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Almost all AC protective relays in various protection systems are actuated by the
current supplied by the current transformers. It is not an easy way to measure the
high magnitude alternating current with low range ammeters. And also relays must
be rated at high currents to actuate under these high alternating currents. Therefore,
the current transformer does the current conversion from high currents to a
measurable range of currents. The specific application of current transformers
involves in various considerations such as type of mechanical construction, ratio of
primary to secondary currents, type of insulation (oil or dry type), thermal conditions,
accuracy, service type, etc.
The primary winding of the current transformer consists of one or more turns having
a heavy cross sectional area and is connected in series with the circuit in which the
current flow is to be sensed. In bar type CTs, the primary winding has only one turn
that means the conductor itself acts as primary winding. The secondary winding
made with large number of turns of a fine wire having small cross sectional area.
This winding is connected to either operating coil of the relay or current coil of the
instruments as shown in figure. Very often CTs are designed such that the
secondary terminals deliver either 5A or 1A current at full or rated primary current.
I1N1 = I2N2
I1 / I2 = N2 / N1
I1/I2 = n
Where I1 and I2 are the primary current and secondary current respectively
N1 and N2 are the primary turns and secondary turns respectively and
It should be noted that the secondary of the CT should not be kept open while the
primary is energized. If the secondary is left open, the secondary current becomes
zero, but practically the secondary ampere turns opposes the primary ampere turns.
Hence, an unopposed primary mmf produces a large magnetic flux in the core as
there is no counter secondary mmf. This results more core losses and thereby
increases the heat of the core. In addition, this causes to induce high EMFs on both
primary and secondary side leads to damage the insulation. Hence it is very
important that the secondary must be connected in series with low resistance current
coils of the instruments or simply shorted. And also, for avoiding danger of shock the
secondary side must be connected to the ground. In practice, CTs are provided with
a short circuit switch at the secondary terminals.
The flux densities used in CTs are much less compared to the power transformers.
Therefore, core materials are selected such that they ensure low reluctance, low
core loss and also to work with low densities of flux. Since the ring cores are of joint
less and robust, hence they offer low reluctance. Common materials used for the
cores include hot rolled silicon steel, cold rolled grain oriented silicon steel, and
nickel iron alloys. For high accuracy metering, core of the CT is made with very high
grade alloy steel called as Mu meal. To provide insulation, varnish and tape
materials are used for small line voltages. But for high line voltages, compound filled
or oil filled CTs are used. In case of CTs used in higher transmission voltages,
insulation between secondary windings and HV conductors uses oil-impregnated
paper. Again the construction of such CTs can be live tank and dead tank forms.
OutdoorCurrentTransformer
For multi-ratio current transformers, the primary winding is of split type. So taps are
provided on the tank for the primary winding. Using these transformers, variable
current ratio can be obtained providing taps on either primary or secondary. When
applied to the secondary, operating ampere-turns are changed while applied to the
primary, much of the copper space is left unused except in the lowest range.
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where
Io = No load current
In order to keep the iron core excited, CT draws a primary current. This current
excitation current consists of two components, i.e. magnetizing component and
wattful component as shown figure. The EMF induced in the secondary circulates
secondary current through the burden and due to the inherent resistance and
reactance of the secondary winding causes voltage drop in secondary. In the above
phasor, I2 is referred to the primary (shown in dotted line) so there exists an angle
beta between primary and secondary currents.
Ratio Error
In the above phasor, I1 or primary current consists of the excitation current
component. Hence, by considering the triangle OBC, we can get the actual ratio
error in terms of the vector components of I2, Io (in turn it depends on magnetizing
and wattful components) and I1. And also, secondary current gets affected by its
winding resistance and reactance and also by the power factor of the burden. But the
nominal or rated current ratio is exactly equal to the ratio of secondary to primary
turns. Therefore, the ratio error of the CT is defined as the variation in actual ratio of
transformation from nominal ratio.
= (Kn – R) / R × 100 %
To reduce these errors in CTs, the exciting or no load current must be kept small and
also the load angle of the secondary load must be small. For having these
requirements core should have a low core loss and low reluctance to minimize the
wattful and magnetizing components of the exciting current. Also, by decreasing the
number turns in secondary and reducing the secondary impedance results these
errors minimum.
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