Simulation of Switching Operations of a Shunt Reactor for reactive power compensation in transmission grids

Abstract:
With more and more shunt reactors to be installed in the future, the system operators must ensure a safe operation of their energization and de-energization, especially against the background of the high number of switching operations per day. In this regards, this paper gives an extensive overview of the three phenomena to be considered: Inrush currents and steep switching overvoltages during the energization as well as high frequency voltage oscillations after de-energization. Subsequently, results from simulations of a real shunt reactor and the surrounding substation are presented, largely confirming the theoretical results. To conclude, three possible counter measures (closing resistors, synchronized switching and RC-snubber circuits) to the identified stresses are shortly presented.