Classification of Reactors:-

There are three types of reactors

(1) generator reactors,
(2) feeder reactors
(3) bus bar reactors.
(4) tie bar reactors
The above classification is based on the location of the reactors. Reactors may be connected in
series with the generator in series with each feeder or to the bus bars.

1.Generator reactors:- The reactors are located in series with each of the generators as
shown in  so that current flowing into a fault F from the generator is limited.
Suppose fault occurs on the feeder A then the voltage on the bus bar will fall into a lower value
this will result in the voltage dropping on the other healthy feeders consequently more current
will be drawn by the loads on the feeders B,C and D causes they might trip due to over load thus
the whole of the system will be affected.
In this scheme a full load current is always flowing through reactors causes a power loss and
voltage drop will occur even under normal conditions.

2.Feeder reactors:- In this method of protection, each feeder is equipped with a series
reactor as shown in 
In the event of a fault on any feeder the fault current drawn is restricted by the reactor. The bus
bar voltage does not drop too much as in the case of generator reactors and also healthy feeders
will not affected only the faulty feeders will be disconnected (or) isolated
The main disadvantage of this scheme is that there is no protective to the bus bar and in the even
of fault occurrence the generator will trip
This scheme requires more number of reactors as compared to generator reactor schemes
because reactor is required for every feeder. Another disadvantage of this scheme is that a
continous constant voltage drop and power loss in feeder circuit even during normal operation.

3.Bus bar reactor :- in this type the reactors are connected in the bus bars as shown in figure

In this scheme one feeder is fed from one generator only and there is practically no transfer of
power along the reactor under normal operating conditions each generator will supply its own
section of load and very little power will fed by other generator this results low power loss and
voltage drop in the reactors
The advantage of this scheme is that in the event of a fault on the feeder only that fenerator feeds
the fault while the current fed from the other generators is small due to presence of reactors
therefore only that section of bus bar is affected to which the feeder is connected
4.Tie line reactor scheme :- the tie bar reactor scheme in this type there are effectively two
reactors in series between sections so that reactors must have approximately half the reactance of
those used in bus bar system.

The main advantage of tie bar system is that additional generators may be connected to the
system without requiring changes in the existing reactors the disadvantage of this system that it
requires an additional bus bar i.e tie bar