I reproduce below, excerpts from my training sessions on 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 maloperation 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. (PS is the abbreviation of the French Word "Protection
Speciale")

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

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".

Why to use class PS CT's for Differential Protection?

12/25/2013 12:31 PM

Very useful explanation Sir. Thank You. Request you to kindly clarify that
1. When using PS Class for Differential or for REF protection, do we need to use
CT's of same PS Class i.e same Imag and Knee Point Voltage for both Ct's even

when we are using Numerical relays GE T60.

Though I believe that different levels of fault will have different levels of Vkp
requirements in the Ct and CT will be designed accordingly. Hence it may not be
necessary to have same Vkp on both sides. But still if you could clarify the
same, I will be Thankful.
2. What should be the maximum allowable Imag value at Vk/2? In one of the
previous thread, I found that it should be <30mA for Vk/2. Our vendor is giving
100 mA at Vk. Is it acceptable. Please Clarify.
Thank You,