Air reactors represent an effective solution for limiting short-circuit currents in industrial UPS systems. Discover Ortea application in a metropolitan substation.
APPLICATION CONTEXT AND TECHNICAL CHALLENGE
The goal is to limit the short-circuit current to 8kA for 100ms for the UPS system dedicated to emergency services. This is because the supply line would otherwise have a short-circuit current in the order of 30kA, risking the integrity of the backup system and the continuity of power supply under critical conditions.
To address this issue, it was necessary to install a current-limiting reactor, capable of increasing the circuit’s impedance and restricting fault currents to levels compatible with the UPS’s specifications.
WHY AN AIR REACTOR
Unlike iron-core reactors, which are subject to magnetic saturation during current peaks, air-core reactors maintain their inductive value even under heavy stress. This is possible because the magnetic permeability of air does not change with current, ensuring a stable and predictable response even in the event of a short circuit.
ADVANCED DESIGN WITH FEM SIMULATION
The reactor supplied was custom designed by Ortea, with the support of advanced magnetic simulations using Finite Element Analysis (FEM). This approach enabled:
- The study of the magnetic field distribution inside the IP31 metal cabinet.
- Minimisation of mutual inductances between the three phases.
- Reduction of localised additional losses.
- Optimisation of the coil spacing,
- Ensure reliable and safe performance even under the most severe fault conditions.
CONSTRUCTION FEATURES OF THE AIR REACTOR
The reactor was installed in an IP31 cabinet weighing approximately 200kg, with dimensions of 600x900x2100mm, perfectly integrated into the technical environment of the substation.
Ortea Next thus reaffirms its leadership in power quality solutions, once again demonstrating its expertise in tackling complex challenges with an integrated approach that combines experience, advanced simulation, and design capability.
