What is Shunt Reactor?
A coil that protects capacitors from resonance in high-harmonic environments, enabling detuned compensation.
A shunt reactor is a coil connected in series with the capacitor in a compensation panel to protect the system in high-harmonic environments. Non-linear loads such as variable frequency drives and rectifiers generate harmonics; when the harmonic level is high (THD above 5%), plain capacitors resonate with the harmonics, draw excessive current and get damaged.
The reactor forms a filter together with the capacitor, shifting the circuit's resonance frequency away from the harmonic components. This "detuned" or "filtered" compensation protects the capacitors and also filters part of the harmonic currents. The detuning ratio (such as 5.67%, 7%, 14%) is chosen according to the dominant harmonic in the system.
The need for a shunt reactor depends on the facility's harmonic profile. Reactor selection cannot be done without measuring THD with an energy analyzer. SolarTools monitors the harmonic level continuously and shows whether detuned compensation is needed and whether the existing system is adequate.
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