losses and reduced noise. In all conditions, neutralizes
may operate at the rated and maximum permissible grid voltage.
Table 1
Para
meter
Power, kV A
40 80 200 310 500 875
Rated
line
volta
ge, kV
6,6 11 6,6 11 6,6 11 6,6 11 6,6 11 6,6 11
Maxi
mum
wor
king
volta
ge, kV
7,2 12 7,2 12 7,2 12 7,2 12 7,2 12 7,2 12
Rated
cur
rent, A
8,4 5 16,8 10,1 42 25,2 65,1 39,1 105 63 183,7 110
Twoho
ur load
cur
rent, A
10,5 6,3 21 12,6 52,5 31,5 81,4 48,9 131,2 78,75 229,6 137,7
Idling
current,
A
(relative
to 1/3
rated
current,
%)
0,04
(2)
0,03
(1,8)
0,1
(1,5)
0,1
(1,5)
0,15
(1,1)
0,15
(1,8)
0,3
(1,4)
0,2
(1,5)
0,25
(0,7)
0,15
(0,7)
0,6
(1)
0,35
(1)
139
Idling
losses,
W, no
more
than
75 65 120 120 250 250 550 600 850 850 800 800
Shortci
rcuit
voltage,
%, no
more
than
3 3 3,2 3,2 4,2 4,2 3,5 3,6 5,5 5,5 4,5 4,5
Shortci
rcuit
losses,
W, no
more
than
600 600 1200 1200 3000 3000 3500 3700 5000 5000 6000 6000
When singlephase shortcircuit to grid arises in the grid,
zerosequence currents of equal magnitude flow through all the
neutralizer windings. Together, these currents form the neutralline
current and, correspondingly, the current of the arcquenching
reactor in the neutral line. (This current may be a few percent
higher if there is a resistor in parallel with the arcquenching
reactor.) In accordance with the normalized operating conditions
of the arcquenching reactor, the neutralizers operating conditions
must be standardized in terms of the currents flow in its windings:
1) the rated current of the neutralizer, equal to the rated current
of the arcquenching reactor (at rated voltage) at which longterm
operation of the neutralizer and reactor is possible;
2) the twohour load current of the neutralizer, equal to the
limiting current of the arcquenching reactor (at rated voltage) at
which operation of the neutralizer and reactor is possible for no
more than 2 hr (the maximum permissible systematicload current
according to AllUnion State Standard GOST 1420985 for the
case of twohour compensation of the shortcircuit current to
ground, with intervals of no less than 4 hr, when operating for no
more than 2920 hr per year).
140
Table 2
Neutralizer
Dimensions, mm Mass, kg
B H L b l total oil
FMZO40/6.6
FMZO40/11
430 970 800 400 450 320 76
FMZO80/6.6
FMZO80/116
450 1075 840 400 500 430 110
FMZO200/6.6
FMZO200/11
770 1560 1090 550 550 760 190
FMZO310/6.6 820 1580 1150 550 550 905 210
FMZO310/11 820 1580 1150 550 550 910 210
FMZO500/6.6
FMZO500/11
990 1700 1300 550 550 1500 375
FMZO875/6.6
FMZO875/11
990 1700 1300 550 550 1500 375
In normal symmetric grid operation, a symmetric system of
threephase grid voltages is applied to neutralizer terminals A, B,
C. Therefore, the voltage at the neutral line relative to ground (the
voltage at input 0) is zero; the current of all three neutralizer phases
is the magnetizing current of the steel in the closed magnetic
system. This current is very small (analogous to the idling current
of a threephase transformer). The current of the neutralizer
(arcquenching reactor) is zero, of course, in view of the voltage
symmetry.
If one phase say, phase C is shortcircuited to ground,
voltage symmetry is disrupted, and a phase voltage appears at the
neutral line. This voltage is mainly applied to the controllable
arcquenching reactor (the voltage drop at the neutralizer is small
on account of its small shortcircuit voltage). The inductance of the
arcquenching reactor is automatically tuned to resonance with the
distributed capacitance of the grid [4], and hence the current in the
shortcircuit site is reduced almost to the minimum, determined
141
142
Fig. 2. Dimensions of FMZO neutralizer.
Fig. 3. FMZO310/11 neutralizer.
mainly by the active component of the current and the higher har
monics. This is also required for arc quenching or (in the rare cases
with no arc quenching) for continued operation during the few
hours to grid repair. At shortcircuiting to ground, the
zerosequence current flows through the neutralizer winding; as
already noted, the neutralizer inductance for this current is low on
account of its zigzag winding configuration. As a result, the main
voltage in these conditions is not at the neutralizer but at the
arcquenching reactor. Therefore, the electrical strength of the
neutralizer (the filter of the grounding zero sequence) is determined
by the longterm practically currentfree idling mode, when a
threephase symmetric grid voltage is applied.
143
Fig. 4. Electromagnetic component of FMZO neutralizer.
Table 3
Neutralizer Corresponding arcquenching reactor
FMZO200/6.6 RUOM190/6.6 3
FMZO200/11 RUOM190/11 3
FMZO310/6.6 RUOM300/6.6 3
FMZO310/11 RUOM300/11 3
FMZO500/6.6 RUOM480/6.6 3
FMZO500/11 RUOM480/11 3
FMZO875/11 RUOM840/11 3
In this mode, the 120shifted variable magnetic fluxes of the
three neutralizer rods (Fig. 4) induce voltages U
oA
, U
oB
, U
oC
in the
sections of the windings on these rods. The voltages at inputs A, B,
C may be determined from Fig. 1, as well as the voltages acting at
the most important insulating gaps: between the winding and the
rod and between the internal part of the winding and the external
part of the winding (the channel between winding sections). If the
line voltage at the filter (the line voltage of the grid; segment U
AB
,
U
BC
, or U
AC
inFig. 1) is taken as 100 %, the voltage at these gaps
will be, respectively, 33.33 % (vectors U
0A1
, U
0B1
, U
0C1
) and
33.33 % (vectors U
X1X
, U
Y1Y
, and U
Z1Z
). As is evident, there is a
uniform voltage distribution over the insulating gaps, which permits
optimal selection of the gap dimensions, so as to ensure minimum
consumption of active and insulating materials and greater opera
tional reliability of the insulation. Thus, in FMZO neutralizes, with
all possible configurations of the windingsection terminals, there is
an optimal configuration of the winding sections.
For all currentbearing modes of neutralizer operation (or load
modes), there is a small voltage at the neutralizer, since, as already
noted, it has a low zerosequence resistance (its shortcircuit
voltage is a few percent). Correspondingly, there are practically no
144
losses in the steel of the filter core, which distinguishes the neutral
izer from a transformer.
For (200875)kV A FMZO neutralizes, Table 3 gives the cor
responding RUOM controllable arcquenching reactors produced
by Ramenskii Elektrotekhnicheskii Zavod Energiya Joint Stock
Company.
The main benefit of using neutralizes instead of ordinary
threephase transformers with an isolated neutral line and a Y/D
configuration is as follows. Since longterm transformer operation
with the zerosequence current is undesirable on account of the
increased losses, the selected transformers must be of considerably
higher power and, hence, higher mass and cost, or else a special
transformer design taking account of the operating conditions is
necessary: for example, the introduction of shortcircuited rings on
the yokes or screens in the tank. As a rule, therefore, when ordering
RUOM reactors, FMZO neutralizes are also ordered.
Parallel operation of two or more neutralizes is possible, as well
as neutralizer operation with arcquenching reactors of various
types (controlled by bias magnetization, controlled electromagneti
cally, switchable, or uncontrollable) and with resistors.
For neutralizes, power is a somewhat arbitrary concept, since
the voltage at the neutralizer is low in the presence of current,
while the neutralizer current is low in idling mode with a large
voltage. Therefore, in neutralizer specification, the power is
assumed to be equal to the product of the twohour load and the
rated neutralizer voltage.
The section of grounding transformers (neutralizes) in IEC
Publication 289 (Reactors) standardizes the rated total
zerosequence resistance, which is determined experimentally when
voltage is applied to the junction point of the three line inputs and
to the neutral line. An analogous parameter has been introduced for
the neutralizer considered here: the shortcircuit voltage, calculated
145
as the product of the rated (longterm) current and the total
zerosequence resistance of the neutralizer as a percentage of the
rated voltage, as for transformers and reactors. Usually, in the
literature, a shortcircuit voltage ofno more than 10% is recom
mended for neutralizes; all FMZO neutralizes easily meet this con
dition.
The test voltages for the insulation of FMZO neutralizer wind
ings are equal to the corresponding test voltages for power trans
formers according to AllRussian State Standard GOST 1516.396
(Table 2, level b). For the sake of standardized design and
increased reliability, the same values are selected for 6 and 10kV
filters:
the oneminute industrial frequency voltage is 35 kV (as against
25 kV for a 6.6kV system);
the total lightningpulse voltage is 75 kV (as against 60 kV);
the truncated lightningpulse voltage is 90 kV (as against
70 kV);
double the rated 400Hz inductive voltage.
The limiting permissible temperature of the filter components
above the ambient temperature in heating tests at the rated neutral
izer voltage is shown in Table 4, in comparison with the values for
arcquenching reactors and transformers according to other stan
dard documents.
As is evident from Table 4, the temperature values adopted for
neutralizes are somewhat higher than those for power transformers;
they correspond to the earlier AilUnion State Standard GOST
1947074 (OilFilled Grounding ArcQuenching Reactors). In IEC
Publication 289, even higher temperatures are prescribed for neu
tralizes (grounding transformers), on the grounds that grid
shortcircuits are infrequent and brief. FMZO neutralizes have suc
cessfully undergone thermal tests at the rated current, at 15% of the
rated current for 6 hr, and at the twohour load current. Opera
tional experience suggests the possibility of increasing the rated
current of FMZO neutralizes by utilizing their structural reserves.
146
Table 4
Reactor
(transformer)
components
Temperature rise, C
FMZO
AllRussian
State
Standart
GOST
1947074
AllRussian
State
Standart
GOST
1167785
IEC Publication 289
rated
current
twohour
load
current
Winding 75 75 65 80 100
Oil inupper
layers
70 70 60
Magnetic
system, metal
components
85 85 75
According to IEC Publication 289, grounding transformers
(neutralizes) must be designed so as to withstand the thermal and
dynamic impact of the rated neutralline current without damage.
For the neutralizes considered here, attention focuses on the
twohour load current, i.e., the current corresponding to its min
imum inductance. Calculations of the electrodynamic strength of
the neutralizes at the twohour load current show that there are
large reserves, and therefore the corresponding tests are not con
ducted. Actually and formally, strength tests are combined with
heating tests at the twohour load current (twohour compensa
tion).
Neutralizer are not only used with arcquenching reactors. For
example, the FMZO310/llUKhLlM neutralizer based on the
FMZO310/11 neutralizer but with more winding turns and a
builtin current transformer in the neutral line is used with RTU
threephase controllable shunting reactors in particular, the
RTU100,000/220Ul reactor for compensation of the excess
charging power in 220kV grids with a grounded neutral line. In
this case, the basic functions of the neutralizer are to create an arti
ficial grounded point in the circuit with a triangle compensa
tionwinding (CW) configuration of the RTDU100,000/220
147
lectromagnetic component in the RTU reactor, i.e., elimination of
the floating potential of this winding, and to use the current trans
former in the FMZO310/11UKhLlM neutralizer so as to the
protect the CW circuit from accidental shortcircuits and to correct
the shape of the current in the event of shortcircuit to ground and
possible asymmetry due to damage of the capacitorbattery compo
nents.
REFERENCES
1. R. Wilheim and M. Waters, Grounding of the Neutral Line in
HighVoltage Systems [Russian translation], Gosenergoizdat,
MoscowLeningrad, 1959.
2. A. M. Bryantsev, A. I. Lure, A. G. Dolgopolov, et al.,
Arcquenching reactors controlled by bias magnetization with automatic
compensation of the capacitive shortcircuit current to ground for
(635)kV grids, Elektr., no. 7, 2000.
First published: Electrical Engineering, 2003, 1, pp. 4651.
148
Electrodynamic Strength
in ShortCircuiting of Ruom Controllable
Arcquenching Reactors
A.I. Lurie, A.N. Panibratets, V.P. Zenova
In grids with an isolated neutral line characterized by large ca
pacitive shortcircuit currents to ground, in circumstances regula
ted by the relevant operational rules [1], arcquenching reactors
(AQR) must be installed. Resonant tuning of the arcquenching re
actor is made possible by some favorable aspects of the processes in
singlephase shortcircuits: minimum industrialfrequency current
at the site of the damage, minimum rate of voltage recovery after
arc quenching, and minimum voltage surges from the arc.
At the beginning of the 1980s, reactors controlled by bias magne
tization with deep saturation of the magnetic system were developed
[2]. Since then, around a hundred such reactors have been installed
and successfully operated in Russian and other grids. In 1996, Ra
menskii Elektrotekhnicheskii Zavod Energiya Joint Stock Company
began to produce RUOM reactors (1901520 kV A, 635 kV) [3].
The basic circuit diagram of the RUOM controllable arcquen
ching reactor is shown in Fig. 1.
Structurally, the reactor resembles an ordinary distributive tran
sformer of analogous power. The reactors were first produced with
a reinforcedrod magnetic system (as in the RUOM480/11 reac
tor), with two rods, two lateral yokes, and two cylindrical windings
mounted on the rods; the windings include axial cooling channels
(Fig. 2). To improve their performance, subsequent reactors have a
twosection reinforcedrod magnetic system, in which the two rods
are combined into one consisting of two identical sections, one
above the other, separated by an intermediate yoke. The position of
the windings (the basic winding, BW, and the signal winding, SW)
and the control turns for the most typical reactor structures are
shown in Fig. 3 (for one part of the rod).
149
In RUOM reactors, as follows from Fig. 3, each of the two sec
tions of the magnetic system has half the basic grid winding (BW),
some turns of which include terminals for supplying power to the
converter controlling the rod magnetization, and half the lowpo
wer signal winding (SW). The SW terminals are on the roof of the
tank, while the control terminals are connected to the converter
within the tank. By analogy with transformers, the BW turns for
control of the bias magnetization will be called the control winding
(CW).
Given that the reactor includes two lowpower windings and
shortcircuiting is possible there, special attention must be paid to
the reactor strength in shortcircuiting (SC). Thus, with SC at the
terminals of the lowpower SW, this winding must be designed for a
very large SC current; with SC at the CW (for example, because of
SC in the converter), the CW effectively becomes a secondary
shortcircuited winding of the transformer (the primary winding is
the whole BW) and must be designed for a large SC current. Note
150
To SACT
BW SW
CW
BW
BW BW
SW
CW
Fig. 1. Basic circuit diagram of RUOM reactor windings: SACT, system for auto
matic compensation of tuning.
that, in RUOM reactors, SC in part of the winding (SC in the CW)
is regarded as an emergency, whereas in ordinary power transfor
mers it is classified as internal damage (there are no terminals on
the roof of the tank) and is disregarded, as a rule.
As we know, the electrodynamic forces at SC (in both reactors
and transformers) depend greatly on the configuration of the win
dings in the window of the magnetic systems, and several configu
rations must be considered in order to evaluate this factor in reac
tor design.
For example, in a 190kV A reactor, the CW follows the BW
(is further from the rod; Fig. 3a); as a result, radial SC forces pro
duce tensile stress in the wire. In other reactors, the SW is closer to
the magnetic rod; in SC, it is subjected to compressive (directed
toward the rod) radial forces, which may lead to loss of radial stabi
lity (loss of circular form) of the SW. In the RUOM480/11 reac
151
SW SW
CW
BW BW
Fig. 2. Winding configuration at rods of RUOM480/11 reactor
tor, the SW is not symmetric with respect to the BW (Fig. 2); con
sequently, pronounced axial forces act on the SW at SC. In reac
tors of other types (Fig. 3), the SW is symmetric with respect to the
BW, and the axial SC forces are significantly less.
As is evident from Figs. 2 and 3, the CW in different reactors
may be in the external layer of the BW (Figs. 2 and 3a,d) or in one
of the middle layers (Fig. 3b,c). As a rule, the CW is not symmetric
over the height (symmetric positioning is difficult since the number
of turns in the CS is usually less than the number of turns in the
BW layer, while it must be close to the BW neutral terminal). The
152
BW BW
BW BW
CW CW
CW CW CW
SW
SW
SW SW
a) b)
c)
d)
Fig. 3. Winding configurations in RUOM reactors with twoframe magnetic sys
tem: a) 190kV A, 11kV reactor; b) 480kV A, 38kV reactor; c) 400kV A,
11kV reactor; d) 1250kV A, 11kV reactor
refore, at SC, this asymmetry may produce large axial forces (the
radial forces in this winding are not large). In a 400kV A reactor,
the CW may be positioned relatively symmetrically in the middle
oftheBW height (Fig. 3c). In the same reactor, at the design stage,
two controlwinding configurations (relative to the rod) differing
significantly in electrodynamic characteristics are considered. In
the first case, the control turns occupy a layer approximately in the
middle of the BW radius (with diagonal shading in Fig. 3c); this
may be categorized as the internalCW configuration. In the
second case, the CW is in the last (external) layer of the BW (hone
ycomb shading in Fig. 3c) and may be categorized as the exter
nalCW configuration.
Since RUOM reactors resemble power transformers is structu
re, the SC strength of reactors may be calculated by methods used
for transformers if the particular structural and SC characteristics of
reactors are taken into account.
The calculation of SC electrodynamic strength for RUOM re
actors includes the following stages:
1) selection of the windings and structural components for
which the electrodynamic strength must be calculated, as well as
selection of the SC conditions;
2) selection of the computational procedures and programs;
3) calculation of the SC currents in the given conditions;
4) calculation of the magnetic field;
5) calculation of the electromagnetic forces and the stresses;
6) calculation or determination of the permissible mechanical
stresses in the structural components;
7) determination of the margins of strength and stability;
8) formulation of a conclusion regarding the electrodynamic
strength and recommendations for increasing the strength.
If the results indicate the need to modify the design so as to in
crease the electrodynamic strength, the modified design is again
subjected to this check calculation.
153
Table 1
Basic Calculation Results for SC Currents in RUOM Reactor Windings
Reactor power
Winding
withSC
SC current in
Structure
SW CW BW
190 kVA/11 kV
SW 1748 47 47 SW and CW
outside BW
(Fig. 3a)
CW 1118 61
480kVA/ll kV
SW 977 10.2 10.2 SW at rod,
CW outside BW
(Fig. 2)
CW 1550 15.1
480 kVA/38 V
SW 4306 20.7 20.7 SW at rod,
CW inside BW
(Fig. 3b)
CW 1550 15.1
400kVA/ll kV,
configuration 1
SW 4505 73.6 73.6 SW at rod,
CW inside BW
(Fig. 3c)
CW 5476 90.9
400 kVA/11 kV,
configuration 2
SW 4505 73.6 73.6 SW at rod,
CW outside BW
(Fig. 3c)
CW 2835 47.1
1520kVA/ll kV
SW 8739 152 152 SW at rod,
CW outside BW
(Fig. 3d)
CW 2130 113
Selection of the Windings, Structural Components,
and SC Conditions
Since the SW and CW (in fact, turns of the BW) are relatively
weak in electrodynamic terms for RUOM controllable arcquen
ching reactors, the SC at their terminals are determining. Besi
des the BW, special attention must be paid to the stability of the
SW compressed by a radial force (when it is mounted on the
rod), the radial strength of the CW under tension, and the axial
shear forces acting on all the windings and their attachment
components.
154
Selection of the Computational Procedures
and Programs
As already noted, existing transformer procedures and programs
are satisfactory for the analysis of the SC strength of RUOM reac
tors. Thus, the reactor inductance and SC currents may be calcula
ted by means of the RASTOK program (developed by the VIT Ins
titute [4]), which takes relatively accurate account of the geometric
dimensions of the winding; the magnetic field in the winding region
with SC, as well as the mechanical forces and stresses, may be cal
culated by the REST program (developed by the AllRussian Elect
ricalEngineering Institute on the basis of dynamic test data for
hundreds of transformers and winding models [5]). Note that, in
developing RUOM reactors, the REST program is also used to cal
culate the winding temperature rise; the calculation results agree
with the results of thermal tests.
Calculation of the SC Currents
As an example, Table 1 gives the basic results of calculating the
SC currents according to the RASTOK program for the reactors in
Figs. 1 and 2. For a 400 kV A reactor, two controlwinding confi
gurations are considered: 1) internal CW; 2) external CW.
As is evident from Table 1, the externalCW configuration in
the 400 kV A reactor reduces the SC current in the control turns
to practically half that in the internalCW configuration.
Table 1 gives the effective current values in steady SC. In calcu
lations of the electrodynamic forces at the least favorable instant,
this current (the effective value) must be multiplied by VT and by
an impact factor depending on the ratio of the reactors active re
sistance and inductance in order to take account of the aperiodic
component in the transient process.
155
Table 2
Basic Calculation Results for Electrodynamic Strength of RUOM Reactors
Power,
voltage
Mode Winding
s s]
me
/[ ,

s s]
rad
/[ ,

P
max
,
kN
P
supp
,
kN
Note
190
kVA/11
kV
SC in
SW
SW 7.1/109 15.8/109 2.0 0.0
SW and
CW
outside
BW
(Fig. 3a)
SC in
CW
CW 10.4/109 23.1/109 4.1 2.1
480
kVA/11
kV
SC in
SW
SW 19.5/33.7 18.0/109 5.1 2.5
SW
inside
and CW
outside
BW
(Fig.2)
SC in
CW
BW 0.1/44 0.1/109 4.8 4.4
CW 1.0/1.09 7.1/109 7.2 5.3
480
kVA/38
kV
SC in
SW
SW 15.8/32.1 26.4/109 9.1 0.0
SW
inside
and CW
outside
BW
(Fig.3b)
SC in
CW
CW 0.4/45.6 6.0/109 10.3 7.0
400
kVA/11
kV,
configur
ation 1
SC in
SW
SW 4.7/13.1 9.6/36 4.4 0.0
SW
inside
and CW
outside
BW
(Fig.3c)
SC in
CW
CW 0.4/36 16.5/36 11.3 6.2
configur
ation 2
SC in
CW
CW 4.2/36 10.9/36 4.9 1.8
CW
outside
BW
1520 kV
A/11 k
V
SC in
SW
SW 36.0/36.0 58.6/109 37.9 0.0
SW
inside
and CW
outside
BE
(Fig.3d)
SC in
CW
CW 3.8/109 19.1/109 32.1 18.7
156
Calculation of the Magnetic Field, Calculation
of the Electromagnetic Forces and the Stresses
The REST program is intended for calculation of the electro
magnetic field, losses, temperature rise, axial, radial, and tangential
forces, and SC stresses in windings and their supports and also for
calculation of the SC strength and stability of transformers and re
actors with round concentric windings. The initial data for the pro
gram are: the SC currents, the window and winding geometry, the
wire dimensions and type, the dimensions of the cooling channels,
the mechanical properties of the electricalengineering materials,
and the windingproduction technology. The scope of the program
is considered in more detail in [5].
As already noted, the basic parameters determining the dynamic
strength of the RUOM reactor are the radial stability of the signal
winding, the radial compressive or tensile strength of the signal
winding or the control turns, and the axial shear forces between the
asymmetric windings.
Table 2 gives the basic calculation results for the electrodyna
mic strength at SC of lowpower windings of the given reactors. In
157
P
,

k
N
Time, ms
Fig. 4. Variation in axial forces in CW of RUOM1520/11 reactor over time: the
continuous curve corresponds to F
elmag
, the bold curve to P
max
, and the dashed
curve to P
upp
.
the BW, the forces and especially the mechanical stresses are low;
they are shown in Table 2 only for a 480kV A, 11kV reactor. The
calculations are performed for the SC conditions and currents in
Table 1. For a 400kV A reactor, two CW configurations are consi
dered (Table 2): 1) internal CW; 2) external CW. Table 2 adopts
the following notation: s
me
is the mean radial compressive stress (a
minus sign means that the winding is compressed toward the rod by
radial forces); s
rad
is the total radial compressive (tensile) force;
P
max
is the maximum axial compressive force; P
supp
is the axial
force acting on the winding supports.
Note that, when windings of different types are used (for exam
ple, continuous windings or turnbyturn windings with interlay
ers), the axial flexure in the intervals between the interlayers must
also be estimated.
In Table 2, the permissible parameter values [s] are assumed to
be the permissible radial stresses standardized in the calculation
method for windings in compression [ame] and in tension [fften],
respectively.
It follows from Table 2 that almost all the reactors considered
meet the SC strength requirements with a large margin. The radial
compressive stress is only close to the permissible critical stress for
the most powerful reactor in Table 2 (1520 kV A).
The radial SW stability is determined by the mean radial comp
ressive stress s
me
in this winding (closest to the rod) when it expe
riences SC. If this voltage exceeds some permissible value [s
me
]
(the critical stress), stability loss (loss of form) in the radial directi
on is observed for this winding.
The critical radialstability stress depends on the wire cross sec
tion, the winding diameter, the wire material, the presence and
structure of the radial supports, the axial compression, the friction
between adjacent elements, and the winding method and technolo
gy. Such deformation is possible in the SW with SC at its terminals
in all the reactors considered, except for the RUOM190/11 reac
tor, in which the SW is not inside but outside the radius of the BW
158
(Fig. 3a) and is subjected to tensile rather than compressive radial
forces. Note that radial stability of the SW is ensured in all the re
actors. The calculations show (Table 2) that the margin K
ma
(the
ratio of the permissible critical stress to the mean compressive
159
Turn no. (over height)
Turn no. (over height)
Turn no. (over height)
Turn no. (over height)
P
,

k
N
a
x
P
,

k
N
a
x
P
,

k
N
a
x
P
,

k
N
a
x
RUOM480/11
a)
b)
c)
d)
RUOM480/38
RUOM1520/11
RUOM190/11
Fig. 5. Sample distributions of axial forces over the CW height in various RUOM
reactors: a) 190 kV A, 11 kV; b) 480 kV A, 38 kV; c) 400 kV A, 11 kV; d)
1250 kV A, 11 kV
stress) in terms of radial stability of the SW is 1.73 for the
RUOM480/38 reactor, 2.03 for the RUOM480/38 reactor, 2.78
for the 400kV A reactor, and 1.0 for the 1520kV A reactor. At
first, the SW of the 1520kV A reactor consisted of eight parallel
5.6 1.0 mm wires, but calculations show that the radial stability of
this SW is inadequate: the margin (in this case, a deficit) is no
more than 0.78. It was necessary to increase the wire cross section
by 20 % in order to obtain sufficient radial stability of the SW.
The radial strength of the winding is determined by the total
stress due to radial compression (or tension) and radial flexure, de
termined for the most loaded wire of the winding. Calculations
show that, in terms of this parameter, the dynamic strength of all
the reactors is sufficient: the margin in terms of radial compressive
strength is no less than 1.8 (SW of 1520kV A reactor) and the
margin in terms of tensile strength is no less than 3.3 (external CW
of 400kV A reactor).
In calculating the radial CW strength in reactors where the con
trol turns are in the middle of the BW radius (RUOM480/38 reac
tor and 400kV A reactor in internalCW configuration), note the
following circumstance. In SC at the CW terminals, these reactors
may be represented as threewinding transformers with a shortcir
cuited middle winding (the CW layer) and power supply from the
internal and external concentric rings of the BW. The current di
rection in the parts of the BW to the left and right of the CW is op
posite to that of the current in the shortcircuited CW turns. There
fore, the internal part of the BW is under the action of compressive
(toward the rod) radial forces, and the external part of the BW is
under the action of tensile (away from the rod) radial forces. The
wires distributed over the CW radius are under the action of oppo
sing forces: the internal wires are in tension, while the external
wires are compressed by the radial forces. The stress is greatest at
the most internal and most external wires of the control layer. The
greatest radial stress is 16.5 MPa in the 400kV A reactor, which is
within the permissible value (36 MPa for aluminum wire).
160
The axial forces acting in the windings and on the supports and
pressing the winding structure are important in estimating the SC
stability. The DINAR program (part of the REST software) is used
for calculations of the dynamic axial forces. These forces are plot
ted over time for the CW of the RUOM1520/11 reactor in Fig. 4,
where three forces are shown: the electromagnetic force F
elmag
(proportional to the square of the current SC current); the maxi
mum axial force compressing the winding P
max
; and the force P
upp
acting on the upper support of the winding. However, the first two
curves are the same, while the P
upp
curve is of practically the same
shape as the F
elmag
curve. Thus, there are no mechanical resonan
ces in the windings, which permits static calculation of the axial
forces, as in distributive transformers.
Calculations show that the axial forces in SC at the SW are not
large, since the SW in all the reactors currently in production is
symmetric relative to the BW height (the RUOM480/11 reactor
with a reinforced magnetic system and an asymmetric SW configu
ration is currently being removed from production and replaced by
a reactor with a symmetric SW configuration). Dangerous axial
forces appear at CW SC. As already noted, symmetry of the CW
with respect to the BW is difficult in most reactors on account of
structural considerations. Therefore, in RUOM reactors, the CW is
distributed over the height nonsymmetrically with respect to the
BW: the CW is shifted to the upper end of the BW (Figs. 2 and 3).
The distribution of the theoretical axial forces over the CW height
for four such reactors is shown in Fig. 5. It is evident that signifi
cant (comparable with the maximum compressive forces) axial
forces on the upper support of the BW appear in all reactors with a
nonsymmetric configuration of the control layer. These forces
amount to 2.5 kN in the RUOM190/11 reactor (with a maximum
force in the winding of around 4 kN), 67 kN in RUOM480 reac
tors (with a maximum force of 710 kN), and around 20 kN in the
most powerful RUOM1520/11 reactor (with a maximum force of
more than 30 kN). To ensure reactor stability under such axial
161
forces, special measures are taken to fix the winding in the axial di
rection, and the winding is pressed with a force close to the theore
tical value.
In the development of RUOM reactors, their structure was im
proved as computational and design experience was gained. Thus,
in one promising design of the 400kVA reactor, the control turns
were distributed more symmetrically over the BW height. As alrea
dy noted, internalCW and externalCW configurations are also
considered for this reactor. The configuration of the CW turns has
a considerable influence on the axial forces. The distribution of the
axial forces over the height of the control turns for internalCW
and externalCW configurations of this reactor is shown in Fig. 6.
It is evident that the externalCW configuration reduces the maxi
mum compressive forces to less than half (from 11 to 5 kN) and the
forces on the supports to less than a third (from 6.2 to 1.8). For
comparison, the corresponding curve for ideal (optimal according
to the calculation) configuration of the control layer (symmetric
with respect to the BW) is also shown in Fig. 6. The axial forces in
the optimal case are relatively small: the maximum force is 3.9 kN;
the force on the supports is practically zero.
162
P
,

k
N
a
x
RUOM400/11
Turn no. (over height)
Fig. 6. Distribution of axial forces over the CW height in 400kV A, 11kV reactor
with externalCW configuration (1), internalCW configuration (2), and symmet
ricCW configuration (3)
The calculations yield practical recommendations for optimiza
tion of the RUOM reactors in terms of SC forces and electrodyna
mic strength. As already noted, the electrodynamic strength of the
reactors considered is adequate, according to the calculations.
Note that the risk of damage due to inadequate electrodynamic
strength at SC is significantly different for arcquenching reactors
(AQR) and power transformers. Mostly, AQR operate with practi
cally no voltage, since they are only subject to the nearzero voltage
of the gridneutral line. A voltage only appears at the AQR with SC
to ground in the grid, i.e., in accidents that may last a few hours,
until the SC is removed or the line is disconnected for repair. The
risk of AQR SC to ground (accidental flow of SC currents in the
reactor windings) only appears within this short period. Thus, AQR
SC is only seen when two accidents overlap, i.e., is relatively imp
robable. This means the that calculation of the SC stability of reac
tors may be limited. Note again that the reactor calculations are
based on the REST procedure developed for transformers on the
basis of dynamic tests of hundreds of models and real transformers.
The reactors considered have not been tested for SC strength. Even
though the calculations show that the strength and stability conditi
ons are satisfied, dynamic tests of at least one RUOM reactor in
SC are planned for the future.
Conclusions
1. In developing RUOM controllable arcquenching reactors,
the electrodynamic strength of various (1901520)kVA reactors
controlled by bias magnetization was calculated.
2. It is found that methods and programs used for power trans
formers may also be used to estimate the electrodynamic strength
of RUOM reactors.
3. Methods of optimizing the structure and dynamic strength of
the reactors have been identified.
163
4. Recommendations based on the calculation results ensure
sufficient electrodynamic strength of all the reactors considered.
References
1. Operational Rules for Power Stations and Grids [in Russian], Moscow,
1996.
2. A.M. Bryantsev, Magnetized ferromagnetic devices with limiting satu
ration of sections of the magnetic system, Elektr., no. 2, 1986.
3. A.M. Bryantsev, A.I. Lure, A.G. Dolgopolov, et al., Arcquenching re
actors controlled by bias magnetization, with automatic compensation of the
capacitive shortcircuit current to ground for (635)kV grids, Elektr., no. 7,
2000.
4. A.G. Bunin, L.N. Kontorovich, and M.Yu. Vinogreev, Current and vol
tage distribution in transformer windings, Elektrotekh., no. 4, pp. 811,
1977.
5. V.P. Zenova, E.I. Levitskaya, A.I. Lure, et al., REST software for cal
culating the electrodynamic strength, losses, and heating of transformers and
reactors, Elektrotekh., no. 8, pp. 3744, 1996.
First published: Electrical Engineering, 2003, 1, pp. 5259.
164
ArcQuenching MagneticBiasControlled Reactors
with Automatic of Ground Fault Capacitive Current
Compensation for 6 to 35 kV Networks
A.M. Bryantsev, A.I. Lurie, A.G. Dolgopolov,
G.A. Evdokunin, B.I. Bazylev
According to the applicable Russian regulations [1], the 610 kV
networks are classified as networks e with low faulttoground cur
rents and should operate either with an insulated neutral or a neut
ral grounded through an arcquenching reactor. The operating ex
perience has shown that the overwhelming majority of disturbances
in these networks are caused by phasetoground insulation failure,
i.e., by a single phasetoground fault. It is possible, in principle, to
ensure troublefree operation of the whole power supply system and
not to disconnect customers while a singlephase fault persists for
some time required to find and repair the fault or to switch on the
standby service. It is necessary, however, in this case that the cur
rent be so low at the fault location that it can be selfextinguished if
possible or pass into stable arcing condition with a low probability
of transition into phasetophase damages. Such currents that do
not exceed 5 A for networks containing highvoltage electrical
machines and those that do not exceed 30 A, 20 A, and 10 A for
the other 6kV, 10kV, and 35kV networks, respectively, are con
sidered acceptable in Russia [2]. Note that safe current values are
substantially lower in many countries. For example, many years of
415 kV network operation experience in the USA resulted in the
requirement to limit the current to no more than 7 A to 10 A in all
cases.
Arcquenching reactors (AER) should be installed in networks
with high capacitive faulttoground currents in the cases regulated
by SIM [2], Arcquenching. The resonance tuning of an arcquen
165
ching reactor provides a number of favourable conditions for the
process behaviour during singlephase faults including minimum
fundamental frequency current at the fault location, minimum vol
tage recovery rate after arc extinguishing, and the minimum level of
arc overvoltages.
It is impossible to provide resonance tuning favourable in all
respects in the actual practice where the network capacity is variab
le, arcquenching capacities of reactors are insufficient and auto
matic compensation tuning systems are absent resonance tuning
(all the more so because SIM allows operation with an overcom
pensation but allows, operation with an under compensation tem
porarily). However, the resonance detuning of complete compensa
tion is undesirable not only because of higher fundamental frequen
cy current component at the fault location but also because it ext
remely aggravates the pattern of incipient overvoltages.
The experience of operating 6 to 35 kV networks in Russia both
with an insulated neutral and AER has shown that the absence of
close control over the resultant faulttoground current (preferably
to a value of no more than 5 A to 10 A considering AER malcom
pensation, active network loss and high current harmonics), the ab
sence of any overvoltagelimiting measures, the absence of discri
minative protection against phasetoground faults results in fa
ultrisk operation of a network and often makes longterm operati
on with a singlephase fault senseless because it not only does not
improve the network reliability but on the contrary increases its
fault risk.
Operation of network without an automatic compensation of
the faulttoground current reveals a number of problems, many of
which lead to the absence of arc selfextinguishing at the fault loca
tion, to significant overvoltages in the network, and severe acci
dents in power systems.
The arcquenching magneticbiascontrolled reactors are at
present day, the most promising technical devices capable to solve
166
the accumulated problems are arcquenching magneticbiascont
rolled. First attempts to use such devices were made as early as the
first quarter of the twentieth century [4]. Their further application
was limited and did no go outside individual pilot runs for the fol
lowing main reasons: increased material consumption, significant
current waveform distortion by high harmonics, and a long transi
ent to achieve the required operation conditions. The situation has
drastically changed and these drawbacks have been eliminated in
new types of magneticbiascontrolled reactors with deep saturation
of the magnetic circuit, which were developed in the early
1980smagneticbiascontrolled [5]. The concept, theory of operati
on, and key functional capabilities of these devices are set forth,
among others, in Refs. [68]. Several dozens of such reactors have
been installed and operated to advantage in electrical networks of
the Russian Federation and other countries for the last ten years .
The organization of manufacturing arcquenching reactors at Ra
menskoe Energy Electrical Engineering Plant in 1996 [910] can be
considered the final phase of commercial introduction of this type
of reactors.
Basic performance data of arcquenching magneticbiascont
rolled RUOM reactors
1
are given in Table 1 (the frequency is
50(60) Hz).
This line of reactors was developed with a view that the RUOM
arcquenching reactors complete with an ACAS electronic control
system [11] should automatically perform the following functions:
the recognition of network normal conditions and of apha
setoground fault;
capacity measurements under normal network conditions;
immediateaction transition to the compensation of the capa
citive current in case of a phasetoground fault;
167
1
Jointly with other manufacturies the Energiya Electrical Engineering Plant in Ra
menskoe produces also 20kV and 35kV magnetically controlled arcextinguishing
reactors with the capacity of up to 1520 kVA.
maintenance of selfadmittance equal to the network admit
tance during recovery of normal operation after fault selfeliminati
on (provided that the reactor voltage is at least 15 % of the rated
phase voltage of the network);
measurement and maintenance of selfadmittance equal to
the capacity admittance of the network during a phasetoground
fault in the time intervals between subsequent faults and with brief
voltage distortions caused by an intercalary arc (at the arcs bites);
selfdiagnostics of operation in the network capacity measu
rement mode and in the faulttoground current compensation
mode.
Table 1
Basic performance data of the RUOM
arcquenching magneticbiascontrolled reactors
Rated
capaci
ty, kVA
Rated
voltage,
kV
Compens
ation
current
tuning
range (in
long
term
mode)
Current, A
Overall
dimensions, B x L
x H and mounting
dimensions A1 x
A2 in mm, see
Fig. 2.
Weight, kg
in two
hour
compen
sation
mode
Residual
reactor,
current
at fault
point
Full Oil
190
11.0 3 2.525.0 30 <2.0
1030x1165x1690
550x660
1220
6.6 3 4.2542.5 50 <2.75
300
11.0 3 440 48 <2.75
1180x1240x1890
550x820
1650
6.6 3 6.666.0 80 <3.5
480
11.0 3 6.363.0 76 <3.5
1280x1320x1990
660x820
2450
6.6 3 10.5105 126 <5.0
840 11.0 3 11110 132 <5.0
1980x1160x1950
1070x820
3500 1000
As an additional function, there is a capability of transition to a
brief active power consumption (up to 25 % of the reactors rated
capacity) to detect the damaged line using a relay protection
device. The operating conditions include independent operation of
168
a reactor, parallel operation of two or more reactors, and parallel
operation of a reactor with electromechanical reactors (for instan
ce, RZDSOM or RZDPOM). And finally the line of the RUOM
arcquenching reactors is designed so that they correspond to plun
gertype arcquenching reactors by their power ratings, dimensions
and weight arcquenching [12].
The schematic electrical diagram of the RUOM arcquenching
reactor and its possible network connection are shown in Fig. 1.
The RUOM controlled reactor itself consists of two main func
tional units including an electromagnetic part and a thyristor con
verter. The electromagnetic part and the thyristor converter are lo
cated in a common oilfilled tank and are designed for outdoor
operation. The outline drawing of the RUOM reactors is shown in
Fig. 2. All the reactors are complete with ACAS (RUOM) electro
169
ZPS
RUOM
A
C
A
S
NAMI
~220 V
A
B
C
Fig. 1. Connection of RUOM reactors to the threephase network : ZPS is a neut
ralizing zerosequence grounding oil filter connection reactor (neutraler, a reac
tor for creating an artificial neutral) and NAMI is a voltage transformer.
nic control systems designed specifically for them and without
which normal operation of an arcquenching reactor is impossible.
The control system is placed in a single housing and is intended for
operation in a heated enclosure.
Basic characteristics of the ACAS (RUOM) control system
Supply voltage, V 220
Frequency, Hz 50(60)
Maximum power consumption, W 300
Accuracy class 2.0
Weight, kg 3.2
Dimensions, mm 260270160
170
Fig. 2. The design and key dimensions of RUOM arcquenching magneticbi
ascontrolled reactors.
The reactor can be connected to a threephase network through
an auxiliary substation transformer having a neutral lead or, as
shown in Fig. 1, through a neutraler, a special grounding
threephase reactor (a transformer without the secondary winding)
zigzagconnected with a neutral lead (a ZPS zerosequence groun
ding oil filter). The purpose of this device is to serve as a filter of
the zerosequence connection. It has a very high impedance for the
positive and negative voltage sequences, which is several times
higher than the noload impedance of a doublewound transformer
of the same capacity, but its impedance is insignificant for zerose
quence voltage. Ramenskoe Energy Electrical Engineering Plant
produces such filters for the RUOM reactors of 200 kVA, 310 kVA,
500 kVA, and 875 kVA capacity for 6 kV and 10 kV. In terms of
material consumption, they are almost 40 % lighter than doub
lewound transformers for the same purpose.
An arcquenching reactor operates in the following manner.
The control system senses its operation as normal while the instan
taneous value of zerosequence voltage at the secondary winding of
the voltage transformer (for example, NAMI made by Ramenskoe
Energy Electrical Engineering Plant, see Fig. 1) is below the critical
value of 0.15 of the maximum rated voltage of this winding maxi
mum. Under these conditions, the control system generates current
pulses of about 1 ms to the network through the RUOM signal
winding. The pulse repetition interval depends on the capacity of a
reactor, the state of the network and ranges from 0.1 sec to 0.3 sec.
The current pulse charges the network capacity, which causes sub
sequent resonant damping oscillation of voltage between the capa
city and the reactor. It is possible in principle to determine the ne
twork capacity, inductance of the reactor and Qfactor of the ze
rosequence current loop by the behaviour of the oscillation pro
cess. Indeed, the capacity admittance of the network is inversely
proportional to the rate of neutral voltage increase. The ratio of the
natural resonance frequency to the operational frequency of the ne
twork demonstrates the extent of the reactor being detuned from
171
the resonance point. The oscillation damping rate characterizes
Qfactor of the network and this value is used to set the minimum
admissible interval between adjacent current pulses. New capacity
admittance values of the network are measured and stored by the
ACAS (RUOM) control system only by the rate of the neutral vol
tage wavefront rise when a current pulse is generated. The fact
that the capacity is measured during a short time, 10 to 20 times
shorter than the network voltage oscillation period makes this
method highly immune to interference in case of possible neutral
voltage shifts, for example, because of network asymmetry or
random disturbances. The interference immunity increases many
fold due to the fact that the current pulse is generated into the ne
twork when the first derivative of interference induced at the se
condary winding of the voltage transformer crosses zero. In this
case the error of network capacity measurement made by the
method described above does not exceed 2 % even for a neutral
shift of 15 %, (see Table 1).
The information gained from measurements of the network ca
pacity is used by the control system to generate two types of control
signals. One of them sets and maintains indefinitely long the admit
tance of the reactor required for accurate resonance tuning accor
ding to the network capacity. The second signal shifts the operation
point of magnetic fluxes in the reactor cores in the position where
free components of a transient in the reactor are zeroed and stea
dystate conditions arise at once in case of a phasetoground fault,
which, corresponds to accurate tuning of the reactor for the arc
current compensation mode. The control signals of the first type
act on the thyristors of the reactors converter and those of the
second type on its magnetic system. The power consumption of the
control system from the network does not exceed 300 W (see
Table 1).
In case of a phasetoground fault and neutral voltage excee
ding 15 % of the phase voltage the pulse generation by the control
system stops and inductive admittance is set in the reactor, which is
172
173
Fig. 3. The transient curves in case of a phasetoground fault in a network (mathe
matical model calculations): a RUOM480/11/ 3 reactor is installed in the ne
utral; b equivalent constant inductance is in the neutral; I normal network
conditions; II a phasetoground fault; III normal conditions recovered after
the fault dissipation; 1 faulttoground current; 2 reactor voltage; 3 reactor
current; 4 network phase voltages; 5, 6 equivalent inductance voltage and cur
rent, respectively.
equal to the last value of the network capacity admittance before
the fault. An example of further development of a 63A capacitive
current compensation process by the RUOM480/11/ 3 reactor
followed by dissipation of the fault and recovery of normal operati
on is shown in Fig. 3a. A calculated curve of a transient in case of
capacitive current compensation using equivalent inductance with a
linear characteristic is shown for comparison in Fig. 3b. It can be
seen that the two processes practically coincide and the operation
of a magneticbiascontrolled reactor is highly competitive with the
idealized case in performance.
Compensation of the first harmonic by the reactive capacitive
current is instantaneous, the residual arc current being distorted so
mewhat by higher harmonics when a RUOM reactor is used , but
their values do not exceed the active component of the reactor cur
rent and the active total residual current does not exceed 3 A (rms
value). When the fault dissipates, the reactor maintains its admit
tance constant, and the natural resonance frequency in the reactor
remains equal to the network frequency. It ensures smooth voltage
recovery in the phases without any overvoltages (see Fig. 3a). Here
again, the performance of the reactor fairely corresponds to the
ideal (Fig. 3 b).
The RUOM reactor limits the arc current no less efficiently for
other capacitive current values. Table 2 shows values of the ground
fault residual current in an arcquenching RUOM480/11/ 3 re
actor, which were obtained by experiments. The residual current
was determined by measuroffing directly the resultant current in the
reactor itself and its capacitor bank tuned in resonance with it. In
addition, the transient process was oscillographed was both in case
of a single fault and of repetitive ground faults spaced about 5 sec
apart to determine the time of the reactor achieving steadystate
compensation. The experimental data is given in Table 2 and in
Fig. 7.
So, it can be seen from the results above that the RUOM
arcquenching reactors are in essence distinctly nonlinear electro
174
nic devices able adjust automatically with precise and practically
noninertial resonance within a broad range of the network capaci
ty variation. At the same time, they behave linearly during the ca
pacitive current compensation as ordinary inductors and ensure in
stantaneous arc current limitation at the fault point to values, mee
ting the most severe international requirements.
Table 2
The values of the residual faulttoground current of an arcquenching
RUOM480/11/ 3 reactor
Reactor
voltage, kV
Reactor
current, A
Reactor
capacity,
kVA
Residual
current, A;
Manual/auto
matic control
Time of
transition to
capacitive
current
compensatio
nmode, sec
6.36 31 197 1.8/2.4 <0.02
6.36 62 394 2.4/2.4 <0.02
6.24 74 462 3.2/3.4 <0.02
This conclusion contradicts rather old, but unfortunately oftre
peated in the press misconceptions that magneticbiascontrolled
ferromagnetic devices, and controlled reactors in particular, are
slowresponse devices with distinct distortion of current waveform
[13]. Consider, therefore, below in more detail the features of elec
tromagnetic processes in the RUOM reactors. The broad range of
inductance variation during the magnetic biasing process is achie
ved due to the fact that magnetic core of the reactor is flatinterlea
ved and without air clearances. When unidirectional magnetic bia
sing flux is lacking (noload mode) and when the inducing winding
voltage is nominal, induction in all magnetic core crosssection
does not exceed steel saturation induction. Thus noload current
never exceeds 1 % or 2 % of the rated current. Insignificant distor
tion of the reactor current waveform is caused by intense (close to
175
total) magnetic saturation in the basic operating part of the RUOM
magnetic core and due to less intense, strictly dosed saturation of
other parts. As a result, for example, in the harmonic composition
of current in a RUOM480/11/ 3 there is practically only a third
harmonic, maximum which is less than 5 % of the rated reactor
current, and this 5 % maximum is appreciable only at the initial
stage of the saturation process (Fig. 4). As the first current harmo
nic increases, the absolute value of higher harmonics in the current
decreases, but the active component conditioned by winding and
magnetic system losses begins to rise. The current waveform varia
tion in the RUOM190, 300 and 840 reactors are the same as in
RUOM480. The RUOMs are designed so that total residual cur
rent of higher harmonics and of active loss component in the whole
range do not exceed the values indicated in Table 2.
As in all ferromagnetic devices such as transformers, the transi
tion to steady state mode after connection to alternating voltage de
pends on the initial induction value in the magnetic system of a
magneticbiascontrolled reactor, when it is connected to the ne
twork. This process is shown in Fig. 5 for a RUOM480/11/ 3
under different residual induction values in effective parts of the
magnetic system. The oscillograms show that with zero residual in
duction (Fig. 5a) the current increases smoothly from noload cur
176
Reactor current, A
Fig. 4. Nonlinear current waveform distortions of a RUOM480/11/ 3 arcquen
ching reactor: 1 rms value of higher harmonics (distortion current); 2 third
current harmonic.
177
Fig. 5. The curves of the RUOM480/11/ 3 reactor transition to steady state with
different initial values of the magnetic induction of the core (calculated): a no
initial induction; b initial induction is equal to the steadystate magnetic biasing
induction value; c initial induction exceeds the steadystate magnetic biasing in
duction value; 1 reactor voltage; 2 reactor current.
a)
b)
c)
12 kV
200 A
0
12 kV
0
0
0
200 A
12 kV
200 A
0
rent value to its rated value with a time constant of about 1 sec. But
if the initial induction value exceeds the steadystate magnetic bia
sing induction value (Fig. 5c), the transient process in the inducing
winding of the reactor begins with values that exceed the rated cur
rent. And finally, when the initial induction value equals the stea
dystate magnetic biasing induction, there is no transient process in
the reactor (Fig. 5b). Thus, in order to prepare a arcquenching
magneticbiascontrolled reactor for almost noninertial transition
to the required compensation mode, it is necessary to set first the
thyristor control angles corresponding to the required compensati
on current and, secondly, to make the value of initial induction
equal to the magnetic biasing induction value in the steadystate
mode.
The nature of the processes in the RUOM reactors is such that
the reactor inductance is prepared by the ACAS system before a
phasetoground fault occurs, i.e., it is not infinite at all. Therefore,
when the ground fault arises and subsequently the reactor voltage
rises in a very short period of time (less than 0.01 sec) and the reac
tor begins to compensate the capacitive current and further goes
into the mode where its inductance corresponds to the network ca
pacity impedance.
Out of all arcquenching magneticbiascontrolled reactors,
only the RUOM reactors can use the above algorithm of the prepa
ration for noninertial transition to steady state. Other known reac
tors of the same type are either not saturated at all in standby mode
as we see, for example, in a RZDUOM400/11/ 3 [14] or are
magnetized in advance by a compensationmode magnetic biasing
current in a separate winding as, for instance, in reactors with cros
scut magnetic biasing [15]. In the first case, it results in undercom
pensation of capacitive current during the transient period
(Fig. 5a). In the second case it causes very high overcompensation
due to magnetic amplification (Fig. 5c).
Some believe that overvoltages can arise in networks containing
magneticbiascontrolled reactors because of alternating arc peaks
178
together with strong oscillations of magneticbiascontrolled reac
tor inductance. Indeed, there is a suspicion that, without reactance,
and consequently without magnetic biasing of the reactor reactance
inductance may become very high, which causes high overvoltages
because of strong changes in arc current. These suspicions are un
founded. Experiments and calculations have shown that when pha
setoground faults occur when there are shortterm current inter
ruptions (peaks) reactance inductance remains at the same level
and does not recover instantaneously to high inductance. The
reason is the reactors lag effect and the ACAS operation that ma
intains reactance inductance at the level of compensation inductan
ce (according to the network status measured before the fault
arises) until the fault is eliminated. The duration of the peaks is
very small in comparison with the time interval between consequ
ent network status measurements.
It is not only drastic improvement in performance that is achie
ved in RUOM reactors but also a significant (about two times) re
duction in the consumption of active materials compared to analo
gues. As a result, they are practically as good as electromechanical
(plungertype) arcquenching reactors produced earlier in terms of
weight and dimensions [12]. This result was largely achieved owing
to new technologies and optimal design of the electromagnetic part
and converter.
Contemporary electrical networks, especially in large cities,
have branched configurations with multiple digressed feeders. The
persistence of phasetoground faults in such networks may become
inadmissible because overvoltages increase the possibility of double
ground faults, among others so on. The detection of damages by
detaching successively individual cable lines only aggravates the si
tuation and substantially increases the possibility of equipment
damage during the switching operations. The drawback of traditio
nal schemes with arcquenching reactors is that damage to a feeder
line in a branched cable network cannot be determined by standard
current protection systems, which derive a signal or disconnect in
179
case of a fault. In RUOMs, reactor function can be combined with
resistor if necessary. The signal winding of the RUOM is made with
higher rated active power and dynamic durability. Therefore, a
lowpower and inexpensive resistor can be connected to its termi
nals. This connection can be indefinitely long when neutral voltage
bias does not exceed 15 %. When a phasetoground fault occurs,
the resistor can be connected for 1 to 3 sec. To increase the reliabi
lity of the currentprotection relay operation shortterm (up to
1 sec) closedcircuit fault of the signal winding is possible. Here,
the active component of reactive current reaches 25 % to 30 % of
the reactors rated current. As a result, electric current sufficient for
current protection relay operations can be created in the damaged
line only by manual or automatic shortterm connection () of the
resistor to the signal winding of the reactor.
The range of the RUOM power ratings thus developed allows to
satisfy completely the demand for arcquenching reactors for 6 to
35 kV networks. Ramenskoe Energy Electrical Engineering Plant
has practically started their commercial production (as well as that
of neutralers neutralizing ZPS grounding filters ZPS). A test sta
tion with a capacitor bank and advanced instrumentation was bro
ught into service. Apart from the usual factory commissioning tests,
this makes possible a comprehensive tuning of reactors and control
systems to automatic noninertial capacitivecurrent compensation
mode. This significantly simplifies the in field commissioning of the
reactors and, in particular, it makes artificial phasetoground fault
commissioning tests at the substation unnecessary.
Many interesting experimental data have been obtained during
the tests and studies to prove the theoretical data and parameter
design of the reactors. Fig. 6 shows as an example of test oscillog
rams of transient process parameters, which prove experimentally
almost noninertial transition of aRUOM480 11 3 / / reactor from
standby mode to capacitive current compensation mode (as tested
at the test station of OAO Energiya RETZ) and Fig. 7 demonstrates
180
oscillograms of RUOM300/11/ 3 reactor voltage and current in
case of repetitive phasetoground faults.
It can be seen that at the very beginning of the first fault and
subsequent faults the reactor almost noninertially passes into stea
dystate mode. It can be also seen that reactance current damping
and related reactance voltage damping occur during elimination of
faults, which is evidence that the reactor maintains inductance
during the fault break intervals and as noted above, it is impor
tant in case of arc peaks during shortterm arc current interrupti
ons.
The RUOM arcquenching reactors and their prototypes have
been used in various electrical networks (urban cable and overhead
distribution networks, factory networks and auxiliary networks of
power plants ) for more than 10 years now. 1996 to 1999 Ramens
koe Energy Electrical Engineering Plant has delivered a number of
RUOM reactors and ZPS filters to electrical networks inside and
181
Fig. 6. The oscillograms of a transient process, which prove experimentally the
practically noninertian transition of the RUOM480/11/ 3 reactor from standby
to the capacitive current compensation mode and were obtained during tests at the
test station of OAO Energy RETZ: 1 voltage of the reactor and capacitor bank ; 2
reactor current; 3 capacitor bank current; 4 total current.
outside the Russian Federation between 1996 to 1999. The devices
proved their worth in operation having reduced 1.5 to 2 times pha
setoground faults and prevented almost completely their develop
ment into closedcircuit network faults between phases.
RUOM arcquenching reactors can be recommended in the
first place for separate installation at substations under construction
or substations that do not have yet capacitive current compensati
on. In addition, they can be used successfully in conjunction with
already installed unregulated or stepregulated controlled reactors .
The addition of a RUOM reactors to the basic unregulated reactor
can resolve the problem of automatic compensation of capacitive
currents with values to several hundreds of amperes. The specifica
tions, weight and dimensions of the RUOM reactors enable utilities
to replace their electromechanical reactors without having to rebu
ild the substation.
182
a)
b)
Fig. 7. The oscillograms of RUOM480/11/ current (a) and voltage (b) in case of
repetitive phasetoground faults (obtained at the test station of OAO Energy
RETZ).
Conclusions
1. The RUOM arcquenching magneticbiascontrolled reac
tors are a new generation of electromagnetic devices with high dy
namic characteristics and unlimited capacity for inductance variati
on without any mechanical shifts and changes in electrical circuit.
At the same time, they are as good as their wellknown electromec
hanical analogs in terms of mass, construction simplicity, and di
mensions. Ramenskoe Energy Electrical Engineering Plant offers
RUOM arcquenching reactors, for 6 kV, 10 kV, and35 kV ne
tworks and neutralers neutralizing zerophase sequence (ZPS)
grounding filters.
2. The functional capabilities of the RUOM arcquenching re
actors suit to a great extent the presentday conditions of operati
on, namely:
continuous fine tuning in resonance with network capacitan
ce simultaneously avoiding possible resonance and arc overvoltages
in network and in reactor;
almost noninertial ground fault current limitation in combi
nation with smooth inductance variation over a wide range;
guaranteed low residual current values;
the possibility of creating for a shorttime high active current
in network functioning emergency mode to prevent overvoltages
and to provide conditions for selective search of a damaged feeder
by relay protection.
3. The RUOM reactors can be recommended for wide use in 6
to 35 kV electrical networks of any type, especially in the branched
municipal networks of modern cities, for new facility construction,
and for the replacement of obsolete equipment.
References
1. Operational Code for Electrical Installations. M.: Energoatomizdat,
1986.
2. Operational Regulations for Power Plants and Networks. 15th ed. M.,
1996.
183
A Unique 330kV 180 MVA
Magnetically Controlled Shunt Reactor is Put
into Operation at the Baranovichi Substation
A.M. Bryantsev, A.G. Dolgopolov, A.I. Lurie
A 330 kV 180 MVA threephase magnetically controlled shunt
reactor of RTU180000/330YI type was brought into service at the
330 kV Baranovichi substation in the Brestenergo power system of
Belarus in July 2003 after successful completion of network accep
tance tests.
The reactor was developed by OAO Elektricheskie Upravlyae
mye Reaktory (ELUR), a research and engineering centre, and its
equipment was manufactured by OAO Zaporozhtransformator (the
electromagnetic part of the reactor), OAO Ramenskoe Energy
Electrical Engineering Plant (neutraler), OOO EnergyT in Togli
atti (the convertertransformer provided with a control system and
the current waveform correction device); and AllRussian Electro
technical Institute (VEI) participated in the design of all elements
of the electrotechnical equipment, in studies, and in tests.
The RTU180000/330 reactor is a threephase magnetically
controlled reactor of the highest power and rated voltage. The start
of operation of this unique reactor was the next step towards intro
duction of RTU reactors into highvoltage electrical networks of all
voltage classes [1, 2]. A threephase 25MVA RTU25000/110 re
actor has been operating in a 110 kV network for more than three
years now [1, 3], and a 100 MVA reactor of the RTU100000/220
type has been in service in a 220 kV network for a year and a half
[1, 4, 5]. All types of RTU reactors in the capacity range from 32
MVA to 180 MVA and designed for voltage levels from 35 kV to
500 kV are prepared for manufacturing [1, 2].
The main technical parameters of the controlled reactor verifi
ed by field tests are as follows:
185
Rated power, MVA 180
The range of stepless reactive power consumption
control,MVA 5195
Rated voltage, kV 347
Maximum operating voltage, kV 354
Rated current of the power winding, A 300
Maximum permissible continuous current of the power
winding, A 316
Noload power for rated network voltage of 330 kV, MVA 3
Capacity of the transformer with converter (TMP)
of the biasing magnetization system, MVA 1
Rated biasing magnetization current, A 2000
Preliminary biasing magnetization current, A 50
Rootmeansquare values of higher harmonic components
of the power winding including: in rated duty and
noload mode, % less than 1
in transitive load conditions, A max. 7.5
Maximum power change rate, MVA/sec 300
Transient process time when switching to rated duty
with preliminary separate lowpower biasing
magnetization, sec less than 0.01
Set voltage range in the automatic mode, kV 330347
Operating modes: automatic voltage stabilization
at 330 kV buses or manual regulation of power
and network current consumption
According to factory tests, the loss under rated power and rated
voltage totals 753 kW and noload loss is 138 kW. The mass of the
reactor is 270 tons, its transportation mass is 180 tons, copper mass
is 44 tons, steel mass is 100 tons, and oil mass is 68 tons.
These and other technical parameters are within approved spe
cifications.
The general circuit diagram of the magnetically controlled re
actor is shown in Fig. 1 below.
The main power element of the controlled reactor is its electro
magnetic part. It is a threephase electromagnetic device of trans
186
former type placed in an oilfilled tank to be installed outdoors.
The threephase multicore magnetic conductor is has power win
dings, control windings, and compensation windings. The magneti
cally controlled shunt reactors of RTU type have fully laminated
cores and, consequently, low vibration and noise levels. The noise
187
Buses (transmission line)
PW
T
CompW
ContrW
SP
Input terminal
Output terminal
TMP
External setting device
RPA
Instrumentation
Fig. 1. The composition and wiring diagram of the set of electrotechnical equip
ment of an RTDU180000/330 magnetically controlled shunt reactor and the sche
matic diagram of the reactor connection to the electrical network: 1 the electro
magnetic part of the RTDU180000/330; 2 a converter with a feed transformer;
3 control, regulation, protection and automation system (CRPAS); 4 current
waveform correction device (CWCD); 5 a neutraler (ZPS, a neutralizing zerose
quence grounding oil filter).
level measured in an RTU100000/220 reactor was 86.65 dB,
which corresponds to that in a transformer of the same capacity.
The rated capacity of an oilimmersed converter transformer in
the biasing magnetization circuit is about 0.5 % of the rated capaci
ty of the reactor. The transformer and the converter are placed at
an outdoor site at the substation. It is an advantage of a magneti
cally controlled reactor over STC, TRG and the transformertype
controlled reactor where the capacity of the converter corresponds
to the total capacity of facility unit, and the converter has to be si
tuated at a special heated room; which causes considerable loss in
the converter and requires a water cooling system, more complica
ted and less convenient in operation.
The control, regulation, protection and automation system
(CRPAS) is an electronic device made as a monoblock unit and si
tuated in the control desk room of the substation.
The zerosequence grounding filter, a neutraler, is a threepha
se reactor with equalleg zigzag connection (actually, it is a sing
lewinding oilimmersed transformer). It is placed at an outdoor
site of the substation.
The current waveform correction device (CWCD) is a
threephase bank of power capacitors whose capacity is about 4 %
of the rated reactor power (it is also situated at an outdoor site of
the substation).
The RTU reactors, including the RTU180000/330, are in fact
transformers since they have a compensation winding, i.e., the se
condary winding with the copper crosssection corresponding to
about 30 % of the reactor power. This deltaconnected winding
serves for closing currents of harmonics multiple of three and for
connection the CWCD current waveform correction device, a ca
pacitor bank that reduces first of all the fifth and seventh harmonics
of the current in the power winding. But the connection of the ca
pacitor bank to the compensation winding results in the reactor be
coming a source of reactive power rather than a consumer because
of the absence of biasing magnetization. This power output is small
188
for the given type of reactor, about 2.5 %. A part of the power ge
nerated by the capacitor bank (its capacity is about 4 %) compen
sates the magnetizing noload reactive power of the transformer,
and, for this reason, the minimum power of the reactor is not zero
(or small positive), but small negative (about 2.5 %) when the
CWCD is connected to the compensation winding. of the line, The
design of the RTU reactors has a builtin capability for increasing
the power of the compensation winding, in which case the com
pensation winding can be used not only for the connection of a ca
pacitor bank of higher capacity, but also for the connection of sub
station auxiliaries.
Fig. 2 shows a regulation curve representing the reactor current
and power increase according to the biasing magnetization current.
It can be seen that the regulation curve of the reactor is a nearly
straight line. Fig. 2 also shows the network voltage curve when the
regulation curve was recorded.
The harmonic composition of the reactor current was recorded
at each step of power regulation. The distortion current was small
enough at the rated capacity (less than 1 %), the maximum value of
189
The reactor on the biasing magnetization current, A
Current, A and power, MVA
Fig. 2. The regulation curve of the RTU180000/330, i.e., the dependence of cur
rent (1) and power (2) of the reactor on the biasing magnetization current. Curve 3
represents the network voltage during tests.
the distortion current being about 2.5 % over the whole regulation
range when the capacitor bank (CWCD) was connected to the
compensation winding side. It was about 4 % when the CWCD was
disconnected.
In accordance with the test program for the RTU180000/330
reactor, an experiment of 72hour continuous operation in the 330
kV network was carried out keeping the rated load for at least 12
hours. In addition, an experiment of twohour loading under an in
creased power (up to 187 MVA) was performed. the Oil overhea
ting was recorded to be within specifications under all continuous
load conditions.
The reactor was tested in the automatic voltage stabilization
mode. An analysis of its daily schedule has shown that the reactor
power changed many times over a wide range, which means that
the reactor performed its main function of voltage stabilization very
well.
Close attention is given in the industry to the response speed of
magnetically controlled reactors since these reactors are often erro
neously considered to have a large time lag. This was the reason
why the test program, included experiments with various transient
processes in (Figs. 3, 4).
The transient and switching tests proved that the power pickup
time from noload to rated duty was 5 to 10 sec without forcing
and when the converter capacity was only about 0.1% of the rated
power of the reactor (this being the capacity required to maintain
the rated power of the reactor). But this in fact, only an abstract
parameter determined experimentally coincided well with theo
retical calculation. When the full capacity of the converter, which is
about 0.5 % of the reactor power, was used, the power pickup
time was 0.5 to 1 sec according to the transient oscillogram in
Fig. 3, the maximum power change rate being around
300 MVA/sec.
Experiments were made to connect the reactor to the 330 kV.
In this case the control windings had been supplied from a lowca
190
pacity converter (around several thousandth of one percent of the
rated power of the reactor) prior to being connecting to the reactor
in order to create induction approximately equal to the residual in
duction in the steel of the magnetic cores. It was recorded repea
tedly as a result that the reactor picked up full or another preset
power practically without a time lag (for less than the half period
of industrial frequency) (Fig. 4).
These response parameters are quite sufficient for the
RTU180000/330 reactor since its main function at the substation
is to stabilize voltage under load variation during the day. The de
signers and manufacturers of magnetically controlled reactors of
any power (from hundreds of kVA to hundreds of MVA) and of
any voltage level (from 6 kV to 500 kV) have proposed and develo
ped by now unconventional design solutions (both for the circuit
and arrangement) for all elements of RTU reactors, which can pro
vide if necessary a response speed of 0.1 s [24] or sometimes
higher (for example, 0.01 to 0.02 sec for arcquenching magne
191
Fig. 3. An example of the transient from minimum power consumption or noload
power (near zero) to rated power . The ocsillograms from top to bottom: the com
pensation winding voltage curves in the 330 kV network and the RTU180000/330
singlephase current curve in the deltaconnected compensation winding. The time
scale in seconds is given below.
ticbiascontrolled reactors [5]), which may be required for ne
twork shunt reactors.
Fig. 4. The mode of switching the reactor with preliminary biasing magnetization to
70 % load. The upper curve is voltage at the compensation winding terminals and
the next curves are voltage at 330 kV buses, currents in phases A and C (the active
value of the ac component is 210 A), and the current in the deltaconnected com
pensation winding, respectively.
It is particularly important for the designers of controlled reac
tors that the experimental data obtained during the network tests
coincided with the results of numerous calculations made at the
stage of designing the reactor and drawing up its test program and
with the results of theoretical studies that preceded the develop
ment of the reactor. It makes the designers confident of the success
of next magnetically controlled reactors and of their more accelera
ted and wider application.
The appearance of the RTU180000/330 reactor installed at the
Baranovichi substation is presented in Fig. 5, All its elements can
be seen in the photo including the electromagnetic part of the
RTDU180000/330, the converter with a TMP1000/11 feed trans
former, the current waveform correction device (CWCD) and the
ZPS neutraler.
192
A special study was conducted to select the location of the con
trolled reactor in the power system of Belarus [6]. A lot of calcula
tions was made for a comprehensive technical and economic asses
sment of its performance , the selection criteria being network vol
tage reduction for the heaviest load where voltage levels at the ne
twork points reach maximum permissible values and reduction of
power loss in the networks. The installation of a controlled reactor
has a number of technical and economic advantages over alternati
ve options of reactive power compensation. Because of the danger
of the instability of synchronous generators in operation, their per
missible range of reactive power consumption is considerably rest
ricted or sometimes absolutely eliminated. Installation of asynchro
193
Fig. 5. The RTU180000/330 magnetically controlled reactor at the Baranovich
substation.
nized synchronous generators entails high power loss. In addition,
controlled reactors are more efficient in a highvoltage network
where surplus reactive power generation is generated rather than at
a power plant.
The shunt reactors made by ABB, Alstom and Siemens with
stepwise power regulation have the considerable drawbacks inclu
ding narrow control range (from 45 % to 55 % of power to the
rated value) and intensive use of underload tapchangers, which
accelerates their wear. It is also noted in [6] that the application of
reactive power compensation devices with highcapacity thyristor
converters was found to be undesirable in view of the advantages of
magnetically controlled reactors.
The operation of the RTU180000/330, RTU25000/110 and
RTU100000/220 reactors has shown that the fears that some spe
cialists have long had were unfounded. In particular, the response
speed parameters of the reactors are quite sufficient for their functi
ons. Direct measurements also showed that the magnetically cont
rolled reactors are not dangerous for networks because of nonsinu
soidal current and possible resonances in higher harmonics. For in
stance, the RTU180000/330 reactor does not affect at all the sinu
soidality of voltage curve in a 330 kV network at the connection
point of the reactor. For this reason, it became possible to recom
mend keeping the CWCD in the cold standby mode.
The technical characteristics and economics of the
RTU180000/330 reactors (as well as of RTU25000/110 and
RTU100000/220) have no parallel in the world electromechanical
engineering industry. The controlled reactors are comparable with
conventional transformer and reactor equipment in design and sim
plicity of operation and maintenance while in terms of functionality
they are automatically controlled electrotechnical complexes that
resolve many problems of network control and optimization at a
new level. The cost of the reactors is much lower than that of their
alternatives.
194
The magnetically controlled shunt reactors have a large number
of advantages that deservedly attract attention to them when new
highvoltage and superhighvoltage transmission lines are designed
or existing transmission lines need to be modernized. The high
standards of the solutions of the problems associated with the
design and production of the reactors, the wealth of experience
gained from their manufacturing and operation give grounds to
expect a wide application of this new advanced type of equipment.
References
1. Controlled Reactors. Electrotekhnika, vol. 1, 2003.
2. ArcQuenching MagneticBiasControlled Reactors with Automatic
Ground Fault Capacitive Current Compensation / A.M. Bryantsev,
A.I. Lurie, A.G. Dolgopolov, at al. Electrichestvo, vol. 7, 2000.
3. Threeyear Operation of a 110kV 25000 kVA Magnetically Controlled
Shunt Reactor at the Kudymkar Substation in Permenergo / A.G. Dolgopo
lov, S.G. Dolgopolov, A.I. Zaitsev, V.P. Shpitsin. Electrotekhnika, vol. 1,
2003.
4. 100 MVA, 220 kV ThreePhase controlled Shunt Reactor at the Subs
tation of MES Siberia /A.M. Bryantsev, A.G. Dolgopolov, A.I. Lurie. Elect
rotekhnika, vol. 1, 2003.
5. A.M. Bryantsev, A.G. Dolgopolov, and A.I. Lurie. Commissioning a
100 MVA, 220 kV Magnetically Controlled Shunt Reactor. Electrichestvo,
vol. 12, 2002.
6. V.G. Pekelis, S.Y. Chashkina. On the Issue of the Efficient Use of
HighPower controlled Shunt Reactors. Electrotekhnika, vol. 1, 2003.
195
A New 180MVA Magnetically Controlled Shunt
Reactor Was Commissioned For the First Time
in a 500kV Network
A.M. Bryantsev, A.G. Dolgopolov, A. I. Lurie, B.I. Bazylev,
S.V. Ukolov, A.I. Zaitsev, Y.V. Sokolov, N.G. Akhmetzhanov
An RTU180000/500 magnetically controlled shunt reactor
(CSR) was commissioned on December 14, 2005, as a threephase
RODU60000/500 CSR bank of the type after successful factory
and network acceptance tests at the Tavricheskaya substation of
MES Siberia (Fig. 1).
Many years of research ended in the development, successful
factory and network acceptance tests and commissioning of a CSR
in the 500 kV class. Is an important moment for the advancement
of the Russian power industry. A controlled shunt reactor is being
196
Fig.1. General view of the RTU 180000/500 reactor a threephase RO
DU60000/500 CSR bank oat the Tavricheskaya substation.
operated for the first time inside and outside Russia in a 500 kV
transmission line.
The many theoretical and experimental studies for the develop
ment of different types of magnetically controlled reactors have
been conducted for many decades in Russia and other countries in
the last century (M.S. Libkind, A.M. Bamdas, H. Bekker,
V. Kramer, E.D. Fridlender and others). These reactors, however,
have not been commonly used due to design complexity, heavy
weight, large dimensions, and high losses). The situation has chan
ged sharply for the last two decades, and the CSR began to be fast
introduced into electrical systems. The reasons were both increased
demand for reliable controlled reactive power consumers easy to
make and operate and the advance of the theory of CSR processes
and supply of new designs and control devices1. The commissio
ning of the 500 kV CSR completes the first most difficult stage of
the introduction of the CSR of all voltage classes including 110,
220, 330, and 500 kV.
The RTU180000/500, just like all other CSRs, was designed
and commissioned of by OAO Elektricheskie Upravlyaemye Reak
tory (ELUR), a research and engineering centre, and its equipment
was manufactured by OAO Zaporozhtransformator (the electro
magnetic parts of the reactor) and OOO EnergyT in Togliatti (thy
ristor converters and the automatic control system).
The general specifications of the controlled reactor proved by
factory and network tests include:
Rated power QR: 60000x3 = 180 MVA
The range of stepless reactive power consumption control,
MVA: 5 % to 130 % of QR
Rated voltage UR: 525 kV
Maximum operating voltage: 550 kV
Rated power winding current IR: 198 A
Rated voltage of control winding at the ac voltage terminals:
32 kV
197
Rated biasing magnetization current of control winding (biasing
magnetization current): 2000 A
Minimum power pickup time from 5 % to 100 % QR and
power shedding time from 100 % to 5 % QR: 0.3 sec
Summary (total) loss at QR and UR: max. 0.5 % of QR
Operational loss for daily load factor: 0.7 % to 0.3 % of QR
Current of any higher harmonic component:
for UR : max. 3 % of IR
for UR and QR: max. 1 % of IR
Adjusted sound power level: max. 108 dBA
Double amplitude of tank wall vibration, mean value:
max. 150 m
Excess of upper oil layer temperature over ambient air tempera
ture max. 60
Voltage constanterror response of the automatic control system
(ACS): 1 % to 5 % of UR
Preset voltage variation range of regulator: 500 kV to 525 kV
Presetting accuracy: 0.3 % of UR
The preset power winding current variation range of regulator:
0 to 250 A
Permissible power winding current overload (for maximum 30
minutes): 120 % of IR
PWCW shortcircuit voltage: 50 %
Operation conditions:
automatic voltage stabilization at 500 kV buses;
automatic maintenance of preset current;
manual regulation of power consumption and network current.
These and other technical parameters are within approved per
formance specifications. Manual regulation of the reactor current
and in automatic maintenance of voltage in the dailyload curve
with preset constanterror response of 1 % and 2 % were checked
during the acceptance commissioning tests in the 500 kV network.
The channel of automatic maintenance of reactor current preset by
198
the operator with integral control action was established and tested.
The acceptable 20% overload for 30 minutes was tested.
The general wiring diagram of the reactor is shown in Fig. 2.
The main power elements of the RTU180000/500 reactor are
three electromagnetic RODU60000/500 parts, each of which is a
singlephase electromagnetic transformertype device immersed in
and oilfilled tank. It is designed for outdoor installation. The mag
netic conductor of each electromagnetic part is a singlephase shell
type. There are a power winding and control windings. The control
windings of all three RODU60000/500 electromagnetic parts are
connected by an external bus into delta. When the control winding
delta is shortened by a 35 kV B0 switch, the reactor can be immedi
ately brought to the shortterm mode of an uncontrolled reactor
with a power of 200 % of the rated power, i.e., 360 MVA.
The rated capacity of the OMP transformer for power supply to
SC converter in the magnetization circuit is less than 1 % of reac
tors rated capacity. Each transformer is placed in the tank of the
electromagnetic part, and SC converter in suspended oilfilled
tank.
A lowpower threephase TMZ transformer for preliminary bia
sing magnetization with CLR currentlimiting reactors is positioned
in a separate tank filled with transformer oil.
The automatic control system (ACS) is an electronic micropro
cessor device made as a cabinet and placed in the control room of
the substation. The RTU180000/500 reactor operates using a mo
nitoring system for its basic parameters.
Just like other RTU reactors, the RTU180000/500 complies
with the Technical Specifications drawn up and endorsed by orga
nizations and institutes of RAO UES of Russia, approved by the
management of OAO FSK UES, and satisfies the recommendati
ons of the power associations of the CIS and other countries.
General Specifications TU 3411001539502852004: RTUTy
pe ThreePhase Controlled OilImmersed Reactors of 32000 kVA
to 180000 kVA and of Voltage Classes of 110, 220, 330 and 500 kV
199
200
From an external setting device
To instrumentation and RP
OMP OMP OMP
CW CW CW
CC
SC SC SC
PW PW PW
SPWA SPWB SPWC
S0
SCW
3xCLR
ACS
TMZ
To lines or buses (110500 kV)
Fig. 2. The general wiring diagram of the RTU180000/500 reactor: PW power
windings; CW control windings; OMP converter transformer; SC semicon
ductor converter; TMZ transformer with a currentlimiting CLR reactor in each
phase; CC connection compartment; TA1TA11 current transformers; ACS
automatic control system; NR PW neutral reactor; switches: SPW power
switch; SCW control winding switch (used for arc quenching during quiescent
period of SPAR or a shortterm twofold reactor power overload by ); S0 PW ne
utral shunt reactor switch used for arc quenching during quiescent period of SPAR;
SV electric contactor; TV1 to TV3 voltage transformers.
was properly developed, endorsed. approved and put into effect star
ting April 16, 2004, for the first time specifically for the RTU series.
Two more threephase CSRs were brought into service late in
2005 including an RTU63000/110 and RTU100000/220 (see the
Table below).
The commissioning of the 500 kV CSR completed the first and
the most difficult stage of introducing magnetically controlled reac
tors of all voltage classes 110, 220, 330 and 500 kV. Now the qu
estion of the expansion of the CSR applications can be raised at an
absolutely practical angle rather than theoretically relying on the
experience of their operation already gained and increasing every
day. This statement is based on the fact that various power systems
already use 9 highpower CSRs of five types (see the Table).
CSR type Location (substation) Commissioned
RTU25000/110 Kudymkar Permenergo September 1999
RTU25000/110
Igolskaya in Vasugansk
Region, OAO
Tomskneft
July 2004
RTU25000/110
Dvurechenskaya in
Vasugansk Region,
OAO Tomskneft
September 2004
RTU25000/110
Katylginskaya in
Vasugansk Region,
OAO Tomskneft
November 2004
RTU63000/110
Sovetsk, MES
NorthWest
December 2005
RTU100000/220 Chita, MES of Siberia April 2002
RTU100000/220
Khabarovskaya, MES
East
December 2005
RTU180000/330
Baranovichi,
Brestenergo (Belorus)
July 2003
RTU180000/500 (a
threephase bank of
RODU60000/500
reactors)
Tavricheskaya, MES of
Siberia
December 2005
201
Some were convinced until recently that the have natural
drawbacks such as unharmonicity of consumed current and low
response speed. An analysis of network tests of RTU reactors has
shown that the distortion current of the reactor for its rated power
is very low and does not exceed 3.5 % in transient modes (even
without a filter when a capacitor bank is connected to the reactor,
which is the case at all operating CSRs). It is important to underli
ne that it is the percentage of network voltage distortion at terminal
point of a reactor that really matters, but not the value of distortion
current (these absolutely different quantities being often incorrectly
identified). The percentage of voltage distortion is not at all deter
mined by a CSR, but, to a much greater extent, it depends on the
nature of the network consumers and on the ratio of resistances of
the reactor and the network. Measurements made in all the CSR
networks proved that additional network voltage distortion (in per
cent) when the reactor is connected is not only well below the level
of the reactor distortion current (in percent), but also in general
below the sensitivity level of recording equipment1. The operating
experience of all CSRs has shown that the achieved response speed
parameters are quite sufficient for normal operation. When full ca
pacity of the converter is used (for magnetization forcing modes),
which is 1 % of the reactors power, the power pickup or shedding
time is 0.3 sec according to transient oscillograms. The reactor
needs only about 0.15 % or 0.20 % of the converter capacity to ma
intain its rated power consumption and pickup from the noload
mode for 3 to 5 sec.
Theoretical calculations and operating experience already avai
lable proved that the RTU reactors, just like conventional transfor
mer equipment, can withstand significant brief overloads (of volta
ge, current, or power). These conditions arise in normalized over
load modes of up to 110 % to 130 % of the rated capacity and in
the mode of brief power increase to 200 %. The current and power
overloads take place during the operation and also in cases of volta
ge surges, which is due to the fact that during transients the CSR is
202
practically a linear reactor with an inductance prior to a voltage
surge and the increase in its current is proportional that of its volta
ge. This CSR feature is very important for operation.
The technical characteristics and economic factors of all opera
ting CSRs of the RTU type have no analogs in the world electric
machine industry. The controlled reactors are comparable to con
ventional transformer and reactor equipment in design and conditi
ons and simplicity of operation. Functionally, they are automati
cally regulated electrotechnical complexes that resolving many con
trol and optimization problems of electrical network operation at a
new level. The loss in the reactors and consumption of materials for
their manufacturing do not exceed 1.5 to 2fold those of conventio
nal uncontrolled shunt reactors, while their operation loss is at the
same level.
The results of the introduction and already accumulated experi
ence of successful operation of controlled shunt reactors in
110500 kV networks have shown that at present the CSRs meet all
operation requirements and there are all conditions needed for
their largescale application.
First published: Electricity, 2006, 8, pp. 6568.
203
Power Compensators Based on Magnetically
Controlled Shunt Reactors in Electric Networks
with a Voltage between 110 kV and 500 kV
A. Bryantsev, M. Bryantsev, B. Bazylev, S. Dyagileva,
R. Karymov, A. Lurie, A. Negryshev, E. Makletsova,
S. Smolovik
I. Introduction
The worlds power engineering industry associates the progress
in operation of power systems with the implementation of FACTS
technology, which ensures the most efficient use of power trans
mission lines and electrical equipment [14]. A major part of this
technology is the use of automated adjustable sources of reactive
power. For this purpose Static Var Compensators (SVC), thyris
torcontrolled compensators (STATCOM) and asynchronized syn
chronous compensators have been developed for many years. At
the same time, for more than 10 years automated adjustable sources
of reactive power with magnetically controlled shunt reactors
(MCSR) and capacitor banks (CB), or SRP, have been actively
implemented in power grids of Russia and the C.I.S. Such SRP are
almost identical to SVC in terms of their functionality and have a
number of technological, economical, and operational advantages
and, in fact, are the simplest units and the natural first step to
implement FACTS technology [1][3].
II. General
Insufficient reactive power compensation in power grids results
in a higher reactive component in the power flow and, conse
quently, in a lower voltage and lower electrical system stability.
This has been confirmed by the analysis of major recent failures,
which has shown that the main reason of such failures is low usage
rate of reactive power compensation devices in power systems.
204
Therefore, the issue of reactive power compensation in power grids
has become one of the key measures for ensuring reliable operation
for power systems in the Russian Federation [3],[4].
Power transmission from generator to consumer is a compli
cated multistage power conversion physical process that requires
various ways of maintaining electric and magnetic fields and thus
requires both active and reactive power components. The reactive
power generation does not require energy itself but its transmission
over electrical grid requires extra cost to generate active power to
cover losses. In addition, reactive power transmission from genera
tors to consumers results in an extra load on the electrical grid ele
ments and lowers their throughput. Therefore, increased yield of
reactive power by generators in order to deliver it to consumers is
not feasible [2][4].
Reactive power compensation at consumer end is one of the
most effective means of rational power use. [2][5].
At present capacitor banks are extensively used by utilities, and
especially by industry, due to their relatively low cost and simple
maintenance. The CB power can be changed stepwise by changing
the number of CB in operation. However, stepwise regulation has
a number of drawbacks. For instance, when transmission line
throughput needs to be increased to achieve static and dynamic sta
bility and reduce losses both in grid and equipment, controllable
reactive power compensation is a superior option. Additionally, in
power systems of 110 kV or above, voltage stabilization often
requires controllable compensation devices, which generate as well
as consume reactive power. SVC and SC can be used to resolve
such issues at 110 kV and higher substations. One of the disadvan
tages of SVC and SC is their rated voltage limitation up to 35 kV,
i.e. a stepdown transformer is required to connect them to
110500 kV grid. Compensation devices that can be connected
directly to the grid without any intermediate transformer, which
increases active and reactive power losses, have a number of advan
tages which improve efficiency of voltage regulation. Such compen
205
sation units include stepwise switched CB and continuously con
trolled reactor, connected in parallel [2],[5].
Installation of a controlled reactive power compensation unit at
an intermediate point of power transmission line provides a benefit
of subdivision of the line into sections and increasing its throughput
capacity (subject to an appropriate voltage control). Reactive power
consumed by controllable reactors under any operational condi
tions of the power transmission line is adjusted to the power flow in
the line. In this case the line throughput is limited only by its max
imum permissible current of the wires. Magnetically controlled
shunt reactors (MCR) are very promising for reactive power com
pensation in long extrahighvoltage power transmission lines.
MCRs installed in extended power grids allow to:
Control and maintain voltage or other operating parameters
without highvoltage circuit breakers;
Reduce active power losses in power grids and improve their
operational reliability due to a dramatically lower tripping rate of
onload tap changers of transformers;
Increase static stability limit;
Improve damping in the system;
Limit the use of synchronous generators as controllable reac
tive power sources.
III. SRP based on CB and MCR
Until recent time MCRs have been perceived as having a major
inherent drawback a low fast acting. However, substantial suc
cessful experience in MCR operation was accumulated, showing
MCR reaction time ranging from tenths of a second to several sec
onds, depending on customer requirements. There are analytical
studies based on the system stability analysis which results have
proven that the equivalent time constant can range from 0.01 sec to
20 sec and have no substantial negative effect on system sta
bility [2].
206
In the recent years SRPs based on CB and MCR have been
actively implemented in high voltage power grids 110500 kV. SRP
based on CB and MCR with rated power of 25, 32, 63, 100, and
180 MVA have been developed, manufactured, and commercially
operated for voltage classes between 110 kV and 500 kV (see
Fig. 1).
Successful experience has shown that when an MCR is used in
SRP, it provides loadbased charging power compensation in power
transmission lines, reduced power losses in lines and substation
equipment, voltage stabilization, higher throughput and reliability
of high voltage power grids. Operational experience has proven
their high reliability. Therefore, SRPs based on CB and MCR are
approved by the Technical Policy of FGC UES (the Federal Grid
207
Fig. 1. MCRbased reactive power sources with rated voltage 110, 220, 330
and 500 kV.
Company of Russia) as one of the most promising and recom
mended devices.
The first SPR based on MCR and CB was installed in 1999 at
Kudymkar substation, when RTU 25000/110, the first magnetically
controlled reactor, was installed in parallel with CB of 42 MVAr.
Three RTU 25000/110based high voltage SRP with a 46Mvar CB
were installed at TomskNeft substations in the years of 2004 and
2005 and have proven to be highly efficient and reliable.
These highvoltage SRP prototypes required manual CB con
trol. Their electrical schemes were applicable to voltage class of up
to 110 kV. But the successful experience in operation of these units
has formed a basis for development of new MCRbased
highvoltage reversible reactive power sources for 110500 kV.
About two dozens of MCRs are currently successfully operated in
the Russian Federation and C.I.S. countries: eight SRP with MCR
of 25 MVAr 110 kV; one SRP with MCR of 63 MVAr 110 kV; four
SRP with MCR of 100 MVAr 220 kV; three SRP with MCR of 180
MVAr 330 kV; and three SRP with MCR of 180 MVAr 500 kVA
number of other CB and MCRbased SRP are expected to be com
missioned in the nearest future and the number of SRP in opera
tion will double.
Experts of the Moscow Power Engineering Institute (Technical
University), JSC NIIPT (Research Institute for Power Transmis
sion by High Voltage Direct Current), and LLC ESCO partici
pate in the development of high voltage stabilization systems (SRP)
based on magnetically controlled shunt reactors (MCR) and capac
itor banks (CB) and in their installation in power grids 110500 kV
[7, 9, 10] (in particular, pursuant to Orders No. 18 of January 19,
2007 and No. 75 of February 13, 2007 issued by JSC RAO UES
Russia).
IV. SRP Structure and principle of operation
Fig. 2 shows the SRP singleline diagram which includes a
static capacitor bank and a magnetically controlled shunt reactor.
208
The following settings are made in the SRP automated control
system (ACS): voltage regulation setting, minimum reactor current,
maximum reactor current, and a time delay Dt between two adja
cent trippings of capacitor banks (between switching on/off of CB
switches). The time interval is usually 110 minutes and depends on
the SRP and power grid parameters. The magnetically controlled
reactor is connected to the network via circuit breakers [5],[9].
If the load in the grid is low or absent (for example, during
offpeak night loads), then there is a redundancy of reactive power
in the grid due to charging power of the transmission lines. It
results in high levels of voltage in the grid nodes, which is detected
by voltage transformers (VT); so the ACS gives an order to increase
the reactor magnetizing current. As a result, the reactor current
increases (up to the maximum value, when appropriate), and the
SRP switches to the reactive power consumption mode. The ACS
keeps track of voltage variations due to load changes in the elec
trical grid and adjusts the voltage to the reference value by continu
ously changing the reactor magnetizing current.
209
Fig. 2. SRP circuit diagram (1 MCR; 2 CB; 3 ACS (SRP); 4 switch; VT
voltage transformer; CT current transformer).
When the grid load increases, a shortage in the reactive power
occurs. The ACS system reacts to the voltage drop, checks the
reactor current (if it is less than the minimal allowed value), and
gives a command to switch on a capacitor bank and, thus, turns the
SRP to the reactive power generation mode. Continuous regulation
of voltage and reactive power is ensured by the reactor [5], [9].
If the load on the transmission line keeps increasing then again
it results in the new conditions where the voltage decreases below
specified value, and the reactor current falls below the minimum
permissible value. The ACS gives a command to switch on the
second capacitor bank.
When the load decreases in the line a surplus reactive power
occurs and the voltage increases. At that moment SRP shall return
from the reactive power generation mode to the reactive power
consumption mode. Therefore, ACS gives commands to increase
the reactor current and to switch off the capacitor banks.
Special requirements are established for SRP in emergency
modes: during maintenance and after emergency outages. In gen
eral, SRP power (i.e. rated CB and MCR power) is determined
using these modes and winter peak load and summer offpeak load
modes. When SRP are optimally placed in the power grid and if
CB and MCR parameters are selected properly, then a normal
power supply is provided for consumers in all grid modes.
SRP installation ensures higher electrical grid throughput under
maximum permissible operating current and voltage conditions and
automatic voltage stabilization in the grid node according to the
voltage setting in normal (an example is shown in fig. 3), mainte
nance, emergency, and postemergency modes.
The SRP installation ensures not only a higher transmission line
throughput but also much lower power losses. It is easy to demon
strate the efficiency of controllable reactive power compensation by
using an example of a 110 kV, 25kilometer long power transmis
sion line with 240 mm
2
conductors (with a specific resistance and
reactance R = 0.13 Ohm/km and X = 0.4 Ohm/km).
210
If the load is P + jQ = 60 MW + j25 MVAR (tgj = 0.417) at
the receiving end, then, depending on degree of reactive power
compensation and on voltage level at the receiving end of the line,
the active power losses during power transmission change as fol
lows:
In the nominal mode (assumed as initial) (U
load
= 110 kV,
S = 60 + j25),
DP = 0.378 MW.
If the voltage increases up to 120 kV at the receiving end of
the line but the power consumption remains the same, then power
losses decrease down to
DP = 0.318 MW.
If the there is a full reactive power compensation of the load
at the receiving end of the line and if the voltage increases up to
120 kV, then power losses are:
DP = 0.271 MW.
Thus, the relative loss reduction can be as much as 0.107 MW
or 28.3 %. If the peak load period lasts for 5,000 hours, then as
much as 1,415 MWh of electric energy can be saved due to the
operation optimization related to controllable reactive power com
pensation.
Presented below is an example of recommendation for future
SRP applications in the 110 kV distribution network of the oil and
gas rich Tyumen region.
On TyumenEnergo`s instructions, power consumption has been
analyzed for the peak period in winter 2006 and for the offpeak
period in summer 2007 for 286 substations, 11 power networks and
six consumers. It allowed to determine the total required value of
reactive power compensation (both generation and consumption)
and relevant choice criteria, and to develop technical requirements
for such high voltage controllable reactive power sources as
SRP110/50/25 and SRP110/25/25. Sample specifications were
provided; a concept program has been developed to install reactive
211
power compensation units in 110/35/6 kV TyumenEnergo power
grid to ensure maximum effect for entire system.
The following conclusions have been made from research per
formed using specialized software:
When the 110 kV grid is operated at the load between 50 and 70
percent of the specified value, a significant amount of substations
has low operating voltage (down to minimum permissible values); it
is caused by a high reactive power (tg is 0.4 or higher) and by
weak lines (over 30 percent of 110 kV substations have
shortcircuit currents lower than 5 kA).
212
Fig. 3. Fragments of daily voltage diagrams (between 04:00 a.m. and noon) for 110
kV busbars at the Tavricheskaya substation, TyumenEnergo power system. The top
diagram: after SRP110/50/25 installation (MCR 25 MVA and CB 50 MVAR); pe
aktopeak voltage: DU= 0.4 kV for an average voltage of 101.9 kV. The bottom di
agram: prior to the SRP installation; daily peaktopeak voltage: DU=2.6 kV for an
average voltage of 97.5 kV (DU=2.6 kV at this fragment).
Installation of continuously controlled reactive power compensa
tion units in the grid, especially at 110 kV substations with
shortcircuit currents lower than 5 kA, allows to automatically adjust
voltage at load nodes according to the voltage setting in normal,
maintenance and postemergency modes (FACTS technology).
Voltage stabilization and reactive power compensation measures
taken in the power grid (for a total of approximately 5 GVAr) will
allow to increase the grid throughput as much as 1.3 times while
reducing specific losses by 2030%.
Similar recommendations were also developed for other power
systems and grids (FarEastern Interregional Distribution Network
Company, FGC, KEGOC, etc.). Based on research conducted for
these companies the resulting benefits are as follows:
Automatic voltage stabilization in power networks 110 500
kV according to the voltage setting in normal, maintenance, and
postemergency operation modes;
Exclusion of switching equipment from voltage adjustment
processes in normal operation modes;
Up to 50% increase in throughput of existing lines;
Up to 30% decrease in specific losses.
Conclusion
Widespread application of MCR and CBbased SRP in power
lines with voltage of 110 kV or higher will allow to significantly
reduce the damage from power supply interruptions and to reduce
the need for new power transmission line construction due to most
efficient use of throughput of existing lines. Total power of SRP in
a grid shall be at least 100 percent of maximum consumption of
power for 110500 kV grids.
References
1. N.G. Hingorani, L. Gyugyi, Understanding FACTS Concept and Tec
hnology of Flexible AC Transmission Systems. New York: IEEE Press,
2000, pp. 432.
213
2. A. Bryantsev, V. Dorofeev, M. Zilberman, A. Smirnov, S. Smolovik.
Magnetically controlled shunt reactor application for AC HV and EHV
transmission lines, CIGRE2006, Paris, B4307.
3. V.K. Pauli, R.A. Vorotnikov, Compensation of reactive power as an ef
fective means of rational use of electricity, Energoexpert, 2007, 2.
4. A.P. Burman, V.A. Stroyev, Fundamentals of Modern Energy: A lec
ture course for managers of energy companies, Part 2, Moscow, MPEI Pub
lishing, 2003, pp. 454.
5. A.M. Bryantsev, Magnetically controlled shunt reactors. Coll. Artic
les, Moscow, Znak, 2004, 264 pp.
6. D.S. Chuprikov, D.S. Malygin, Implementation of a pilot project
CSRT (USHRT) in the power Norte de Angola, Energoexpert, 2010, 1.
7. A.M. Bryantsev, Reactive power sources, R.F. Patent 2335056, Bul
letin 27, sept. 27, 2008.
8. A.M. Bryantsev, Reactive power sources, R.F. Patent 2335026, Bul
letin 27 sept. 27, 2008.
9. A.M. Bryantsev, Ways of reactive power sources control, R.F.
Patent 2337424, Bulletin 30, oct. 27, 2008.
10. A.M. Bryantsev., A.M. Bryantsev., S.V. Dyagileva, R.R. Karymov, E.E.
Makletsova., A.A. Negryshev, Sources of reactive power 110500 kV based on
magnetically controlled shunt reactors and capacitor banks, Energoexpert,
2010, 2.
First published: 2010 IEEE/PES Transmission and Distribution Conference and
Exposition Latin America. Pp. 239244.
214
Magnetically Controlled Shunt Reactor Application
for AC HV and EHV Transmission Lines
A. Bryantsev, A. Dorofeev, M. Zilberman, A. Smirnov,
S. Smolovik
1. Introduction
The conventional shunt reactors are one of the most important
longdistance transmission system elements without which its
normal operation is a matter of considerable technical difficulties
[1]. At the same time, conventional reactors can make a negative
impact on system operation through increased active power losses.
The main disadvantage of conventional reactors is possible operati
onal problems due to lack of switching ability. Preventing results in
demand of reactors operation regardless of transmitted power
amount which leads to reduce transfer capability. The installation
of controllable consumer of reactive power at the intermediate
point of transmission system gives the advantage of line sectioning
and increase of transmission line capability (with proper voltage
control). The reactive power consumed by reactors in any transmis
sion line mode can be coordinated with the power flow through the
line. Transfer capability in such case is only limited by permissible
current through the conductors [2]. It allows to eliminate using of
some other complicated and expensive devices such as synchronous
condenser or TCSC [3, 4]. Magnetically controlled shunt reactors
(MCSR) are the perspective devices for reactive power shunt com
pensation in EHV longdistance transmission lines. U
sing
CSR
allows
to control maintenance of voltage or any other operation pa
rameter without using circuit breakers in automatic switching sys
tems;
215
to decrease active power losses in networks and to improve
their operational reliability by reducing the number of switching in
onload tapchanging transformers;
to enlarge small signal stability margin;
to improve power system damping;
to minimize using of synchronous generators as a controlled
sources of reactive power. The application of controllable shunt
compensation by example of magnetically controlled shunt reactors
is considered in this paper. It is wellknown that 110, 220 and
330 kV of this type are in operation (25, 100 and 180 MVA,
respectively) in exUSSR power systems (PermEnergo, Siberia,
Belarus). Moreover, the first 500 kV, 180 MVA MCSRs are
currently considered to be installed at the 1000 km AC transmission
lines, one of which will connect Ural (G1) and Siberian (G2)
energy pools (Fig. 1) and another one is Kazakhstan NorthSouth
Interconnection. Because of strict technical requirements from
power system operators it has to be ensured the wide range of
operating conditions direct transmission from Siberian power
system to Ural and North Kazakhstan ones as well as reverse
operation with different amount of energy transfer. In most cases,
the problem of reactive power shunt compensation is coupled with
operator plans (in NorthWest part of Russia, Siberia, Kazakhstan
and some other exUSSR regions) of parallel line construction for
improving power supply reliability.
216
Fig. 1. Circuit representation for stability study
2. Operation principles
The magnetically controlled shunt reactor is a threephase po
werful extension of magnetic amplifier with inverseparallel con
nection of control windings (Fig. 2), which allows to decrease the
power of these windings considerably (by the factor of 1001000).
The MCSR has steel magnetic core with the main winding (U
HV
)
and control one (U
C
). The latter is fed by power electronics cont
rolled rectifier providing variable DC superposed magnetization
current. In terms of small disturbance stability, it means the incre
ment of MCSR equivalent time constant T
p
(up to 34 sec.). At the
same time, it can be decreased in special cases by application of
magnetic field forcing for short period down to T
p
=01 , s. When
control voltage is equal to zero reactor stays in one of the fixed
operating modes, for instance idling (I), rated load (II), rated over
load (III). Increasing or decreasing of the phase current is accomp
lished by corresponding hange of the control voltage U
C
.
3. The operating conditions of longdistance transmission lines with
controlled shunt reactors
217
Fig. 2. Operation principles of MCSR.
Evaluation of shunt compensation amount required to be instal
led is based on calculations of reactive power balance at intermedi
ate (without generator emf) points of transmission system when
maintaining some predetermined voltage profile along the line and
varying active power transferred through the line from zero to tran
sfer capability (or in the range of operating boundaries). If trans
mission system is only equipped by conventional reactors (SR),
voltage profile along the line depending on operating conditions
can be obtained taking into consideration the number of reactors in
operation (it is supposed SR rated power to be equal to 180). It is
considered at least one reactor to be in operatin at every intermedi
ate point of transmission system (tripping this reactor can cause
overvoltages).
In another extreme case, if transmission system is only equip
ped by controlled reactors (MCSR), voltage profile can be repre
sented as almost straight line in a wide range of operating conditi
ons (actually, from zero to transfer capability) since reactive power
balance at every substantation (SS) will be equal to zero when ap
plying MCSR terminal voltage control.
Installation of controlled shunt compensation devices can be
based on the rate of reactive power unbalance change at every inter
mediate point of transmission system depending on active power
transferred through the line (Fig. 3, SS1 and SS2). If required
218
Fig. 3. Evaluation of reactive power balance at some intermediate substantations of
transmission system.
amount of reactive power shunt compensation is weakly dependent
on active power variation (Fig. 3., SS3 and SS4), installation of
180 conventional reactors will be sufficient condition to provide
system normal operation (one tick at Fig. 3 corresponds to rated
power of one 180 Mvar reactor).
Regarding the real case of mixed installation (conventional and
controlled devices), voltage maintenance in wide range of active
power transfer can be ensured by being reactors (SR) in operati
on, the number of which should be equal to the integer number of
ticks in Fig. 3. The value of reactive power consumed by CSR will
match difference between reactive power unbalance shown in
Fig. 3 and power of 180 Mvar conventional reactors in operation.
For that reason, the installation of only one controlled shunt
compensation device is enough to guarantee perfect voltage main
tenance despite switching large amounts of reactive power
(180 Mvar conventional reactor). After switching conventional re
actor, the controlled one will compensate unbalance of reactive
power by regulating its total conductivity on the basis of MCSR
terminal voltage control mode.
Moreover, evaluation of transmission system normal operation
without switching of conventional reactors should be done (Fig. 4)
taking into account MCSR control action and subsequent natural
voltage drop when MCSR is out of operation.
In offpeak conditions (Fig. 4, P
L
= 400700 MW), when additi
onal reactive power consumption is required, SS1 terminal voltage
does not exceed permissible value (1,05 p.u. or 525 kV). But if both
CSRs at substations SS1 and SS2 are out of operation (Fig. 4,
P
L
= 11001350 MW), terminal voltage drop is increased conside
rably. Minimum permissible voltage level (0,95 p.u. or 475 kV) cor
responds to maximum permissible active power transferred through
the line (1350 MW). From this point, switching of conventional re
actors is needed to provide normal voltage profile along the line. It
means that switching of conventional reactors can be completely
eliminated from all range of transmission system operating conditi
219
ons due to applying controlled shunt compensation devices. It can
be noted that installation of second controlled device at substation
1 (SS1) can increase the range of operating the range of operating
conditions without switching conventional reactors at least
1020 persent (up to 15501600 MW).
4. Longdistance transmission system small disturbance stability
The reactive shunt compensation is one of the most effective
way of energy pool operating condition and stability control impro
vement. Generally, CSR control law for small signal stability inves
tigations can be expressed as follows
( ) 1
1
0 0
1
1
+ = + +
+

pT b b K
K p
pT
U
p p p u
u
u
p
D
220
Fig. 4. Operational voltage control (a) by controlled shunt reactor (b) without swit
ching conventional reactors.
where b
p
, b
p0
are actual and initial (at predetermined operation)
MCSR conductivity; K K
u 01 1
, are terminal voltage deviation U
p
and derivative control gains; T
p
equivalent time constant of
MCSR control system; T
u 1
voltage derivative control loop time
constant. Moreover, some additional improvements of control law
(1) will be discussed below.
The quality indices of 500 kV longdistance transmission system
with conventional shunt reactors for reactive power compensation
are exclusively determined by equivalent generator excitation cont
rol (AVR+PSS). It is clear that very low damping of some electro
mechanical modes (Table 1) results from extremely high capacity
of interconnected power systems as well as laege distance of trans
mission systems themselves (1000 km and more).
Practice of calculations shows that transmission capacity limits
of longdistance lines with conventional reactors correspond to
aperiodic instability (real positive eigenvalue). The impact of reac
tors in normal operations consists in maintaining voltage at inter
mediate substations in the range of 475525 kV by discontinuous
switching of large amounts of reactive power shunt compensation
( 180 Mvar). At the same time, it can be noted that oscillatory sta
bility indices are weakly dependent on operating conditions
(Table 1).
Table 1
Steadystate stability indices of transmission system with conventional reactors
P
L
=0 7 . p.u. P
L
=0 85 . p.u.
- + 0 56562 1 7376 . . i
- + 0 45146 9 4234 . . i
- + 015617 6 2555 . . i
-0 0345 .
- + 0 50756 1562 . . i
- + 0 44632 9 3596 . . i
- + 014762 6162 . . i
-0 027384 .
The following key functions of MCSR voltage deviation control
system as well as generator exitation regulators (AVR+PSS) can be
identified:
221
1. to maintain voltage at CSR terminals in the range of
0.9951.005 p.u. (if control accuracy is equal to 1 %);
2. to decrease the impact of transmitted power value on real
eigenvalues nearest to the stability limit. Application of terminal
voltage deviation control in MCSR as it is in generator AVR witho
ut power system stabilizer can cause system poor damping or even
oscillatory instability. The results of calculation shown in Table 2
demonstrate that longdistance transmission system oscillatory sta
bility does not deteriorate when embedding controlled shunt com
pensation devices with considerable voltage deviation gains (down
to K
u 0
100 =- ).
The eigenvalues nearest to oscillatory stability limit (e.g.,
- + 015664 6 2519 . . i, Table 2, second column) have practically the
same values as it was when using conventional reactors (Table 1).
But aperiodic stability index of the system with conventional reac
tors is changed by more than 20 percent (from - 0.0345 to
-0.027384) when transmitted power growth is equal to about 15
percent (from 0,7 p.u. to 0,85 p.u.). On the other hand, stability
margin of the systems with MCSR is located on the same level
(-0.033698 in comparison with -0.032) even when transmitted
power is increased 65 percent (from 0.3 p.u. to 0.85 p.u.).
Table 2
Steadystate stability indices of transmission system with controlled reactors
P
L
=0 3 . p.u.;
K
u 0
100 =-
P
L
=0 85 . p.u.;
K
u 0
100 =-
P
L
=0 85 . p.u.;
K
u 0
10 =-
with additional
rfequency control
- + 0 4741 9 626 . . i
- + 0 36416 2 0459 . . i
- + 016935 6 3895 . . i
-0 033698 .
- + 0 46418 9 5615 . . i
- + 0 41166 19022 . . i
- + 015664 6 2519 . . i
-0 03262 .
- + 0 44704 9 5725 . . i
- + 0 35337 2 0384 . . i
- + 0 31665 6 4726 . . i
-0 034946 .
222
The equal damping curves shown in Fig. 5 can be referred to
the first principle described above. It is to be noted that maximum
damping variation is equal to 0,016 whereas equivalent time cons
tant Tp is varied from 0,01 to 20 sec. Obviously, from small distur
bancel stability point of view, there is no reason to reduce this con
stant by special expensive countermeasures.
223
a)
b)
Fig. 5. Impact of CSR control system equivalent time constanton oscillatory stabi
lity of transmission system. a T
p
in a range of 020 s, b T
p
in a range of 01 s.
In some cases [5, 6], the application of CSR line current cont
rol is considered. It is interesting to compare its impact on small
signal stability with voltage deviation and derivative control concept
(1) described above.
The line current control mode can be expressed as follows
( ) 1
0
+ = + pT b b K I
p p p IL L
D (2)
where K
IL
is line current deviation DI
L
control gain.
224
Fig. 6. Curves of equal damping (solid lines) and aperiodic stability region (dotted
lines) for transmission systems with voltage deviation and derivative (a) and line
current (b, c) control mode MCSRs.
a)
b) c)
It can be followed that the sign of line current control gain K
IL
must be opposite to the sign of voltage deviation control gain K
u 0
.
When short circuit occurs, terminal voltage decreases, while line
current grows. MCSR control action have to be identical in both
cases. Reactor conductivity is needed to diminish down to zero.
For that reason, voltage deviation control gain K
u 0
and line current
one K
IL
have to be negative and positive, respectively.
Fig. 6,b illustrates the aperiodic stability region (dotted line, the
system has stabile equilibrium inside fourth quadrant and the part
of second one) and the curves of equal damping (oscillatory stabili
ty) on the plane of line current control gains(K
U 0
and K
U 1
for
Fig. 6,a). It turned out, that higher quality indices can be obtained
with line current control (in comparison with case of using vol
tage deviation and derivative control mode as it is shown in
Fig. 6,a), but control gains have to be negative (e.g., K
ILR1
1 =-
and K
ILR2
1 =- , Fig. 6,c), which is not matched with system re
quirements for MCSR behavior during large disturbances consi
dered afterwards. On the other hand, taking small positive gains
from the aperiodic and oscillatory stability region (K
ILR1
01 = .
and K
ILR2
01 = . ) makes the reactor to be practically uncontrol
lable.
Computer simulations show that reactor conductivity can never
be reduced to zero when applying so small control gains.
Commonly used inputs of synchronous generator power
system stabilizer in Russia are the derivative of terminal voltage,
the deviation and derivative of terminal frequency and the deriva
tive of field current. It has shown [6] that terminal frequency
(both deviation and derivative) modes are most applicable for a
purpose of enhancing damping of power oscillations through exci
tation control.
The result of terminal frequency deviation control mode imple
mentation in MCSR to enhance transmission system damping is
shown in the third column of Table 2. As it is realized in generator
excitation systems, it can be recommended to apply additional fre
225
quency control modes only for small perturbations with blocking
them when terminal voltage is out of range 475525 kV. Investigati
on of 500 kV longdistance transmission system transient stability
for the most severe faults (double phasetoground one with subse
quent unsuccessful autoreclosing and faulted circuit trippind) has
shown good influence of MCSR operation on damping of the
postfault oscillation.
Conclusions
Impact of various MCSR control systems on smallsignal and
transient stability of 500 kV longdistance transmission systems is
considered.
1. Installation and tuning of controlled shunt compensation de
vices in combination with using equivalent synchronous generator
excitation control allows to decrease the impact of transmitted
power value on real eigenvalues and, therefore, to enlarge aperiodic
stability margin.
2. Oscillatory stability of longdistance transmission system does
not deteriorate when embedding controlled shunt compensation
devices with considerable voltage deviation gains whereas MCSR
terminal voltage quality can be improved substantially.
3. Application of voltage frequency (both proportional and deri
vative) control of MCSR allows to obtain the acceptable stability
margin even without generator PSS optimization.
4. The control gains selected can be recommended for wide
range of transmission system operating conditions (both direct and
reverse power transfer).
5. It has been proved on the basis of stability region constructi
on that the MCSR equivalent time constant Tp in the range of
0,0120 sec. does not influence on system properties considerably.
So there is no reason to reduce this constant by special expensive
countermeasures.
6. The application of MCSR line current control system does
not give the priority to MCSR voltage control since its stability
region is too narrow, which makes difficult to choose the appropri
226
ate control gains in the wide range of operating conditions. This is
the main reason why the using of CSR line current control can not
be recommended for transmission systems with reversing energy
transfer.
7. The positive impact of MCSR voltage and frequency control
on transient stability of transmission system is confirmed. Taking
into account the actual control signal constraints, MCSR conducti
vity variation is sufficiently high to provide reliable damping.
References
1. Bernard S. Trudel G. Scott G. A 735 kV shunt reactors automatic swit
ching system for HydroQuebec network. IEEE Trans. on Power Systems.
1996, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 20242030.
2. Belyaev A.N., Smolovik S.V. An improvement of AC electrical energy
transmission system with series compensation by implementation of Control
lable Shunt Reactors. Proceedings of IEEE PES PowerTech. 2003, Bologna,
Italy.
3. Gama C. Brazilian NorthSouth Interconnection controlapplication
and operating experience with a TCSC. IEEE Power Engineering Society
Summer Meeting. 1822 July 1999, Vol. 2, pp. 11031108.
4. GerinLajoie L., Scott G., Breault S., Larsen E.V., Baker D.H.,
Imece A.F. HydroQuebec multiple SVC application control stability study.
IEEE Trans. on Power Delivery. 1990, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 15431551.
5. Evdokunin G.A., Ragozin A.A., Seleznev Yu.G. New technical solution
to the problems of longdistance AC power transmission lines. 9th Internati
onal Power System Conference, St. Petersburg, 1994.
6. Kashin I.V., Smolovik S.V. The AC longlength transmission lines
operation stability with controllable source of reactive power shunt compen
sation. Elekrtrichestvo, 2001, No. 2, pp. 815 (in Russian).
7. Single phase tripping and auto reclosing of transmission lines. IEEE
Trans. on Power Delivery, 1992, vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 182192.
First published: Magnetically Controlled Shunt Reactor Application for AC HV
and EHV Transmission Lines. Paris. CIGRE2006.
227
Magnetically Controlled Shunt Reactors to meet
of Russias Power Industry the Requirements
A. M. Bryantsev, A. G. Dolgopolov, G. A. Evdokunin,
Y. A. Lipatov A. I. Lurye, E. E. Makletsova
Magnetically controlled reactors have proliferated lately in Rus
sias power industry. 25, 100 and 180 MVA shunt reactors are used
in 110, 220 and 330 kV power networks and they are expected
shortly in 550 kV networks. About 100 arcsuppression reactors are
used in 610 kV networks. Due to simplicity of its construction and
use, performance specifications, weight, size and cost controllable
reactors well surpass other means of reactive power regulation.
Under scientific control by group of enterprises. JSC Electrical
controlled reactors or ELUR, has developed a series of
highvoltage controllable reactors for 35500 kV power networks.
According to performance specifications and functional capabilities
analysis performed by power companies and electri
calengineeringoriented organizations of Russia, Mexico, China,
Brazil, India and other countries, a new magnetically controlled
shunt reactor is an ultimate and unique solution for voltage stabili
zation, power loss reduction and a perfect tool for raising operation
reliability in longdistance power transmission lines and distribution
networks. The cost of a reactor installation project is twice as low
as that of some alternative solutions whereas the payback period
does not exceed two years.
Application of controlled reactors instead of nonadjustable or
stepwise adjustable ones is especially expedient in the electric net
works with nonstable loads. Controlled reactors combined with
capacitor banks act as synchronous or static thyristor compensators.
Besides, a largescale application of controlled reactors is an effi
cient and costeffective way of power consumption optimization,
raising power quality, improving operational conditions and pro
longing servicelife of electrical equipment. Controlled reactors are
the ultimate choice for shuntcompensation in longdistance
highvoltage and ultrahigh voltage lines. Such reactors allow for:
228
the automated process of voltage stabilization or stabilization
of a specified parameter of the mode with low level of switching
equipment operation in voltage regulation circuits;
the increase in transmission capacity of transmission lines by
up to 30% retaining the admissible voltage level;
the reduction of power losses in electrical networks and
increase in their operational reliability partly by drastic reduction of
transformer tap changer actuations;
the increase in the limit of transmitted power under the con
dition of static and dynamic stability of the system.
The list of companies manufacturing components for control
lable reactors include JSC Zaporozhtransformator responsible
for electromagnetic part of reactors and JSC Ramenskiy electrical
engineering plant Energiya producing convertertransformers
equipped with control system; neutrallers and current curve correc
tion units. Settling technical supply standards, providing support in
manufacturing, complex testing at the installation site and warranty
service is carried out by JSC Electrical controlled reactors
(ELUR), a scientific and engineering center specially organized
for reactorrelated services. The partnership of the enterprises
having a unique experience in developing, manufacturing and
putting into operation different types of controlled reactors is based
on the multilateral cooperation agreement. The foundation of JSC
ELUR was preceded with scientific work being done for many
years by experts from the industrys leading scientific and manufac
turing organizations established in CIS countries and a successful
experience in production of various reactor prototypes. More than
50 reactors of different types were manufactured and put into oper
ation. Launching of RUOMtype controlled arcsuppression
reactor series that has a steady demand in the market is one of the
most remarkable achievements. Another outstanding advancement
is devel oping, manufacturing and putting into operation the
3phase controlled reactor RTU 25000/110 installed on
Kudymkar substation of Permenergo power system. Unique
patented solutions and best innovational technological advance
ments awarded by the certificate of the International Forum for
229
230
Fig. 1. A common electrical diagram of an RTU controlled reactor connections: 1.
electromagnetic part of an RTDU phase (PWpower winding, CWcompensati
on winding, ConW control winding); 2. Convertertransformer (TMP) (VN,
NNtransformer windings; V1, V2circuit breakers; SCsemiconductor conver
ter); 3. system of control, adjustment, protection and automation (SCAPA)
(CMDcontrol and measuring devices; VNexternal selector of an error signal;
V1, V2, V3Circuitbreakers control inputs; SPRsubstation relay protection); 4.
current correction unit (CCU); 5. grounding filter of the zero sequence (neutraller)
(GFZS)
high technologies in the defense industry have been incorporated
into 35500 kV highvoltage shunt reactors series, developed by the
parties of the abovementioned agreement.
Controlled reactors of RTU series comprise electromagnetic
part, convertertransformer, the system of control, adjustment,
protection and automation; current curve correction unit and the
grounding filter of the zero sequence also called neutraller.
The principal loadbearing element of a controlled reactor is its
electromagnetic part, a transformertype 3phase electromagnetic
device placed into the oilfilled tank. The construction of the elec
tromagnetic part implies outdoor installation and provides for oper
ation in Russian climatic conditions. Electromagnetic part is
designed for consuming reactive power from the electrical network.
The amount of power consumed may vary considerably depending
on the saturation rate of the magnetic circuit of the phases. The
saturation rate can be adjusted by excitation of the DC current in
control winding. The more the current in control winding is, the
more reactive power is consumed by the phases. The con
vertertransformer is used for adjusting the DC current in the con
trol winding of the electromagnetic part, which is made possible by
changing the converters rectified voltage value. The assembly is a
3phase doublewinding transformer and a semiconductor converter
connected to the LV side of transformer. The con
vertertransformer is an integral unit positioned in one or two
oilfilled tanks. The transformer as well as the electromagnetic part
is designed to comply with Russian climatic conditions. The rated
power of the transformer does not exceed 1 per cent of the reac
tors rated power.
Control system is intended for producing command signals for
the converter. These signals control the rectified voltage which ulti
mately affects the consumed power. The system of control, adjust
ment, protection and automation is an electronic device assembled
in a monobloc. It is designed for indoor installation in a heated
place not farther than approximately 500 meters from the electro
magnetic part of the reactor. The power consumed by the control
sys tem is no more than 1 MW. The current curve correction unit
231
and the filter of zero sequence or neutraller perform a supplemen
tary function. The current curve correction unit provides compen
sation for the major harmonics of the reactors current during
noload operation and correction of its curve in other modes. The
unit is a threephase block of power capacitors with an estimated
power of 5 per cent of the reactors rated power. It is an aircooled
monobloc construction designed for operation in Russian climatic
conditions. The grounding filter of the zero sequence controls
voltage between the compensating winding and substation
grounding mat. The filter is a 3phase singlewinding Zconnected
transformer placed into the oilfilled tank. The neutraller is capable
of outdoor operation in Russian climatic conditions.
The new series comprises reactors of 4 different power and 2
nominal vottages for each power. The power and voltage values
have been chosen based on findings of such research institutes as
Energosetproekt (ESP), Russian research institute of electrical
power engineering (VNIIE) and Energetic institute (ENIN) to
conform to RAO UES of Russias standards and meet the
demands of power supply systems and some related associations.
232
Reactors of all types employ the same grounding filter of the
zerosequence (FiviZOSWIIMUI).
Magnetically controlled shunt reactor assembly of RTUseries
includes 5 abovementioned devices.
The equipment configuration, rated parameters andthe inter
connection scheme may vary depending on the point of connection
to a bus or a line, the number of performed functions and the tech
nical properties required in a certain connection point. Apart from
that, all reactors of RTUseries regardless of configuration satisfy a
number of basic technical requirements, stated by RAO UES of
Russias leading research and design institutes. Suggestions of the
experts operating highvoltage networks and organizations per
taining to RAO UES of Russia, as well as recommendations
given by power pools of CIS and farabroad countries were taken
into account when the technical requirements were being set. Every
controlled reactor of RTUseries allows for both automatic and
manual control over the consumed power within the range of
0.011.2 of the rated power without any restrictions on the number
of power changes. The equivalent constant of the transient process
time from one steady state to another does not exceed 2 or 3 sec
onds. The rootmeansquare current distortion of the electric net
work within the whole adjustment range does not exceed 5 per cent
of the nominal current of the major harmonic.
Technical specifications and functions of reactors can be even
better for a small extra charge. The improvements include the guar
anteed speed of smooth power change during forced operation with
the equivalent constant of time equaling to 0.30.5 seconds,
fastresponse (not more than 0.02 seconds) changeover of a cur
rent power value to the nominal rate or noload operation, the
enhancement of the curve of the consumed current with the cur
rent distortion reduced to 2 per cent of the nominal fundamental
harmonic, operability in asymmetrical and openphase operating
conditions, power takeoff at the lowvoltage side and arc
quenching in the period of a singlephase line restart.
Reactors of the RTUseries combine technical excellence with
a number of economic advantages. Losses in reactors and material
233
consumption for the production of reactors is at most twice as
much as those for the production of conventional shunt reactors.
The reactors feature:
Compensation of excessive charge capacity of transmission
lines. This is performed automatically after the required level of
inductance in reactors electromagnetic part is set manually in the
control system. In this case, the convertertransformer will output
the control current appropriate for the required inductance value
regardless of the reactors voltage.
Voltage stabilization on substation or transmission line buses.
This is performed automatically by the smooth change of the power
consumed in the electromagnetic part in accordance with the error
signal sent from the control system. The consumed current of the
reactors electromagnetic part changes due to the biasing of its
magnetic system with the DCcurrent, produced by the thyristor
converter of the transformer. The increase in the network voltage
by 0.55 per cent of the specified value smoothly changes the con
sumed power from noload to nominal values.
The control of the reactors operation mode. This is done by
the SCAPA control system.
Control action of the control system in normal symmetrical
conditions implies minimizing the error signal between a specified
adjustment parameter (e.g. voltage or reactive power) and its real
value. Apart from its main function, control system provides transi
tion of the reactor from the automatic to manual mode and
viceversa, indication of the mode settings, specified adjustment
values and circuit condition, overload and damage alarm, moni
toring of overcurrent with a subsequent limitation of the reactors
power, protection from faults inside the converter and short circuit
in the control winding, implementation of control actions received
from external devices of protection and automation, specially
designed for protection from short circuits, overload and
overvoltage.
234
Nominal paramrters of RTU controlled reactors
Powep, kVA Voltege, kV Current, A
32000 38,5 480
32000 121 153
63000 121 301
63000 242 151
100000 242 239
100000 347 167
180000 347 300
180000 525 198
A number of typical modes are applicable in course of operating
the reactors. Because the similar technical solutions and circuitry
were used in all the reactors of RTUseries, electromagnetic pro
cesses inherent for each of the models are alike in a qualitative
sense. The detailed calculation of the modes and their graphical
representation is made in relative units for an abstract computer
model of an RTUreactor. A controlled reactor produces an effect
on the electric network modes by changing the value of the con
sumed current, which respectively changes the voltage in the con
nection point and the mode of power consumption in the nearby
network. Dependence of the voltage change in the reactors instal
lation point in function of the consumed current is the main regu
lating characteristic of the controlled reactor.
A number of orders have been placed and contracts signed for
the controlled reactors reviewed in this article. The units for sale
have the following specifications: the specific cost is 812 USD per
a kVA, nominal specific power loss is 47 W per a kVA. Some
organizations of RAO UES of Russia and power suppliers of
other countries estimate that its reasonable to substitute about a
third part of all the active shunt reactors for magnetically controlled
reactors, taking into account their superb technical and economic
235
indices. A vivid example of controlled reactors efficiency is the
performance of RTU25000/ 110 installed on the Kudymkar sub
station. The reactor limits voltage deviations by amazing +1.5 % of
the predetermined voltage and reduces the number of actuations of
shunt capacitor bank and onload tap changers by approximately
100 times. At a maximum load the power losses in the nearby net
work dropped by 2 MW, which ensures the threeyears payback at
most. The reactor also facilitates supplying KomiPermyatskiy
autonomous area with the regular and uninterrupted power, which
allows to put off project of construction of the 220 kV power trans
mission line in the north of the Permskaya region for 10 or even 15
years.
First published: Science and Technology Newspaper Energoprogress.
Special issue. 2004.
236
Technical Expertise on project Magnetically
Controlled Shunt Reactors for 35500 kV
Electric Networks
A reliable operation of contemporary electric power systems is
not possible without highly developed automatic control and regu
lation organization. Generating units of power stations (frequency
and excitation regulation), synchronous compensators at substa
tions (regulation of voltage and reactive power flows), onload
transformers (to provide necessary values of voltages in feeding and
distribution networks), controllable sources of reactive power (to
provide required values of voltage for final users of power, reduc
tion of losses in distribution networks and improvement of electric
power quality) are traditionally the objects of such regulation.
The progress of power electronics, on the one hand, and the
expansion of operation modes range for electric power systems in
current conditions of market relations liberalization, on the other
hand, resulted in expediency and even necessity of furnishing elec
tric power networks and power transmission lines with statically
regulated devices which allow to control power flows in a network,
and also to stabilize dynamic conditions of electric power system.
Static compensators of reactive power are among these devices.
Their application allows to increase handling capacity of power
transmission, to reduce losses in electric networks, to regulate volt
ages, to limit overvoltages, to extend limits of power to be trans
mitted from the point of stability conditions. A wide application of
such devices abroad (Canada, USA, Sweden, Japan and etc.)
resulted in essential savings of means required for provision of
normal operation of electric power systems. It also permitted to
solve ecological problems connected with assignment of territory
for additional transmission lines. Unfortunately, such devices have
not found the practical application for an organization of sys
237
temforming and feeding networks in the electric power system of
Russia.
At the same time the necessity in such devices at the mentioned
objects of electric power system of Russia is significant.
Nonavailability of such devices in recent years resulted in sig
nificant voltage rise at power transmission lines of ultrahigh
voltage due to the sharp decrease of load. Failures and damages of
HV equipment were observed at the lines. The last problem con
tinues to be extremely imperative nowadays and its effective solu
tion can be received by the application of magnetically controlled
shunt reactors.
Magnetically controlled shunt reactors are powerful (up to sev
eral hundreds MVA) high voltage (up to 500 kV) threephase ferro
magnetic coils having variable in a wide range inductive resistance.
The inductance variation of controlled shunt reactors is provided
by means of magnetic system saturation with magnetic flows to be
controlled in value. It results in fluent regulation of power con
sumed by reactor practically from zero to the rated value. Contin
uous overload is tolerated by 20 % and shorttime one by 40 %.
Such reactors permit to reduce losses of electric energy and
active power in network due to regulating the voltage and magnetic
flows. If they are used in combination with a capacitor bank, they
allow to increase handling capacity of electric transmission making
stable their modes under requirements of stability.
From the pointed out positions materials on magnetically con
trolled reactors (RTU25000/ 110, RTU10000/220 and
RTU180000/500) submitted for technical expertise testify that
these devices are undoubtedly useful and perspective on the fol
lowing features:
the wide range of reactive power fluent regulation (practically
from zero to the rated value);
the scale of rated powers corresponds to practical require
ments;
the wide range of rated voltages (110500 kV);
238
the insignificant installed power of control device;
rather fast response for stabilization of electromechanical
transient processes;
low losses of active power;
the effective parametric manner of higher harmonic compen
sation is used.
The experience of controlled shunt reactors application in
acting electric networks and power supply system of industrial
enterprises since 1976 confirmed good working ability and reli
ability of these reactors at voltage of 635 kV. Besides,
RTU25000/110 controlled shunt reactor has been in operation at
Kudymkar substation, JSC Permenergo since 1999.
RTU100000/220VI reactor has been put into pilot operation at
Chita substation in Siberia.
Judging on estimation of received results by foreign and
domestic experts largescale application of magnetically controlled
reactors can become one of foreground direction of technical
reorganization for 110500 kV high voltage network. These devices
are considered to be unique due to the simplicity of construction,
the reliability and the convenience of maintenance. That is why
they will not yield at all to conventional shunt reactors which were
widely applied about a century. But as regards the functional possi
bilities they correspond (partly they are better in something) to the
latest foreign devices of automatic reactive power regulation. On
the eration factors of reliability and simplicity of maintenance
which are natural to this technique, the expedience of replacement
for significant part of conventional shunt reactors by magnetically
controlled ones is not eliminated.
The probability of complete excluding of conventional shunt
reactors will not be eliminated if the properties of reliability and
simplicity of maintenance being natural to this technique are taken
further into account. In any case market capacity of controlled
shunt reactors for 110500 kV networks only for RAO Unified
239
Energy Systems of Russia is estimated as hundreds millions of US
dollars.
The total effect for the network as a whole is the reduction of
electric energy losses measured as 810 % of its total production,
the increase in handling capacity of intersystem links by 3050 %,
the improvement of electric energy quality up to the level of the
most rigid standards. Due to the significance and the scale of appli
cation the magnetically controlled shunt reactors are located on the
same level with basic electric energy equipment such as generators
and transformers.
At present it has been mastered the production of controlled
reactors of RTU type with the following parameters: 180MVA,
330500kV; 100MVA, 220300 kV, 63 MVA, 110220 kV; 32MVA,
35110kV. The manufacturers of controlled reactor components are
JSC Zaporozhtransformator (reactor phase units) and JSC
Ramensky Electrotechnical Factory Energy (con
vertertransformer equipped with control system; neutraller; cur
rent curve correction unit). Settling technical supply standards,
providing support in manufacturing, complex testing at the installa
tion site and warranty service is carried out by JSC Electrical con
trolled reactors {ELUR), a scientific and engineering center
specially organized for such purposes.
Conclusion
1. It has been developed and mastered in manufacture princi
pally new type of device for the automatic compensation of reactive
power which does not have analogues in domestic and world man
ufacture of electrical machinery and which is extremely necessary
for electric network RAO UES of Russia high voltage magnet
ically controlled shunt reactors.
2. For reasons of technical expedience at least each third shunt
reactor in 110500 kV network must be controlled one. The system
effect from their application is in the following:
the significant reduction of electric energy losses;
240
the increase of handling capacity for intersystem links;
the improvement of produced for consumption electric
energy quality.
3. Potential market capacity for these devices only for electric
network 110; 500 kV of RAO UES of Russia is estimated in hun
dreds millions of US dollars. It is not eliminated that due to prop
erties of cost, reliability and maintenance convenience this type of
reactor in future will be able to replace conventional shunt reactors
completely.
Stroyev V.A., Project Expert, Honoured Doer of Science of
Russian Federation, Head of Chair Electric Systems at Moscow
Energy Institute (Technical University), Doctor of Technical Sci
ences, Professor; Kozlov V.B., Project Expert, Honoured
MachineBuilder of Russian Federation, Director of AllRussian
Electrotechnical Institute named after V.I. Lenin, Doctor of Tech
nical Sciences, Professor; Ametistov Ye.V., Scientific Head of
Centre of High Technologies at Moscow Energy Institute (Tech
nical University), Correspondent Member of Russian Academy of
Sciences, Rector of MPI; Dmitriyev A.S., Director of Center of
High Technologies at Moscow Energy Institute (Technical Univer
sity), Technical PhD, Professor; Yanin G.S., Director of Chief
Department of Scientific Centers, RAO Unified Energy Systems
of Russia.
241
MCR works reliably
Chita of the Siberian Consolidated Energy System is the
worlds first substation to employ magentically controlled shunt
reactor featuring 220 kV and 100 MVAr power.
Controlled reactor provides automatic voltage stabilization of
the substation buses and the nearby network and allows to exclude
nearly all the switching that comes from voltage control.
RTU100000/220U1 proved reliable and efficient during more
than a year of trial operation and system tests conducted in August,
2003 to check the reactor in symmetrical conditions, ground
shortcircuit and openphase operating conditions.
Wed like to express our deep confidence that the projects of
JSC ELUR aimed at increasing the power and nominal voltage
of the controlled reactors will find their application in the backbone
network of Siberian Consolidated Energy System.
A.B. Rabotin, 1st deputy general director,
head dispatcher of Siberias Unified Dispatch Control
242
3phase controlled reactor 100 Mvar, 220 kV Installed in 2002
on the Chita substation, Power System of Siberia
Purpose: Voltage stabilization in the connection point, relief of
the generators from the reactive power.
Technical specifications:
1. Rated voltage 220 kV
2. Rated power 100 Mvar
3. Power variation range 2.5...113 Mvar
4. Power change interval 0.4 sec
5. Losses:
noload loss 87.7 kW
nominal loss 558 kW
6. Power for control 1 MVA
7. Higher harmonics in current < 2 %
8. Total weight 183 tons
243
A phase of the controlled reactor RODCU60/525/ 3
Installed in 1989 on the Beliy Rast substation.
Backbone Power system of the Center
PURPOSE: network tests (adjustment, dynamic, vibration and noise tests,
current nonlinear distortion, resonance events)
Technical specifications:
1. Rated voltage 525/ 3 kV
2. Rated power 60 MVA
3. Power variation
range 0.2...81 Mvar
4. Power change interval 0.3 sec
5. Losses:
noload loss 90 kW
nominal loss 465 kW
6. Power for control 1.8 MVA
7. Total weight 138 tons
3phase controlled reactor 25 Mvar, 110 kV.
Installed on Kudymkar substation, JSC Perrnenergo in 1999
PURPOSE: It provides voltage stabilization in connection point, optimization
of reactive power flows in the nearby network (being paralleled with a 42
MVAr shunt capacitor bank)
Technical specifications:
1. Rated voltage 121 kV
2. Rated power 25 MVA
3. Power variation
range 0.25...30 Mvar
4. Power change interval 2.0 sec
5. Losses:
noload loss 200 kW
nominal loss 25 kW
6. Power for control 160 MVA
7. Higher harmonics in current < 4 %
8. Total weight 138 tons
244
3phase controlled reactor 180 Mvar, 330 kV. Installed in 2003
on the Baranovichi substation, Belenergo corporate group
PURPOSE: voltage stabilization, relief of the generators from the
reactive power.
Technical specifications:
1. Rated voltage 347 kV
2. Rated power 180 MVA
3. Power variation
range 5...195 Mvar
4. Power change interval 0.7 sec
5. Losses:
noload loss 138 kW
nominal loss 753 kW
6. Power for control 1 MVA
7. Higher harmonics in current < 2 %
8. Total weight 320 tons
245
3phase controlled reactor RTU3360/10. Installed in 2003
on the Zamyn Uud substation, Mongolia
PURPOSE: voltage stabilization on the singleended
substation 110/10 kV
Technical specifications:
1. Rated voltage 11 kV
2. Rated power 3630 kvar
3. Power variation
range 363...3630 kvar
4. Power change interval 3 sec
5. Losses:
noload loss 6.5 kW
nominal loss 55 kW
6. Power for control 20 kW
7. Higher harmonics in current 9.6 A
8. Total weight 8850 kg
246