Aug 11, 2009 20:22
15 yrs ago
5 viewers *
French term
réactifs
French to English
Tech/Engineering
Energy / Power Generation
From a document concerning fire damage to an electrical cabinet in a chemical processing plant:
L'armoire [de condensateur] est implantée au niveau du réseau haute tension triphasé et a pour objectif d'assurer la régulation des ***réactifs*** en fonction des besoins électriques de la station et de la puissance pouvant être fournie par EDF.
Please help with the meaning of 'réactifs'!
L'armoire [de condensateur] est implantée au niveau du réseau haute tension triphasé et a pour objectif d'assurer la régulation des ***réactifs*** en fonction des besoins électriques de la station et de la puissance pouvant être fournie par EDF.
Please help with the meaning of 'réactifs'!
Proposed translations
(English)
5 +1 | reactive power |
John Fossey
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2 +4 | reactive circuits |
Jean-Louis S.
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2 +3 | reactive device |
Tony M
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5 -2 | reagents |
Lisa Laplante
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3 -2 | reactants or reagents |
Patrick White
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Change log
Aug 11, 2009 20:36: Tony M changed "Field (specific)" from "Electronics / Elect Eng" to "Energy / Power Generation"
Proposed translations
+1
6 hrs
Selected
reactive power
In the context of a three phase high voltage power network, a "réactif" is a detrimental power component generated by inductive loads on the network and which must be absorbed by the client (often by using a condenser) to prevent it from being passed back to the network. The direct translation of "réactif" in this context is "reactive power component", but that's a bit clumsy, "reactive power" conveys the meaning.
There are two types of electric power in a three phase grid, "actif" (translated "real", since that's what you get billed for), and "réactif".
For a brief explanation of how it works, see the links. (Page 2 in th epdf)
Although this is a chemical plant, I don't htink this use of the word "réactifs" has anything to do with chemicals in this case, but the plant's electric power substation.
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Note added at 6 hrs (2009-08-12 02:50:05 GMT)
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I already added a note but it didn't appear, so I hope this isn't a duplicate. The second URL above is way too long to work here, so try this one instead: http://tinyurl.com/qpwje9
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Note added at 6 hrs (2009-08-12 02:55:37 GMT)
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To clarify further, "component" in this context is not a physical object, its a part of the electricity waveform.
There are two types of electric power in a three phase grid, "actif" (translated "real", since that's what you get billed for), and "réactif".
For a brief explanation of how it works, see the links. (Page 2 in th epdf)
Although this is a chemical plant, I don't htink this use of the word "réactifs" has anything to do with chemicals in this case, but the plant's electric power substation.
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Note added at 6 hrs (2009-08-12 02:50:05 GMT)
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I already added a note but it didn't appear, so I hope this isn't a duplicate. The second URL above is way too long to work here, so try this one instead: http://tinyurl.com/qpwje9
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Note added at 6 hrs (2009-08-12 02:55:37 GMT)
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To clarify further, "component" in this context is not a physical object, its a part of the electricity waveform.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much John for your very through explanation and helpful links. It is now much clearer to me.
Thanks also Tony for your input."
+4
10 mins
reactive circuits
A little bit better than a guess...
http://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/reactif
B. − ÉLECTR. ,,Se dit d'un circuit doué de réactance`` (Siz. 1968).
♦ Courant réactif. ,,Composante d'un courant alternatif sinusoïdal, en quadrature avec la tension`` (Siz. 1968). Puissance réactive. ,,En courant alternatif, produit de la tension (...) et de la composante du courant en quadrature avec elle`` (Siz. 1968).
http://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/reactif
B. − ÉLECTR. ,,Se dit d'un circuit doué de réactance`` (Siz. 1968).
♦ Courant réactif. ,,Composante d'un courant alternatif sinusoïdal, en quadrature avec la tension`` (Siz. 1968). Puissance réactive. ,,En courant alternatif, produit de la tension (...) et de la composante du courant en quadrature avec elle`` (Siz. 1968).
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Tony M
: Yes, although I'm not sure that 'circuit' is exactly the right term either.
2 mins
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Merci, Tony! Device might be better.
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agree |
chris collister
: Yes, rather "reactive components" or "reactive elements". These are either capacitance or inductance, both of which cause (opposite) phase shifts in AC current relative to voltage.
54 mins
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Merci, Chris!
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agree |
George C.
8 hrs
|
Merci, Solarstone!
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agree |
kashew
: CC's elements sounds best to me.
11 hrs
|
Merci, Kashew!
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neutral |
John Fossey
: Since this is "au niveau du réseau", this doesn't regulate the reactive circuits, which are located on a lower voltage network within the plant. The purpose of this "armoire de condensateur" is to regulate the reactive power produced by those circuits.
14 hrs
|
-2
12 mins
reactants or reagents
As it's a chemical processing plant, these basic meanings seem the most likely.
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
Tony M
: Not applicable in this specifically electrical context
1 min
|
disagree |
John Fossey
: Same reason as elsewhere.
6 hrs
|
-2
12 mins
reagents
This is the primary translation of "réactifs"; there are others but since your context is a chemical processing plant it makes sense here too.
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Note added at 23 mins (2009-08-11 20:45:27 GMT)
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The only way this would translate otherwise (i.e. as "reactive circuit") would be if there is a word missing in the source document. This is of course a possibility but I stand by my answer until I learn whether there is text missing.
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Note added at 23 mins (2009-08-11 20:45:27 GMT)
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The only way this would translate otherwise (i.e. as "reactive circuit") would be if there is a word missing in the source document. This is of course a possibility but I stand by my answer until I learn whether there is text missing.
Example sentence:
See page 2 of the web reference below.
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
Tony M
: Not applicable in this specifically electrical context / No need at all for there to be a word missing: it is very common in FR to use an adjective alone as a noun, where in EN we need to add an auxiliary noun with it.
1 min
|
disagree |
John Fossey
: This has to do with three phase electric power in this case, not chemicals, even if it is a chemical plant. "Réactifs" is a common word in connection with three phase high voltage electric power.
6 hrs
|
+3
12 mins
French term (edited):
réactif
reactive device
I am sure enough of the meaning, but I'm not too sure of the equivalent technical term in this field.
Components that affect the phase angle (i.e. power factor) of the electricity load system) will be described as 'reactive' (i.e. not purely resistive) — they may have capacitance or inductance.
Rather hefty examples of these kinds of devices are used for power-factor correction by large consumers (industry, etc.) in order to avoid being penalized by the supply authority for having an excessive power factor (which is not good for the person generating the electricity!)
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Note added at 11 hrs (2009-08-12 07:25:36 GMT)
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I think in fact John Fossey has got it correct, inasmuch as this is referring to the reactive power components, rather than to physical reactive devices as my answer suggests.
Components that affect the phase angle (i.e. power factor) of the electricity load system) will be described as 'reactive' (i.e. not purely resistive) — they may have capacitance or inductance.
Rather hefty examples of these kinds of devices are used for power-factor correction by large consumers (industry, etc.) in order to avoid being penalized by the supply authority for having an excessive power factor (which is not good for the person generating the electricity!)
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Note added at 11 hrs (2009-08-12 07:25:36 GMT)
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I think in fact John Fossey has got it correct, inasmuch as this is referring to the reactive power components, rather than to physical reactive devices as my answer suggests.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
chris collister
53 mins
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Thanks, Chris!
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agree |
Jean-Louis S.
3 hrs
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Merci, jlsjr !
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agree |
George C.
7 hrs
|
Thanks, Solarstone!
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