Core Loss Calculation and Temperature Distribution Simulation of Saturable Reactor for Converter Valves

Saturable reactor is a key equipment of HVDC transmission, and its insulation failure will severely affect the safe operation of the converter valve. For the cause of studying the loss and temperature distribution of the core-type saturable reactor, a simulation model of the saturable reactor is established using COMSOL Multiphysics software. Taking the instantaneous current of 3000 A under the full load as the excitation source, the loss distribution of the core is obtained. Afterwards, the loss density distribution is taken as the heat source of the temperature field. The electromagnetic thermal simulation model of the saturable reactor is built to analyze its temperature distribution. The results show that the loss of the core inside is higher, and the loss at the upper and lower ends is lower than that in the middle. It is found that the highest temperature of the core is 62.2 °C. The inner temperature of the core is higher than that of the outer part. The results can provide a reference for the heat dissipation improvement of the core-type saturable reactor.