A Current Limiting Reactor (CLR) is one of the most effective short circuit current limiting devices. It reduces stresses on busses, insulators, circuit breakers and other high voltage devices. Use of a CLR is the most practical and economical approach to current limiting.
Current Limiting Reactors should be placed in a distribution or transmission system where a potential short circuit current has been calculated to exceed the interrupting rate of the associated switchgear. The inductive reactance is set low enough for an acceptable voltage drop during normal operation, but high enough to restrict a short circuit to the rating of the switchgear.
CLRs are also used as load sharing reactors to balance the current in parallel circuits. They are designed to continuously withstand the rated current and fault currents for a limited period of time.
