What is a line reactor and what will it do for my application?
A line reactor is a special type of inductor used on the line side or the motor side of a drive application depending on the specific circumstances. They are used on the line side of the drive to smooth inrush current, reduce harmonic noise, and to act as a buffer and protect the drive system. The line reactors have a 3% voltage drop based on impedance. This drop can be beneficial for drives on systems exceeding the rated input voltage of the drive. In this regard, the line reactor has been used to replace the much larger and expensive drive isolation transformer. They are used on the motor side of the drive to protect the motor by smoothing the drive output waveforms, and by reducing ringing and capacitive coupling, especially with long cable runs between the drive and the motor.