GE Reactrol

[gcaudill]

Does anyone know where I can get information on General Electric Reactrol controllers?

 

[jraef]

Are you sure that you have the name right? Are you meaning reactive compensation controllers or reactor type motor starters? I've been associated with GE for 25 years now and I never heard that brand name. Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati

 

[gcaudill]

It is a reactor type controller. Maybe the controller was not built by GE, could be mistaken. The application is electrical heating element (current?) control for an industrial oven application. It was installed in the 50's. The oven control panel was built by GE.

The name of the controller is "Reactrol". It is connected to saturable core transormers that are in series with the heating elements. The heating elements are configured in a delta connection. I am fairly certain that the transformers control the current in the heating elements, thus the heating power.

 

[jraef]

Well, in the '50 I was still nursing (and happy about it), so I doubt that GE still supports it. Is it broken? Is it worth fixing? SCR control might be a better choice now. They became so reliable and cheap in the '70s that saturable core reactors became relegated to high voltage systems. If you are at 5kV or below I would look at upgrading to solid state. Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati

 

[gcaudill]

I have more general information, but still not too much technical detail. The Reactrol controller was built by GE. Do not have an exact year. The reactors consist of two AC coils in parallel, with the reactors in series with the load. Around the core of the reactor is a DC winding which is used to vary the reactance (and current) through the reactor. Interesting arrangement, I would like to learn more but can not find any resources in my textbooks or on the internet. I am especially interested in the power factor and efficiency of this system as I am sure there is significant energy savings by replacing with SCR control.

 

[busbar]

gc — not sure if this will help, but a subject that may point to more information is arc welding. At one time saturable reactors were popular for welding-current control. They allowed a relatively small DC current through a potentiometer {like in a foot pedal) to control a much larger AC {or DC when rectified} current. That may have been where the term ‘magnetic amplifier’ came from.

As far as the SCR suggestion, I think maybe some readers though you were looking to replace a damaged or otherwise too-expensive-to-fix system. I think SCRs upstaged saturable reactors as soon as their capabilities commercially reached that point.

 

[DanDel]

I did some work with a company that services induction furnaces, maybe they might know how to get information for you. The company name is Inductotherm Corp, (800) 257-9527. It's worth a shot.

 

[jraef]

Here is a link with some techniocal details related to your application.

http://www.warnerpower.com/technical/powerfactor1/power_supply_development.html

I still think you should consider SCR control.

Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati

 

[gcaudill]

Probably will consider replacing with SCR controller in future. Thank you all for the information.