Tertiary reactor and switcher design advancements result in improved Grid reliability

Tertiary Shunt Reactors have long been used as a cost effective method of providing reactive compensation for transmission lines. Increasing failure rates has brought into question the viability of this approach. This paper examines the interaction between the reactor and the switching device, highlighting the high frequency transients caused by different switching technologies. Recent advances in switching technology and reactor design approaches may significantly reduce the exposure to these transients, extending the life of the equipment and improving reliability of the tertiary reactor solution resulting in improved Grid reliability.