Saturable reactor

A saturable reactor in electrical engineering is a special form of inductor where the magnetic core can be deliberately saturated by a direct electric current in a control winding. Once saturated, the inductance of the saturable reactor drops dramatically. This decreases inductive reactance and allows increased flow of the alternating current (AC). A saturable reactor in electrical engineering is a special form of inductor where the magnetic core can be deliberately saturated by a direct electric current in a control winding. Once saturated, the inductance of the saturable reactor drops dramatically. This decreases inductive reactance and allows increased flow of the alternating current (AC). Saturable reactors provide a very simple means to remotely and proportionally control the AC through a load such as an incandescent lamp; the AC is roughly proportional to the direct current (DC) in the control winding. In addition, because of the particular arrangement of the power windings, the control winding, and the core, the control winding is well isolated from the AC power. The AC power windings are also usually configured so that they cancel out AC voltages that would otherwise be induced into the control winding.