What is Reactance Voltage ?

The coils embedded in the armature slots, which has high

permeability, posses appreciable amount of self inductance, L. During
commutation of a coil its current is changed from +I to –I. So due to
self inductance and variation in the current from +I to –I, a voltage ( L
di/dt ) is induced in the coil. It is is equal to L( 2I/Tc ), where Tc is
the commutation period.
This action is called reactive sparking and occurs at each point of
commutation for every coil.
It also occur when the current collapses at the plane or point of
commutation (the brush shorting the coil) which produces a changing
field and cuts the coil to induce back e.m.f. (reactance voltage) .
As the armature rotate to the next commutator segment at no. 1, the
current produced on the coil is opposed by the reactance voltage and
cause some of the current to flow to segment 2 and jump to the brush.
What is the effect of Reactance Voltage ?
If the process of commutation is completed within the commutation
period Tc , it is called Ideal Commutation. The presence Reactance
Voltage does not allow the current to change completely in Tc s,
resulting in arcing between commutator segment and brush
Reactive sparking will cause brush wear, commutator wear and
interference to radio system.