Technical gazette, Vol. 32 No. 6, 2025.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.17559/TV-20250414002593
Winding Materials Effect on Performance of Air Core Current Limiting Reactors in Energy Systems
Murat Ayaz
orcid.org/0000-0001-9839-3970
; Kocaeli University, Department of Electric and Energy, 41180, Kocaeli, Turkey
*
Cüneyt Ceyhan
; Kocaeli University, Turkey
Kadir Yilmaz
orcid.org/0000-0002-0819-3420
; Kocaeli University, Department of Energy Systems Engineering, 41050, Kocaeli, Turkey
Yiğit Karabulut
; Manisa Celal Bayar University, Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, 45030, Manisa, Turkey
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
The rapid increase in energy demand requires expanding the capacities of energy transmission and distribution systems, which in turn raises fault current magnitudes and risks damaging existing switchgear. To address this, current-limiting reactors (CLRs) are used to control these fault currents. This study presents the development of an air-core reactor design with copper windings and evaluates the performance of a similar reactor with aluminium windings under equivalent cross-sectional and resistance conditions. Preliminary dimensions for the reactor were determined using analytical methods for a 5-10 A, 5 V AC, 50 Hz system. A 1/10000 scale model of the CLR was created using Ansys Maxwell software. Based on the design and performance analysis, prototypes with both copper and aluminium windings were produced. The winding loss analysis was performed, and temperature distributions were assessed for both pre- and post-short-circuit conditions. The simulations were conducted under varying current magnitudes and harmonic distortions to assess frequency-dependent behaviour. During testing, a system drawing of approximately 4.9 A rms at 4.9 V rms was limited to 3.5 A rms when the copper-wound CLR was activated. The CLR effectively reduced the current by about 28%, with experimental results showing similar performance for both aluminium and copper-wound CLRs. The study also included a comparison of aluminium and copper-wound CLRs regarding cost, volume, and weight, highlighting the trade-offs between material choices.
Keywords
air core reactor; aluminium conductor; copper conductor; current limiting reactor; energy systems; winding materials
Hrčak ID:
337712
URI
Publication date:
31.10.2025.
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