What is a Reactor? (Context: Substations)

[jegues1]

As the title so bluntly states, what's the purpose of a Reactor?

I'm an engineering student and the group I'm currently working for does lots of consulting work for a number substations and what I've often seen in the project descriptions is things like, "Reactor Salvage & Replacement", but I don't even know what a Reactor is(or does)! ???

Good thing I'm not doing the design work just yet! ;D

Anyways, can someone give me a better idea of what a reactor is used for, and what it does? (If it's in the context of substations, even better!)

Feel free to through some circuit diagrams/math equations at me, it usually facilitates my understanding.

Thanks again!

 

[Hero999]

A reactor is just a large inductor. It has many applications, one is to compensate for the capacitance of the cables to minimise losses.

 

[jegues1]

It has many applications, one is to compensate for the capacitance of the cables to minimise losses.

Is that it's main application?

I've also read that is used for stabilizing when a short occurs.