Shunt Reactor Winding Bridging for Multi-Voltage Reactance Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing reactor arrangements for compensating reactive power in alternating voltage networks are limited to specific voltage levels and power ranges, restricting their flexibility and requiring separate arrangements for each application, leading to increased spare parts and reduced adaptability.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a switching device that cannot be actuated under load to selectively bridge sections of the shunt reactor, allowing the effective number of windings to be varied, and an on-load tap-changer with a load selector switch and load change-over switch to adjust reactance, enabling adaptation to different voltage levels without the need for multiple reactor arrangements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a shunt reactor with on-load tap-changer is used to adjust reactance under load, then the reactance can be adjusted during operation, but the reactor arrangement is restricted to a specific voltage level and power range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereactance adjustment under loadVSAvoidvoltage level adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The shunt reactor is divided into multiple sections with discrete windings, where each section can be independently switched in or out of the circuit. This segmentation allows the reactor to be configured for different voltage levels by connecting different numbers of winding sections in series, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining operational adjustability and achieving voltage level versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reactor arrangement incorporates both on-load tap-changer for dynamic reactance adjustment during operation and off-load switching device for static configuration changes between different voltage levels. This combination of dynamic and static switching mechanisms enables the reactor to adapt to different operating conditions while maintaining the ability to adjust reactance under load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If separate reactor arrangements are provided for each voltage level, then each arrangement is optimized for its specific application, but the number of spare parts and operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication-specific optimizationVSAvoidnumber of reactor arrangements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single shunt reactor design is made universal by incorporating an off-load switching device that can reconfigure the winding connections to match different voltage levels. This multi-functionality allows one reactor arrangement to replace multiple voltage-specific designs, reducing spare parts inventory while maintaining application-specific optimization through proper winding configuration for each voltage level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the switching device is designed to bridge sections of the shunt reactor, then the effective number of windings can be changed to adapt to different voltages, but the switching device cannot be actuated under load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage adaptation capabilityVSAvoidswitching operation constraints
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The off-load switching device is designed to reconfigure the reactor winding connections before the reactor is energized or while it is de-energized, preventing any switching operations under load conditions. This preliminary action approach ensures that all configuration changes are made in advance, eliminating the risks associated with switching under load while still enabling voltage adaptation when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables flexible use of reactor arrangements across various voltage levels, reducing the need for multiple spare parts and allowing easy adaptation to different power settings, thereby enhancing efficiency and reducing operational complexity.

Implementation Method 1

a shunt reactor, which has a plurality of windings and a connection at one end for connecting the shunt reactor to an alternating voltage conductor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic Induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

an on-load tap-changer, which is designed and arranged to adjust the reactance of the shunt reactor under load

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP4475370A1Reactor arrangement and device
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4475370A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4475370A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4475370A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a reactor arrangement (2) for compensating reactive power in an alternating voltage network, the reactor arrangement (2) comprising a shunt reactor (5), which has a plurality of windings (6) and a connection at one end for connecting the shunt reactor (5) to an alternating voltage conductor, and an on-load tap-changer (21), which is designed and arranged to adjust the reactance of the shunt reactor (5) under load, wherein the reactor arrangement (2) further comprises a switching device (7), which cannot be actuated under load and which is designed and arranged to selectively bridge a section of the shunt reactor (5) located in particular in the vicinity of the connection in order to change the effective number of windings (6) of the shunt reactor (5) and to adapt the reactor arrangement (2) to different voltages in the alternating voltage network.