CURRENT TRANSFORMERS

Current Transformers What?

Current transformer is an instrument transformer. As the name suggests it is used with measuring and protective
equipment, in order to monitor the current and to use it to activate protection schemes as in relays or to simply indicate &
record as in measuring instruments.

Current Transformers Why?
_ When the current to be measured is too large to be handled by standard meters orrelays.
_ Acts as an isolation between primary and secondary, so that instruments and relays can beinsulated for a lower voltage,
instead of the much higher system voltage.
_ Actual short circuit currents cannot be handled by instruments or relays.
_ Reduction in the size of instruments/Relays
_ Instruments can be standardised, enabling overall reduction in cost, as well as operational flexibility.

SELECTION PARAMETERS
_TYPE
_NOMINAL & HIGHEST SYSTEM VOLTAGE
_RATED INSULATION LEVEL
_FREQUENCY, IF DIFFERENT FROM 50 Hz
_RATED TRANSFORMATION RATIO
_RATED OUTPUT & CORRESPONDING ACCURACY CLASS FOR MEASURING & PROTECTIVE CTs
_ACCURACY LIMIT FACTOR FOR PROTECTIVE CTs

SELECTION PARAMETERS
_INSTRUMENT SECURITY FACTOR (ISF) FOR MEASURING CTs
_RATED KNEE-POINT VOLTAGE & LIMITATIONS OF EXCITING CURRENT FOR CLASS PS CTs
_RATED CONTINUOUS & SHORT TIME THERMAL CURRENT
_RATED DYNAMIC CURRENT
_LIMITING DIMENSIONS, IF ANY
_SERVICE CONDITIONS

SELECTION PARAMETERS
TYPES
1) BAR TYPE
2) WOUND TYPE
3) RING TYPE
OR
1) DRY TYPE
2) LIQUID IMMERSED
3) HERMETICALLY SEALED

SELECTION PARAMETERS
TYPES
1) MEASURING
2) PROTECTIVE
3) DUAL PURPOSE
4) PROTECTIVE FOR SPECIAL PURPOSE
(CLASS PS)

SELECTION PARAMETERS
NOMINAL & HIGHEST SYSTEM VOLTAGE
NOMINAL SYSTEM VOLTAGE : LINE-TO-LINE VOLTAGE (RMS) BY WHICH SYSTEM IS DESIGNATED
HIGHEST SYSTEM VOLTAGE : HIGHEST LINE-TOLINE VOLTAGE (RMS) WHICH CAN BE SUSTAINED UNDER NORMAL
OPERATING CONDITIONS AT ANY TIME & AT ANY POINT OF THE INSTALLATION (EXCLUDES TEMPORARY VOLTAGE
VARIATIONS DUE TO FAULTS & SUDDEN DISCONNECTION OF LARGE LOADS)

SELECTION PARAMETERS
RATED INSULATION LEVEL
IT IS THAT COMBINATION OF VOLTAGE VALUES (POWER FREQUENCY & LIGHTNING IMPULSE) WHICH
CHARACTERISES THE INSULATION OF A C.T. WITH REGARD TO ITS CAPABILITIY TO WITHSTAND IELECTRIC STRESSES
RATED INSULATION LEVELS FOR NOMINAL SYSTEM VOLTAGE UP TO O.60KV(RMS) : NOMINAL HIGHEST POWER FREQ.
LIGHTNING SYSTEM SYSTEM WITHSTAND IMPULSE VOLTAGE VOLTAGE VOLTAGE WITHSTAND (kV rms) (kV rms) (kV rms)
VOLTAGE (kV peak) 0.60 0.66 3

SELECTION PARAMETERS
RATED INSULATION LEVEL
NOMINAL HIGHEST POWER FREQ. LIGHTNING SYSTEM SYSTEM WITHSTAND IMPULSE VOLTAGE VOLTAGE VOLTAGE
WITHSTAND (kV rms) (kV rms) (kV rms) VOLTAGE (kV peak) 3.3 3.6 10 40

6.6 7.2 20 60
11 12 28 75
22 24 50 125
33 36 70 170
66 72.5 140 325
110 123 230 550
132 145 275 650
220 245 460 1050
400 420 1050 1425

SELECTION PARAMETER
RATED TRANSFORMATION RATIO
ACTUAL TRANSFORMATION RATIO = ------------------
IP (ACTUAL)
IS (ACTUAL)
RATED TRANSFORMATION RATIO, KN = ---------------
IP (RATED)
IS (RATED)

RATED PRIMARY & SECONDARY
CURRENT
STANDARD VALUES OF RATED PRIMARY
CURRENT : 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 75 AND
THEIR DECIMAL MULTIPLES OR FRACTIONS
STANDARD VALUES OF RATED SECONDARY
CURRENT : 1A & 5A

RATED SECONDARY CURRENT
1A or 5A?
Normally for Indoor or Switchboard mounted CTs, the Secondary Current is chosen as 5A, as the burden imposed by the
leads will be very less because of short lead lengths. Whereas, in case of outdoor CTs installed in Switchyards, the lead
lengths are normally higher, say of the order of 100meters. The resistive burden of a 2.5 sq.mm lead for 100 meters will be
around 0.8 Ohms, which will correspond to a VA burden of 20VA (I2R), for a CT Secondary current of 5A, thereby imposing
additional burden on the CT and increasing the cost and the size of the CT.

RATED SECONDARY CURRENT
1A or 5A?
If the CT Secondary current is 1A, this will be only 0.8VA, thereby reducing the burden of the CT, thus reducing the cost and
the size of the CT. But, it must also be noted that for the same ratio, accuracy class and burden, the cost of an 1A CT will be
higher, as also the open circuit volts. This is because, for 1A, the resistance of the CT Secondary has to be higher, so finer
gauge wire is used for the secondary winding. And, with a finer wire and lesser secondary current, the number of turns in
the secondary is increased, to achieve the Ampere-Turns balance. As the number of turns is Increased, the open circuit volts
also increases.

Current Transformer Types based on application
Based on application, current transformers are broadly classified as Measuring Current Transformers and Protective Current
transformers. The basic difference is in their functional requirements.

A measuring current transformer, for example, has to remain accurate only over its measuring range, may be, a few
percentage more. If it maintains its accuracy for currents many times its rated current, such as fault currents, then the
measuring instruments connected to them, may have to be designed to withstand this high current, for the duration of the
co-coordinated fault clearing time. This will make the instruments bulky as also costly. So, a measuring CT may well have to
saturate pretty quickly.

On the other hand, the protective CT must maintain its accuracy, even for currents much beyond its rating, for then only
the protective devices can sense the fault and issue trip commands to isolate the faulty feeder. The level up to which it has
to maintain its accuracy will be determined by many system parameters, such as the fault current, fault duration, short-
time withstand levels of equipment downstream & upstream, etc.

Measuring Current Transformers Class of Accuracy
_ ACCURACY CLASS IS THE DESIGNATION ASSIGNED TO THE C.T., THE ERRORS OF WHICH REMAIN
WITHIN SPECIFIED LIMITS _ THE STANDARD ACCURACY CLASSES FOR MEASURING C.T. ARE CLASS 0.1,
0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0 & 5.0

PERCENTAGE RATIO ERROR AT PER
-CENTAGE ACCURACY OF RATED CURRENT
CLASS
5 20 100 120
0.1 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.1
0.2 0.75 0.35 0.2 0.2
0.5 1.5 0.75 0.5 0.5
1.0 3.0 1.5 1.0 1.0

PERCENTAGE RATIO ERROR AT PER
-CENTAGE ACCURACY OF RATED CURRENT
CLASS
50 120
3.0 3.0 3.0
5.0 5.0 5.0

Measuring Current Transformers Class of Accuracy Special Classes
As can be seen from the above tables, even for the accuracy class of 0.1 & 0.2, the declared accuracy is guaranteed only
between 100% & 120% rating. And, with some increased error, the CT performance can be guaranteed from 5% loading.
Below this load, the error is not guaranteed. It can be anything. Normally these classes of accuracy are used for Tariff
Metering by the Utility Company.

In large industrial projects, the project would be commissioned in steps only. In such a case, initially the loading will be very
low. If the tariff metering CT errors are haphazard, it may not be acceptable either to the supplier (in case of negative error)
or to the consumer (in the case of positive error). And the magnitude can be quite large, say, with a sanctioned demand of
10MVA, even 1% error means 100kVA.

To cater to such situations, IS 2705, in its revised edition, had introduced two new accuracy classes, 0.2S & 0.5S for tariff
metering purposes.
0.5S 1.5 0.75 0.5 0.5 0.5
0.2S 0.75 0.35 0.2 0.2 0.2
Accuracy Class 1% 5% 20% 100% 120%
% Current (Ratio) Error at % Rated Currents

Limits of Error for Special Application Metering CTs

As can be seen from above, these special CTs guarantee the declared accuracy, even with 20% loading. And some definite
error can be defined even with a load as low as 1%. Thus they are suitable for industries where loads are commissioned in
steps or stages.

RATIO ERROR
RATIO ERROR (IN %) =
(KN.IS - IP) x 100
IP
WHERE, IP = ACTUAL PRIMARY CURRENT
IS = ACTUAL SECONDARY CURRENT
WHEN IP IS FLOWING

Measuring Current Transformers Class of Accuracy

SELECTION OF ACCURACY CLASS
APPLICATION CLASS
1) PRECISION TESTING/TESTING LAB/ AS A SUB-STANDARD 0.1
2) LABORATORIES/TESTING OF INDUSTRIAL C.Ts 0.2
3) PRECISION INDUSTRIAL METERING 0.5
4) COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL METERING 1.0
5) INDICATING & GRAPHIC WATTMETERS & AMMETERS 1.0 OR 3.0
6) ROUGH MEASUREMENT/WHERE RATIO IS OF LESS IMPORTANCE 3.0 OR 5.0

Measuring CTs INSTRUMENT SECURITY FACTOR (ISF)
IT IS THE RATIO OF THE RATED INSTRUMENT LIMIT PRIMARY CURRENT TO THE RATED
PRIMARY CURRENT. SIGNIFIES THE MULTIPLE OF RATED PRIMARY CURRENT AFTER WHICH
THE CT WILL SATURATE. TYPICAL ISF VALUES ARE 2, 5 & 10. SELECTION DEPENDS UPON THE SHORT TIME WITHSTAND
RATING OF THE INSTRUMENTS CONNECETD. THE SAFETY OF INSTRUMENT SUPPLIED BY CT IS GREATEST WHEN ISF IS SMALL

Protection Current Transformers
As already discussed briefly, contrary to the measurement CTs, the protective CTs will have to
remain accurate even for currents that are many multiples of the rated current, for, during fault
conditions, theses CTs will have to replicate the primary current to the protection relays so that the
relays perform their intended functions accurately.
Based on this requirement, protection CTs are classified on two counts (viz.) composite error percentage & the accuracy
limiting factor.

ACCURACY CLASSES FOR PROTECTIVE C.T.
PERCENTAGE RATIO ERROR AT RATED PRIMARY CURRENT
ACCURACY
CLASS
5P 1.0 5.0
10P 3.0 10.0
15P 5.0 15.0
PERCENTAGE
COMPOSITE
ERROR AT RATED
PRIMARY CURRENT

Protection Current Transformers
As can be seen from above, the r.m.s. ratio error of a 5P CT is the same as that of a Class 1.0 Measurement CT. But, since
the protective system has to respond to instantaneous changes too, what
is of more importance is the Composite Error or the error for any given instantaneous value of current.
For a 5P CT this is +/- 5%.
What is Composite Error?

COMPOSITE ERROR
WHERE, IP = RMS VALUE OF PRIMARY CURRENT
iS = INSTANTANEOUS VALUE OF SEC. CURRENT
iP = INSTANTANEOUS VALUE OF PRIMARY CURRENT
T = DURATION OF ONE CYCLE
COMPOSITE ERROR =
100 1
IP T
0
T
(KN.is - ip)2 dt

RATED ACCURACY LIMIT FACTOR
As seen earlier, protection CTs will have to maintain their accuracy limits, for currents much beyond their rated currents.
But, it is not sufficient to just vaguely say that for many times the rated currents, the CT shall not saturate. One has to be
very specific in declaring the level of rated current up to which the CT accuracy should be maintained. This is specified by a
factor called Accuracy Limiting Factor (ALF). This will tell the multiple of primary rated current of the CT at least up to
which the CT will maintain its accuracy.

SELECTION PARAMETER RATED ACCURACY LIMIT FACTOR
IT IS THE RATIO OF THE RATED ACCURACY LIMIT PRIMARY CURRENT TO THE RATED PRIMARY CURRENT
THE RATED ACCURACY LIMIT PRIMARY CURRENT IS THE HIGHEST PRIMARY CURRENT UP TO WHICH THE C.T. WILL COMPLY
WITH THE SPECIFIED LIMITS OF COMPOSITE ERROR. THE STANDARD ACCURACY LIMIT FACTORS FOR PROTECTIVE C.Ts ARE :
5, 10, 15, 20 & 30

SELECTION PARAMETER RATED OUTPUT/BURDEN
IT IS THE VALUE OF THE BURDEN ON WHICH THE ACCURACY REQUIREMENTS OF THE INDIAN STANDARD ARE BASED
BURDEN IS THE IMPEDANCE OF THE SECONDARY CIRCUIT IN OHMS AND POWER FACTOR. USUALLY EXPRESSED AS THE
APPARENT POWER IN VA AT A SPECIFIED P.F. & AT THE RATED SECONDARY CURRENT THE STANDARD VALUES OF RATED
OUTPUT/ BURDEN : 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10, 15 & 30VA

Burden on CTs
LOAD ON THE SECONDARY SIDE OF CT EXPRESSED IN VA
- MAJOR INFLUENCE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PROTECTION SCHEME
- SUM TOTAL OF THE INTERNAL IMPEDANCE, IMPEDANCE OF CONNECTED RELAYS AND THE CONNECTING LEADS
- ALL ERRORS ARE AT A SPECIFIED BURDEN WITHIN THE SPECIFIED BURDEN RATING, LOWER THE BURDEN - HIGHER THE
ACCURACY.
- LOADING THE CT BEYOND THE RATED BURDEN, WILL RESULT IN SATURATION OF THE CT AND HENCE HIGHER ERRORS.
- SIZE AND COST OF CT ARE DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO BURDEN RATING

DETERMINATION OF RATED OUTPUT/BURDEN
Sn as close as possible to, but not less than:
SL + SM (OR SP)
WHERE,
Sn = RATED VA BURDEN OF THE C.T.
SL = VA BURDEN DUE TO CONNECTING WIRES (POWER LOSSES IN WIRES) = IS 2 RL
SM OR SP = VA BURDEN (POWER CONSUMPTION) OF MEASURING INSTRUMENT OR PROTECTIVE INSTRUMENT
RESPECTIVELY

BURDEN DUE TO CONNECTING WIRES
r L
A
SL = (IS)2
SL = (IS)2(Rl x L)
OR
WHERE, Rl = RESISTANCE PER UNIT LENGTH OF WIRE
L = LENGTH OF THE WIRE = 2(ONE WAY LENGTH)
r = RESISTIVITY OF THE MATERIAL OF THE WIRE
A = C/S AREA OF THE WIRE, &
IS = SECONDARY CURRENT OF C.T.

r L
A
SL = (IS)2
RESISTIVITY OF ROUND WIRE OF COPPER = 0.017213 W-mm2/m
= 1/58 W-mm2/m
SL IN VA OF CONNECTING WIRES FOR IS=5A, &
ONE WAY LENGTH OF:
1m 2m 3m 4m 5m 6m 7m 8m
WIRE
C/S
AREA
2.5 mm2 0.35 0.69 1.02 1.37 1.71 2.05 2.40 2.74

TYPICAL VA BURDEN OF METERING INSTRUMENTS
(SOURCE: RISHABH METERS)
INSTRUMENT SM IN VA
1) MOVING IRON AMMETER < 0.5
2) CURRENT PATH OF WATTMETER 4.3
3) CURRENT COIL OF PF METER 1.0
4) CURRENT COIL OF KWH METER 4.3
5) CURRENT COIL OF KVAR METER 4.3

TYPICAL VA BURDEN OF PROTECTIVE RELAYS
RELAY SP IN VA
1) ELECTROMECHANICAL PHASE OVERCURRENT & EARTH FAULT 3.0 VA
2) ELECTROMECHANICAL EXTREMELY INVERSE IDMT OVER CURRENT & E/F 3.5 VA

IF RELAY IS SET TO OPERATE AT A DIFFERENT CURRENT, THEN EFFECTIVE BURDEN OF THE RELAY :
Sr = VA BURDEN PUBLISHED BY MANUFACTURER AT CURRENT Ir
SP = EFFECTIVE VA BURDEN AT CURRENT SETTING IP
SP = Sr
IP
Ir
2

BURDEN of CTs What if less burden is connected or more burden is connected?
In earlier days, measuring instruments as well as protective relays were of the analogue type with inductive coils in them
for measurement and/or protection..They imposed a huge burden on the CT Secondary. Typically, Ammeters were having a
burden of about 1.0VA, Current Coil of Energy meters about 2.0VA, Current Coils of PF Meters about 2.5VA and that of
Trivector meters about 3.0VA. Similarly, protective relay current coils were having a burden of 3 to 3.5VA. Hence, when
many of them were to be connected in series, the total burden on the CT increased and typical CT Burdens were of the
order of 15VA to even 30VA. But, now, modern day electronic measuring instruments and digital protective relays impose a
very minimum burden on the CT Secondary. Typically, the burden of today's Electronic Trivector meter is less than 0.5VA
and that of a digital Overcurrent Relay is less than 0.25VA.

But, unfortunately, most of the customers are not reducing the CT burden while specifying the CTs. This poses operational
problems as detailed below:
The Accuracy Limit Voltage (ALV), for a given CT is constant and is equal to IAL x Z.
Where, Z = ZCT + Z EXT
IAL= ALF x I Rated
ALF = Accuracy Limiting Factor
Hence, ALV = ALF x I Rated x (ZCT + Z EXT)
ALF = ALV/[I Rated x (ZCT + Z EXT)]
Here, ALV, I Rated and ZCT are constant for a given CT. Hence, ALF will be inversely proportional to the external burden.
This means that the point of CT saturation will be shifted.

Now, consider a 1A Secondary, 15VA, Class 5P10 CT. The ALF is 10. The rated burden is 15VA. This ALF of 10 will be
maintained only if the connected burden is 15VA. If the connected burden is less, this ALF will go up, meaning that even for
higher fault currents, the CT may not saturate thereby damaging the equipment connected to it as well as the CT itself.
Alternately, if the connected burden is more, ALF will reduce, which implies that the CT will saturate much too early,
thereby affecting the operating times of the protection scheme itself. For the above CT, say the ALV is designed as 250V. If
the CT
resistance is 10 Ohms, then the ALF for various connected burdens will be as under:

Connected ALF = ALV/[I Rated x (ZCT + Z EXT)]
External Burden
5 Ohms (5VA) 16.67
10 Ohms (10VA) 12.5
15 Ohms (15VA) 10
25 Ohms (25VA) 7.14
30 Ohms (30VA) 6.25
40 Ohms (40VA) 5

Class PS CTs
Normally protection CTs like 5P, 10P or 15P are used in almost all protection schemes. But, for Unit Protection Schemes like
Differential, REF, etc., these CTs are not preferred. Why? In unit protection schemes, it is very very important that the
scheme operates only and only for the internal faults and must remain stable for all external faults. That is, when the unit
protection scheme operates, one can be pretty sure that something is wrong within the protected equipment.

Class PS CTs
Also, unit protection schemes are employed for very critical equipment in the network. As such, whenever any unit
protection scheme operates, all hell breaks loose. And one cannot put back the
equipment into service, without conducting an array of tests and ensuring that the equipment is fit
to be put back to service. But, this will take time and effort. And until such time, the plant will be
shut down. So, it is all the more imperative that the unit protection scheme operates only for genuine
internal faults and NOT for any external faults.

Class PS CTs
Now, if we employ conventional protection class CTs like 5P or 10P for this application, let us see
what happens. Lets us assume that one has selected 5P10 Class CTs for a Unit Protection Scheme. Let
us say, the relay setting is 10%; this means that any differential current of 10% will operate the
relay. Now, a 5P10 CT means that the CT will maintain its accuracy at least up to 10 times the
rated current. This means that the CT will not saturate at least up to 10 times the rated current.

Class PS CTs
This also means that the CT may saturate anywhere after 10 times its rated current. This level will differ for different CTs.
Among the same two 5P10 Class CTs, one may saturate at 12 times and the other may saturate at 13.5 times. In such a
condition, during a through fault condition, there will be differential current and the relay will operate for external faults
too. Even when both CTs are identically manufactured, the deterioration of its core properties over time may differ and yet
they may behave differently over time.

Class PS CTs
Also, even when the CTs may be supplying to unit protection scheme of the same equipment, it is highly impossible that all
the CTs of the scheme will be located at the same place. The incoming side CTs or the outgoing side CTs may have to be
located far away from the relay location, thereby incurring extended lead lengths, thus imposing additional burden on the
CTs. This increased burden will also shift the saturation level, as we have already seen.

Thus again, during a through fault condition, there will be differential current and the relay will operate for external faults
too. There are many other similar factors contributing to the mal-operation of unit protection schemes, when conventional
protection class CTs are employed. Thus, it has called for a special class of CTs for such applications. That Special Class is
called Class PS.

Class PS CTs
Here, instead of generalising on the minimum saturation level of the CT, the users have to exactly specify the saturation
level of the CT. This is called the Knee Point Voltage (VKP), as it appears as a human-knee in the CT Magnetisation
Characteristics. This specification will take into account the maximum through fault current, the actual lead burden, the
relay burden & the resistance of the CT secondary winding, as also a factor of safety.

The minimum Knee Point Voltage for a given PS Class CT is calculated by:
VKP = K * I(f)s (RCT + RB), Where,
If(s) = Maximum thro fault current as reflected at the CT secondary terminals ( = If(P) /CT Ratio)
RCT = CT Secondary Winding Resistance
RB = Connected Burden, includes the relay burden & the burden of the connecting leads
K = Factor of Safety, normally taken as 2
VKP = Knee Point Voltage of the CT

Class PS CTs VKP Formula
As can be seen from the above formula, here the customer is specifying the level of saturation, duly taking into account the
maximum possible fault current in his network, the actual burden connected to the CT, etc. If the factor of safety is taken as
two, this means that at least up to two times the maximum possible fault current the CTs will not saturate. Which also
means that at the maximum possible fault current, both the incoming and outgoing side CT characteristics would exactly
coincide. That is, their secondary currents would match exactly and the scheme would not operate for any external fault.
Point to note is that do not assume RCT; leave it to the CT manufacturer.

Class PS CTs VKP Formula
SELECTION PARAMETER
RATED KNEE POINT VOLTAGE
IT IS THE MINIMUM KNEE-POINT VOLTAGE (VK) SPECIFIED ON WHICH THE PERFORMANCE OF
THE C.T. IS BASED. THE KNEE-POINT VOLTAGE IS THAT SINUSOIDAL VOLTAGE OF RATED FREQUENCY APPLIED TO THE
SECONDARY TERMINALS OF THE C.T., ALL OTHER WINDINGS BEING OPEN CIRCUITED,
WHICH WHEN INCREASED BY 10%, CAUSES THE EXCITING CURRENT TO INCREASE BY 50%

CT Magnetisation curve
SECONDARY EXCITATION CURRENT mA
SECONDARY EXCITATION
VOLTAGE Volts
K p
I ek
V k
10%Vk
50 % I k

Class PS CTs Imag Significance
Any CT, in fact, develops only a voltage at its secondary terminals, when a current is flowing in its primary. This is following
Faradays Laws of Electromagnetic Induction that whenever a current carrying conductor cuts a magnetic flux, an e.m.f. is
induced in the conductor. When a current is flowing in the primary of a CT, a flux is set up in the core by the current. This
flux when it cuts the CT Secondary winding conductor, an e.m.f. is induced in the secondary winding conductor.

Class PS CTs Imag Significance
The magnitude of this e.m.f. is directly proportional to the rate of change of flux. So also in PS Class CTs, when a primary
current is flowing, a voltage is induced in the secondary terminals. Since, in a balanced protection scheme, many CT
secondaries are connected in parallel, all the other CTs act as loads to the CT that is seeing the fault. Now this CT has to
supply apart from the relay operating current - the magnetizing currents of all the other CT cores connected in parallel.

Class PS CTs Imag Significance
This has to happen when the maximum fault current is flowing. Hence, the Imag requirement will
be dependent upon the number of CTs connected in parallel.
For example, in a 4 CT REF Scheme, the CT on the faulty phase, should, at relay operating voltage,
drive enough current to supply the magnetizing losses of all the 4 CTs plus the relay operating current.

Class PS CT Selection Case Study
System Data: 132/33kV, 50MVA Transformer, 5% Z
HT Amps. = 218.7; LT Amps. = 874.8A;
HT CT Ratio = 250/1A; LT CT Ratio = 1000/1A;
Max.fault Current @ 33kV Side = 874.8/0.05
= 17, 496A
Knee Point Voltage of 33kV Side CT Shall be
VKP = 2 x (17, 496/1000) (RCT + 2 RL)
= 35 (RCT + 2 RL)

Class PS CT Selection Case Study
As per a leading manufacturer of CTs, the secondary winding resistance of a 1000/1A CT is 6.08 Ohms.
Consider about 100m of 2.5 sq.mm Copper Cable as the connecting lead between the CT and the Relay. The 1 way lead
resistance will be [(0.017213 x 100)/2.5] = 0.69 Ohms;
Now, VKP = 35 (6.08 + 1.38 + 0.33) = 272.65V
So, the knee point voltage of the 33kV Side CT shall be greater than about 275V.
Similar calculations shall be made for the 132kV Side CT too.

RATED CONTINUOUS THERMAL CURRENT
IT IS THAT VALUE OF CURRENT WHICH CAN BE PERMITTED TO FLOW CONTINUOUSLY IN THE PRIMARY WINDING, THE
SECONDARY WINDINGS BEING CONNECTED TO THE RATED BURDENS, WITHOUT THE TEMPERATURE RISE EXCEEDING THE
SPECIFIED LIMITS UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, THE RATED CONTINUOUS THERMAL CURRENT SHALL BE THE RATED
PRIMARY CURRENT

RATED SHORT TIME THERMAL CURRENT, Ith
IT IS THE RMS VALUE OF PRIMARY CURRENT WHICH THE C.T. WILL WITHSTAND FOR A RATED TIME (USUALLY TAKEN AS 1
SEC), WITH THEIR SECONDARY WINDING SHORT CIRCUITED, WITHOUT SUFFERING HARMFUL EFFECTS

RATED DYNAMIC CURRENT, Idyn
IT IS THE PEAK VALUE OF THE PRIMARY CURRENT WHICH THE C.T. WILL WITHSTAND WITHOUT BEING DAMAGED
ELECTRICALLY OR MECHANICALLY BY THE RESULTING ELECTROMAGNETIC FORCES, THE SECONDARY WINDING BEING
SHORT CIRCUITED.
Idyn SHALL NORMALLY BE 2.5 TIMES OF Ith, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED

INDIAN STANDARDS
IS 2705: Specifications for Current Transformers
Part 1: General Requirements
Part 2: Measuring CTs
Part 3: Protection CTs
Part 4: CTs for Special Purpose Applications
IS 4201: Application Guide for CTs
IS 6949: Specifications for Summation CTs