EE4210

CURRENT TRANSFORMER OPERATION

 CALCULATION

1.Magnetization curve for protection current transformer.

We couldn’t take measurement for metering current transformer due to a problem of metering
CT.

2. Knee Point Voltage:

It is defined as the point at which 10% increase in the secondary voltage produce a 50% increase in
exciting current.

Slope of magnetization curve at knee point = =

 10%  tan −1 (0.2)
tan −1  
 50% 

Therefore Knee Point is the point at which dydx=0.2 of the graph.

Equation of the graph:

y = 9.718ln(x) - 27.08

So dy/dx = 9.718/x = 0.2

X = 49.59 mA

Y = 10.85 V

Knee point voltage for protection CT = 10.85V

3. Burden of a CT is the load applied to the secondary of the CT. Normal practice it is expressed in
terms of VA.

Burden of current tranformer = (secondary voltage) * (secondary current)

= 0.447 * 0.64
= 0.286 VA
 DISCUSSION

1) Reason out as to why the secondary resistance of a protective transformer is low

compared to that of a measuring transformer
Despite the metering CT which is used for measuring activities with a specified limited
range of current, protective CT is used in protection purposes where needs wide range of
current. As the short circuit current may rises to the few times of full load current, the
protective current must be designed to withstand it. The measure of this characteristic is known
as the “Accuracy Limit Factor” (A.L.F). A protection type CT with an A.L.F. of 10 will
produce a proportional current in the secondary winding [subject to the allowable current error]
with primary currents up to a maximum of 10 times the rated current.
Thus the secondary resistance of the protection CT need to be lower which can be
achieved by making larger the cross sectional area of the conductors.

2) Explain the significance of knee point voltage of the magnetizing curve

The magnetizing curve gives the overall operating characteristic for a CT.
There are three regions transformer works. They are:
➢ Linear reigion
➢ Knee point region
➢ Saturation region
Knee point voltage is a point on the magnetizing curve of a transformer. A 10% increase in flux
density (voltage) will bring in an increase of 50% in the Magnetization (Current). After
the knee point voltage the transformer enters saturation region for which there is infinite
Magnetization (Current), but voltage remains at the same level. This is ideal to the open
circuited condition of the secondary, which reduces the life time of the transformer.
It is a main indicator of the characteristic of a particular current transformer (CT) because the
voltage level reflects the structural integrity of the CT. If a CT has a low knee point voltage, it
mentions deterioration in the core material (delimitation, crack, etc.) or a defect in the winding
(inter-turn shorting).
 1) Discuss about the selection of a current transformer for a given application

The application of the ratings current transformer varies with the situation because the
Current transformers should not saturate while in the operation. So there are several factors to
consider when selecting a current transformer. There are CT ratio, CT burden and the accuracy
class etc.

CT Ratio
CT ratios are defined as a ratio of the rated primary current to the rated secondary current. For
example, a CT with a ratio of 300:5 is rated for 300 primary amps at full load and will produce 5 amps
of secondary current when 300 amps flow through the primary. If the primary current changes the
secondary current output will change accordingly. The most common CT secondary full-load current is
5 amps which match the standard 5 amp full-scale current rating of switchboard indicating devices,
power metering equipment, protective relays. When the rated primary amps is exceeded, which is
usually the case when a fault occurs on the system, the amount of secondary current will increase but,
depending on the magnetic saturation in the CT, the output may not be exactly proportional.

CT burden

The load, or burden, in a CT metering circuit is the impedance presented to its secondary
winding. Typical burden ratings for IEC CTs are 1.5 VA, 3 VA, 5 VA, 10 VA, 15 VA, 20 VA, 30 VA,
45 VA & 60 VA. Items that contribute to the burden of a current measurement circuit are switch-
blocks, meters and intermediate conductors. The most common source of excess burden in a current
measurement circuit is the conductor between the meter and the CT. Often, substation meters are
located significant distances from the meter cabinets and the excessive length of small gauge
conductor creates a large resistance. This problem can be solved by using CT with 1 ampere
secondary’s which will produce less voltage drop between a CT and its metering devices.

Accuracy class:
In the case of metering CT s, accuracy class is typically, 0.2, 0.5, 1 or 3. This means that
the errors have to be within the limits specified in the standards for that particular accuracy class. The
metering CT has to be accurate from 5% to 120% of the rated primary current, at 25% and 100% of the
rated burden at the specified power factor. In the case of protection CT s, the CT s should pass both the
ratio and phase errors at the specified accuracy class, usually 5P or 10P, as well as composite error at
the accuracy limit factor of the CT.

Accuracy limit factor:

The value of primary current which the CT complies with composite error requirements. This is
typically 5, 10 or 15, which means that the composite error of the CT has to be within specified limits
at 5, 10 or 15 times the rated primary current.

4. Vector diagram of current transformer.

Es = Secondary induced e.m.f

Vs = Secondary output voltage
Ip = Primary Current
Is = Secondary current
θ = Phase angle error
Φ = Flux
IsRs = Secondary resistance voltage drop
IsXs = Secondary reactance voltage drop
Ie = Exciting current
Ir = Component of Ie in phase with Is
Iq = Component of Ie in quadrature with Is

5. Reasons for the secondary should never be open circuited in a CT

If open the secondary of a loaded CT, the secondary tries to develop enough voltage to push the
secondary current. Since the secondary is "open" or has infinite resistance the secondary voltage
increases to the maximum. Depending on the CT type, ratio, primary current level, etc it is possible to
get 3000V or more across the open secondary terminals.

6. Types of CTs

➢ Donut or Window-Type CT -
 When using the window type current transformer the secondary is passed through the window
of the CT. This conductor is considered to be the primary turn of the CT. Often it is necessary to take
more than one turn through the window (each additional turn reduces the ratio). For example, two
turns through a 400/5 CT makes it equivalent to a 200/5 ratio. To calculate the ratio when multiple
turns are present, divide the ratio as usual and then divide your answer by the total number of turns.

➢ Bar-Type
Bar type CT’s are just window CT’s with a solid bar installed. Connectors on each end of the
bars also allow easy access for picking up voltage for the potential coils in the meter. Some bar type
CT’s are designed with a removable bar, which allows the CT to be converted to a window type.