Instrument Transformers

• Current Transformer

• Voltage Transformer
 Current Transformers

Contents :
• Function & Construction
• Equivalent circuit & Burden of CT
• Types of CTs
• Saturation of CT
• CT for Protection
• CT for metering
 Function of Current Transformer

❑ Current transformer is a device that is used for the transformation of current from a higher
value into a proportionate current to a lower value

(Ampere. Turns)primary = (Ampere. Turns)secondary

Ip . N1 = Is . N2
𝑁1
Is = Ip .
𝑁2
𝐼𝑝 Turns ratio
Is =
𝑛

▪ These are used to convert the high currents from power circuit into a measurable
current range of instruments and control devices
Construction of Current Transformer
 Equivalent Circuit of C.T

Rct : represents primary and secondary winding resistances

Xl: represents leakage flux reactance

Lm: magnetizing reactance which is very high (as Im is low)

Vs: represents secondary voltage of the CT

Z: represents the burden of the CT

 Equivalent Circuit of C.T

❑ The primary is considered is a current source that is divided into a magnetizing

current Im which is as low as possible and a current Is that is flowing in the burden

➢ For Ideal current transformer

𝐼𝑝
Im = 0 Is =
𝑛
 Burden of CT

▪ The burden of a current transformer is the value of the load connected across the
secondary transformer

The burden of the CT includes :

o The resistance of the ammeter or protective relay

connected to the CT
o The wire impedance between the CT and the
ammeter
o The resistance of the CT itself
 Burden of CT

❑ The burden can be expressed in two ways

1. The burden can be expressed as the total impedance in ohms of the circuit

2. The total volt-amperes and power factor at a specified value of current or voltage
 Burden of CT

Example

the burden of a CT is 25 VA, with 5A secondary. Find the burden in ohms

25 = Vs .Is = Is*Z *Is =Is² .Z

25=5*5*Z

Z= burden in ohms = 1 Ohm

 Types of current transformers

1. Wound Current Transformer

▪ Primary winding consists of one or more turns of heavy

wire connected in series in the circuit

▪ The secondary winding consists of a larger number of

turns of relatively smaller wires. And is connected to
instruments or control devices

▪ The primary and secondary cannot be

disconnected
 Types of current transformers

2. Bar type Current Transformer

▪ This type of current transformer uses the actual cable or

bus-bar of the main circuit as the primary winding, which
is equivalent to a single turn.

▪ The bar type transformer has only secondary windings

▪ The primary and secondary don’t have any physical

contact
 Types of current transformers

3. Toroidal Current Transformer

▪ These do not contain a primary winding

▪ Instead, the line that carries the current flowing in the network
is threaded through a window or hole in the toroidal
transformer

▪ Some current transformers have a “split core” which allows it

to be opened, installed, and closed, without disconnecting
the circuit to which they are attached.
 Types of current transformers

4. Handheld Clamp CT

▪ A popular and portable type which can be used to

measure circuit loading

▪ Clamp meters open and close around a current carrying

conductor and measure its current by determining the
magnetic field around it

▪ providing a quick measurement reading usually on a

digital display without disconnecting or opening the circuit.
 Types of current transformers

4. Handheld Clamp CT
 Saturation of Current Transformer
❑ CT Magnetization Curve

▪ Faraday's Law states that induced EMF (secondary voltage) is

equal to the rate of change of magnetic flux

▪ The flux in the core, is produced by excitation current

▪ B-H curve shows the relationship between excitation current

and magnetizing flux
 Saturation of Current Transformer
❑ CT Magnetization Curve

▪ After certain value of excitation current, flux will not further

increase so rapidly with increase in excitation current.

▪ Current Transformer with a given core dimension can only

support a given amount of maximum flux density in the core

▪ As long as the flux remains below what the maximum flux

destiny is, a change in flux will create a ratio current flow in
secondary circuit.
 Saturation of Current Transformer
❑ CT Saturation

▪ When the primary current is so high that the core cannot handle
any more flux, the CT is said to be in saturation

In saturation

➢ The core is already carrying maximum flux

➢ There is no flux change when the primary current change

➢ The secondary current is no longer proportional to the primary

current
➢ All of the ratio current is used as magnetizing current and
none flows in to the load connected to the CT
Saturation of Current Transformer

❑ Parameters relevant to saturation

1. Cross section of the CT core larger the cross section, lesser the chance of saturation

2. Quality and type of steel used to manufacture the core

3. Burden: External load applied to the secondary of the CT

➢ There is a maximum operating burden that doesn’t saturate the magnetic circuit
and which produce an accurate measurement of current
Saturation of Current Transformer
❑ Knee point voltage

The point where CT saturates known as the knee point

➢ knee point is the voltage at which a 10% increase in

voltage of CT secondary results in a 50% increase in
secondary current
 Saturation of Current Transformer
❑ Knee point voltage

➢ The knee point voltage can be calculated from this relation :

❖ Vsknee point = 4.44 * B * A * F * N

B : flux densityy (Tesla)

A : Core cross sectional area (𝑚2)

F : System frequency (Hz)

N : number of turns of the secondary

 ❑ Example : Determining the maximum permissible burden of the CT

❑ Bar type CT has the following parameters :

▪ C.T ratio = 2000/5 A ▪ Z (actual burden) = 0.31 ohms

▪ Max primary current = 40 KA
▪ Maximum flux density in the core = 1.6 T
▪ Core C.S.A = 20 c𝒎𝟐

➢ Find the maximum secondary burden permissible if no saturation to occur

➢ N = 2000 / 5 = 400 turns

➢ Ismaximum = 40000 / 400 = 100 A

 ❑ Example : Determining the maximum permissible burden of the CT

❑ Bar type CT has the following parameters :

▪ C.T ratio = 2000/5 A ▪ Z (actual burden) = 0.31 ohms

▪ Max primary current = 40 KA
▪ Maximum flux density in the core = 1.6 T
▪ Core C.S.A = 20 c𝒎𝟐

➢ Find the maximum secondary burden permissible if no saturation to occur

Vsknee point = 4.44 * B * A * F * N Vsknee point = 4.44 * 1.6 * 20 * 10−4 * 50 * 400

Vsknee point = 284 volts Maximum burden = 284/100 = 2.84 ohms

 ❑ Example : Determining the maximum permissible burden of the CT

❑ Bar type CT has the following parameters :

▪ C.T ratio = 2000/5 A ▪ Z (actual burden) = 0.31 ohms

▪ Max primary current = 40 KA
▪ Maximum flux density in the core = 1.6 T
▪ Core C.S.A = 20 c𝒎𝟐

➢ Find the maximum secondary burden permissible if no saturation to occur

Maximum burden = 284/100 = 2.84 ohms

➢ Maximum connected burden = 2.84 – 0.31 = 2.53 ohms

Using CT in Electrical Networks

❑ General Application Rule

 Using CT in Electrical Networks

❑ Let us consider the simplified electrical diagram of the current transformer

P = Is² . Z Vs = Is . Z
Z : Secondary burden impedance of the current transformer
Is : Secondary current
Vs : Secondary voltage
P : Power flowing to the secondary
Using CT in Electrical Networks

❑ Let us consider the simplified electrical diagram of the current transformer

P = Is² . Z Vs = Is . Z
Z P

If we short circuit the secondary of the CT Z=0 P=0 Vs = 0

We can short circuit the secondary of the CT without any risk !!
Using CT in Electrical Networks

❑ Let us consider the simplified electrical diagram of the current transformer

P = Is² . Z Vs = Is . Z

▪ On the other hand, If the secondary terminals remain open , Z tends towards infinity

▪ Power and Voltage would be theoretically infinite ,but fortunately are limited by magnetic and copper
losses of the CT
Using CT in Electrical Networks

❑ Let us consider the simplified electrical diagram of the current transformer

P = Is² . Z Vs = Is . Z

Never leave the secondary of the CT open !!

Using CT in Electrical Networks

❑ Let us consider the simplified electrical diagram of the current transformer

 Specifications and Definitions of
Current Transformer Parameters

❑ The current transformer must meet requirements relating to protective, measuring and
metering devices

➢ Rated primary current Ipn

• Defined by standards, it is chosen from the discrete values: 10 - 12.5 - 15 - 20 - 25 - 30 -40 -
50 - 60 - 75 A and their decimal multiples

➢ Rated secondary current Isn

• This is equal to 1A or 5A

➢ Transformation ratio Kn
• It is the ratio of the rated primary current to the rated secondary current
 Specifications and Definitions of
Current Transformer Parameters

➢ Accuracy power
• It is the apparent power supplied to the secondary circuit for the nominal(rated) secondary
current

• Expressed in V.A

• The standard values are: 1 - 2.5 - 5 - 10 - 15 - 30 VA.

➢ Transformation ratio error

• This is the error as % that the transformer introduces in the
current measurement

• This is mainly due to the energy component of excitation

current
 Specifications and Definitions of
Current Transformer Parameters

➢ Phase displacement error

• This is the phase difference between the primary and the secondary current because the
primary current has also supplied the component of exciting current

• In an ideal current transformer the vector angle between

the primary and reversed secondary current is zero
 Specifications and Definitions of
Current Transformer Parameters

➢ Accuracy class
• This class defines the error limits guaranteed on the current ratio and on the phase
displacement in specified power and current conditions.

➢ Rated thermal short circuit current Ith

• This is the r.m.s value of the primary current that the transformer can withstand for 1 second
(while the secondary is short circuit)

• Expressed in KA

• To determine a thermal S.C current Ith’ for a period T

that is different from 1 second
 Specifications and Definitions of
Current Transformer Parameters

➢ Rated dynamic current Idyn

• This is the peak value of the primary current that the transformer can withstand
(while the secondary is short circuit)

• Expressed in KA

• The normal value of the rated dynamic current is

Idyn = 2.3 * Ith

 Current Transformers Used For Measuring

❑ There are two requirements for measuring CTs , They must :

1. Have a level of accuracy suitable to the application for the normal operating current

• The CT should provide a good accuracy in the area close to the rated primary current

2. Protect the devices in the event of fault currents

• In order to protect the metering devices connected to the CT from high currents , The CT
must have earlier saturation c/c’s

1. The accuracy of the CT is defined by the Accuracy class

Determine the permissible phase and current error over

a range of 5% to 120% of the rated primary current
Current Transformers Used For Measuring

▪ The standardized IEC accuracy classes are: 0.1 - 0.2 - 0.5 - 1 - 3 - 5

➢ Classes 0.5 and 1 are used in the majority of cases.

➢ Class 0.2 is only used for precision metering.

➢ Classes 0.1 and 3 and 5 are never used in medium voltage

 Current Transformers Used For Measuring

➢ This table gives the phase and current errors in relation to the accuracy class and the rated
primary current percentage
 Current Transformers Used For Measuring
2. The protection of the CT in the event of fault is defined by the safety factor (SF)

This is the ratio between the rated primary limit current

IPL and the rated primary current IPn

➢ IPL is the value of primary current for which the

secondary current error is equal to 10%

➢ The preferred safety factors are 5 - 10

➢ For example if SF = 10

▪ Thus, The ammeter connected to the CT

should withstand current 10 times of nominal
rated secondary current
Current Transformers Used For Measuring

➢ Example of measuring CT 500/1 A 15VA cl 0.5 CT

➢ Rated primary current 500 A

➢ Rated secondary current 1 A

➢ Accuracy power 15 VA
➢ Accuracy class 0.5
 Current Transformers Used For Protection

❑ There are two requirements for protection CTs, They must :

1. Have accuracy class suitable for applications

➢ Accuracy class can be 5P or 10P

2. Have an accuracy limit factor (ALF)

It is the ratio between :

• the accuracy limit current for which the error is guaranteed to be lower than 5% or 10% as
the accuracy class is 5P or 10P

• rated primary current

Current Transformers Used For Protection

❑ The standard ALF values are 5 - 10 - 15 - 20 - 30

❑ The larger the ALF , The less likely the CT to be saturated

▪ Example 5 P 10
Accuracy class ALF
Current Transformers Used For Protection

➢ Example
100/1 A 15VA 5P10 CT
➢ Rated primary current 100 A

➢ Rated secondary current 1 A

➢ Accuracy power 15 VA
➢ Accuracy class 5P
➢ Accuracy limit factor 10

➢ Accuracy limit current 1000 A

 Current Transformers Used For Protection

➢ Example of protection CT
100/1 A 15VA 5P10 CT
❑ The maximum error on the secondary
current will be :

▪ When primary current = 100 (nominal)

▪ When primary current = ALF * IPn (accuracy limit current)

Example of Current Transformer Rating Plate