Choosing Between Resistor and Reactor

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Power Systems Engineering
Choosing Between
Resistor and Reactor
for Neutral Ground
Impedance
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current magnitude especially when the

transformer(s) neutral is solidly grounded.
The neutral ground circuit in the transformer
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provides the return path for the fault

currents. To limit this current, impedance
either in the form of a reactor or a resistor
is installed in the neutral circuit. See the
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figure below.
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Ground Fault Current Path
The table below lists the differences between

utilizing a resistor or reactor as the
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impedance in the transformer neutral circuit.
Choosing
Resistor
Reactor
Between
Resistor and
Reactor for
Neutral Ground
Impedance
Image
Image
courtesy:Postglover
courtesy:Trench
Power
Cable
Neutral
and System
Grounding
Pros
1. It uses actual
1. It uses inductive
Substation
resistance of the
reactance of the
design material
coil to create an
SCADA System Design Guide
impedance path
to limit the fault
for the fault
Cable and
current.
current.
Conduit
Installation in
2. It is universally
2. It is well suited
Substations -
applied without
for applications
Best Practices
any limitation.
which require
several thousand
amps to flow
through it for a
Substation SubSurface
short duration.
Engineering: An
Overview of
What a Geotech
Cons
1. It is expensive to
Survey Reveals
1. It is typically
Per Unit
build since it
applied in
must have
systems where
enough mass to
there is a desire
absorb the fault
to limit the
current energy.
ground fault
The price
current to a
increases with
magnitude that is
the increase in
25% to 60% of the
fault current it
three phase fault
can handle and
current. If the
time rating.
ground fault
System Practice
Problem
current is limited
Solved For
Easy
Understanding
What Do
Symmetrical,
Asymmetrical,
Momentary,
Interrupting,
Close &
to less than 25%
Latch
of the threephase fault
current then the
Ratings
neutral winding
Mean?
can be subjected
to transient over-
Power
Circuit
voltages
Breaker -
(explained
Operation
below).Therefore,
and Control
a surge arrester
Scheme
should be
installed in with
Determining
short-
the reactor to
circuit
achieve the
rating of
reduction in fault
circuit
current and
breakers
prevent transient
over-voltages
Direct
from damaging
Transfer
the neutral
Trip Scheme
winding of the
transformer.
More on transient overvoltages:

Transient over-voltages are produced by arcing faults,
not surges. The over-voltage occurs when the arc
strikes due to a line-to-ground fault and charges the
system capacitive reactance. When the arc momentarily
extinguishes, the charge needs to dissipate. When the
neutral ground resistor is used as the impedance,

its resistance is usually less than the capacitive
reactance, thereby allowing the voltage to discharge.
However, when the reactor is used and when its
reactive impedance is high (to limit ground fault
current to less than 25% of the three phase current), the
voltage cannot discharge. As the arc re-fires, the
charge can continually build, thus creating the overvoltage.
Summary:
If it is desired to limit the fault current to a
really low magnitude using the actual resistance
then a resistor is recommended. On the other
hand, if several thousand amps of fault current
is permissible in the system then the reactor is
recommended. In the either case, the reactor can
be an economical solution. Keep in mind, we
are talking about shunt air core reactor in the
transformer neutral for current limiting purpose.
Series reactors, however, are expensive. The
price of any neutral ground impedance device
increases with the increase in the continuous
current rating (for reactors), impedance rating,
and time rating.
*****
grounding
resistor
neutral grounding
reactor
transient overvoltage
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AR CH IVES
January
2013
December
2012
September
2012
June 2012
May 2012
TAG C LOU D
arc
flash study arc
AC system
flash test
asymmetrical current
WEL COM E TO
P E GUR U
Protective
Relaying
base values
cable shield
grounding
direct buried conduits
direct
transfer trip
FACT generator swing
March
Ground grid
HVDC IEEE 1584
2012
John Camara Juan L.
January
B OOKS ON M Y
SH ELF
Lewis
Blackburn
Bala
2012
lockout relays modern
November
power system
NEC 2011
Handbook
Power System
Analysis and
Design
momentary rating
2011
NCEES Professional
August
Engineering
2011
neutral
grounding
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March
2011
NFPA 70E
OSHA 1910 Pass
PE Exam
permissive
over reaching
transfer trip
per unit
system PE
Sample Problems
September
2010
July 2010
pilot
relaying
power blackout power
power
system Power
transformers
PPE
flow
June 2010
protective
relaying
reactive power support
short circuit
rating steady state
stability substation
conduit details
symmetrical
components
symmetrical current
system frequency
thermal limitation
transformers
voltage drop
limitation Zia A.
Yamayee
ABO UT
C ON TA CT
T E RM S & CO ND I T ION S
PRI VA CY POL IC Y
SI TE M AP

Choosing Between Resistor and Reactor

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Choosing Between Resistor and Reactor for Neutral Ground Impedance | Power Syste...

Power Systems Engineering

Enter your email

Faults involving ground produce high fault

current magnitude especially when the

Join 492 other

provides the return path for the fault

Cable Volt Drop

Eliminate Voltage Drop in lo

Ground Fault Current Path

The table below lists the differences between

Recent Posts Tags

impedance in the transformer neutral circuit.

SCADA System Design Guide

to limit the fault

for the fault

absorb the fault

25% to 60% of the

three phase fault

can handle and

to less than 25%

of the threephase fault

current then the

More on transient overvoltages:

neutral ground resistor is used as the impedance,

John Camara Juan L.

lockout relays modern

reactive power support

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