Article
Article
Reactor (electricity)
Article By:
Stefanovic, Victor R. Consultant in V-S Drives and Engineering, Afton, Virginia.
Last reviewed:January 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.574700
A device for introducing an inductive reactance into a circuit. Inductive reactance x is the product of radian frequency ω = 2π f (where f is the frequency in hertz) and inductance L (in henries); thus, x = 2πfL. For this reason, a reactor is also called an inductor. A voltage drop across a reactor increases with frequency of applied currents. The term choke is used to refer to an inductor used in a special application to impede the current in a circuit over a specified frequency range while allowing relatively free passage of the current at lower frequencies. All three terms describe a coil of insulated wire. See also: Choke (electricity); Inductor
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