Power System Protection

( EL-434 )
LABORATORY MANUAL
Fall 2019

LAB 01
Current Transformers
Engr. Naveed Iqbal

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STUDENT NAME ROLL NO SEC DATE

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LAB ENGINEER SIGNATURE & DATE

MARKS AWARDED: /10

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NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF COMPUTER AND EMERGING SCIENCES (NUCES),
ISLAMABAD

Prepared by: Engr. Naveed Iqbal Version: 1.00

Last Edited by: Dr. Muhammad Jafar Date: Jan 19, 2019
Verified by: Dr. Muhammad Jafar Date: Jan 20, 2019
Current Transformers LAB:01

LAB: 01 Current Transformers

Learning Objectives:

1) Determining the transformation ratio of a current transformer for various primary currents and
investigating the influence of the load on thetransformation ratio.
2) Explain the terms ratio error (current error), accuracy class and rated accuracy limit factor.
3) Testing the performance of the current transformer at over current.
4) Assembling the common current transformer circuit for measurement on three phase network.

Introduction
In electrical power supply systems, the currents and voltages are constantly measured and monitored to
ensure that they remain within certain limits. The measured values are required for three reasons:

1) To provide the maintenance personnel with constant information regarding the state of the system.
2) To be able to determine the amount of power supplied to a customer.
3) To switch off faulty network sections rapidly in case of a fault.

Generally the current and voltage values are so high that they cannot be measured directly. For this
reason, special transformers are used to reduce these values to a level which can be processed safely and
economically: the so-called instrument transformers.

The instrument transformers are subject to differing accuracy requirements, depending on whether the
values are to be processed for display in the control room, for accounting purposes or for protection.
This leads to the grouping of the transformers into so-called accuracy classes.

In most cases, these units function according to the transformer principle; they are, however, designed
for very low power values (up to approx. 100 VA) on the secondary side. The protection and measuring
devices connected to the transformer make up the load. We distinguish between current and voltage
transformers, depending on the quantity to be transformed.

Current Transformers

Current transformers (CT) are constructed as single-phase

transformers; the current of the installation flows directly through the
primary side. In accordance with the standards, these supply a rated current
on the secondary side of 1A, or also 5A at rated operation of the
installation. The rated transformation ratio is given in the form of a
fraction, e.g. 1000 A/5 A.

When installing current transformers, attention must be .paid to the Connections

direction of the current. For this purpose, the terminals on the primary side
are labelled “K” (for power plant) and “L” (for line). Correspondingly, the
terminals on the secondary side are labelled “k” and “1”. The following
figure shows the graphic symbol and the connection of a current
transformer. In order to maintain unambiguous potential relationships on
the secondary side, one terminal (usually terminal k) must be grounded.
Graphic symbol

The following circuit in Fig below is used to measure the conductor currents in a three-phase system;
this circuit is usually called a three-transformer three-phase system.

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Current Transformers LAB:01

Three-transformer 3-phase system for measuring conductor currents.

In the case of asymmetrical faults in three-phase networks, the significant value is the current flowing
through the neutral conductor. This current is termed the zero-phase sequence current.

Current transformers are designed for loads with a very low resistance, and may never be operated with
an open circuit on their secondary side. Otherwise, a dangerously high voltage appears at the terminals
and the transformer could be destroyed by its strong magnetic field through core burning. For this
reason, fuses may not be used in the secondary circuit.

The currents of an installation and thus the primary currents of transformers can, in the case of short-
circuit, increase to values many times the rated current. Because of the resulting saturation of the iron
core, no transformer is able to transform the entire current range with sufficient accuracy. For this
reason, the operating currents are measured using instrument transformers (designated M) and short-
circuit currents are measured by protection transformers (labelled P). The cores of the respective
transformers are very often installed in a common housing.

The deviation of the secondary current from the set value in percent is called the current error Fi:

where I1 = primary current in A

I2 = secondary current in A
KN = rated transformation ratio

In the same way, a difference in the phase angles occurs between the primary and secondary currents;
this difference is called the angular difference.

Current transformers are divided into classes similar to measurement instruments; the respective limits
for current error and angular difference are established for the individual classes. Current transformers
in the classes 0.1 to 0.5 are used for exact measurements (e.g. for electricity accounting). These units
ensure that the ratio error is limited to 0.1% to 0.5% in a range up to 1.2 times the rated current.For
operating measurements (recorders, counters) current transformers of the classes 1 to 5 are sufficient;
the error in this range will be at most 1% to 5%. The respective accuracy, however, is only ensured
when the transformer is operated with its rated load, i.e. when the rated power is consumed at the
secondary side. This fact must be considered when connecting measuring instruments and relays.

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Current Transformers LAB:01
Lab Tasks
Task 1:
1) Assemble the circuit in accordance with the foregoing topographic diagram.
2) Do not forget the current transformer may not be operated in open circuit on its secondary side.
3) The resistive load is located in the primary circuit and for this experiment the three individual
resistors are connected in parallel: set the load resistance value to R3.
4) Set the resistive CT load on the secondary side to an initial value of 0%: this means that the only
load in the secondary circuit is the ammeter in the circuit and its internal resistance is negligible.
5) Connect the current transformer so that the resulting current transformation ratio is 1:1. Set the
supply voltage 0 ÷ 250 V and starting from 0 V, increase the value of the voltage to obtain the
current values I1 = 0.1 A to 1 A in steps of 0.1 A in the primary circuit of the current transformer.
6) Read off the corresponding secondary currents I2 in the secondary circuit and enter these values in
the following table. Transformation ratio 1:1
7) Calculate the current error and enter the results in the table: determine the maximum current error

Fimax = …………………..
8) The rated load of the current transformer is 5 A, i.e., 5Ω at a secondary rated current
of 1 A.Set the resistance load for the current transformer on the secondary side to
approximately 5Ω and repeat the above experiment.
9) Enter the measured and calculated value in the following table.

10) To represent better the influence of the load on the secondary current record the voltage
on the secondary side as function of the resistance load of the current transformer at a
constant primary current. To do this, connecting the voltmeter to the terminals 2.1 and 2.2
of the current transformer, vary the resistance load of the current transformer from 0Ω to
the maximum. For this experiment, the current in the primary circuit of the transformer
must be set to 1 A and be held constant by regulating the supply voltage. Enter the
measured values in the following table. Transformation ratio 1:1

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 Current Transformers LAB:01

Task 2:
1) Assemble the circuit in accordance with the foregoing topographic diagram.
2) Do not forget that the current transformer may not be operated in open circuit on its secondary side!
3) The resistance load is located in the primary circuit and for this experiment the three individual
resistors are connected in parallel: set the load resistance value to R7.
4) Set the resistive load for the current transformer on the secondary side to 0.5 Ω.
5) Connect the current transformer so that the resulting current transformation ratio is 1:1.Set the
supply voltage 0-250 V and starting from 0 V, increase the value of the voltage to obtain the values
I1 = 1 A to 5 A in steps of 0.5 A in the primary circuit of the current transformer.
6) Read off the corresponding currents b in the secondary circuit and enter these values in the
following table.Transformation ratio 1:1.
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Current Transformers LAB:01
7) Calculate the current error and enter the result in the table.
8) Neglecting the ammeter resistance on the secondary side, the current transformer load is 0.5Ω. At
the rated load of 5 VA the secondary rated current is

9)
10) At this value determine the primary current I1 and the current error: verify if the specified accuracy
class is observed.

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 Current Transformers LAB:01
Task 3:
1) Assemble the circuit according to the foregoing topographic diagram.
2) Do not forget that the current transformer may not be operated in open circuit on its secondary side!.The
resistive load, located in the primary circuit, is star connected and set to resistance value R6 for every
phase.
3) Connect the three-phase current transformer so that the resulting current transformation ratio is 1:1.
4) Starting from 0 V, increase the value of the supply voltage to obtain 1 A on the primary circuit.
5) Measure the three primary current alternately and read off the secondary currents with the neutral
conductor N connected or disconnected.

6) The three measured currents must be approximately equal in both cases; slight deviations may be
explained by the components tolerances.
7) Asymmetrical loads can also be measured with this circuit.
8) Change only the resistive loads of the phases L2 and L3 to the value R5.
9) Increase the supply voltage to obtain a primary current ILI = 1 A.
10) Measure the three secondary currents, once with and once without the neutral conductor N connected.

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Current Transformers LAB:01

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