Optimizing the Design of a Dry-Type Single Phase Gapped-Core Shunt Reactor to Empower National Industries

Abstract

The import dependency of essential components in our country's electrical power system poses a significant challenge, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the design, development, and maintenance of power system components, particularly shunt reactors, from an economic standpoint. Domestic production of these components contributes to employment opportunities and enhances self-sufficiency. This study aims to address these challenges by optimizing the design of a dry-type single phase gapped-core shunt reactor with a rating of 100 kVAr and 10 kV. The reactor operates at a frequency of 50 Hz and experiences a maximum core flux density of 1.2 T. The study thoroughly examines the fundamental aspects related to the design of gapped-core shunt reactors. An optimal design is achieved by determining the optimal ratio of the cross-sectional area to the height of each core disk, employing a MATLAB code to minimize the reactor's initial manufacturing cost (IC) or losses. In addition, the proposed design undergoes simulation and analysis using the finite element method (FEM) in the MAXWELL software. The reactor's inductance is obtained through both Maxwell three-dimensional (3D) simulation and analytical methods, demonstrating a reasonable agreement that validates the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed approach.