2017 9th International Conference on Measuring Technology and Mechatronics Automation

A scheme for detection and assessment of current transformer saturation

Chen Hong1, Liu Haifeng1, Jiang Hui2*, Peng Jianchun2, Huang Chun3
1 State Grid Hunan Electric Power Corporation Research Institute, Changsha, 410007, China
2 College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518061, China
3 College of Electrical and Information Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China
* huijiang@szu.edu.cn

Abstract—Current transformer (CT) saturation may result in
the distortion of CT secondary current, which will give rise to
improper operation of relay protection devices in power
system. In this paper, a novel scheme is proposed to detect CT
saturation and assess the level of saturation. After analyzing
the probability distribution of current sampling data, it is
found that the calculated skewness using data within given
data window is positive when saturation occurs. However,
under unsaturation condition, the calculated skewness using
relevant data is negative. Utilizing this difference, a criterion
function is defined to detect CT saturation, and a coefficient is
determined to assess the level of saturation. Simulation results
show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme, and tests using
the on-site recorded current signal revel that there is an
obvious advantage to implement the proposed scheme in a real
system.
Keywords- Current transformer; saturation; skewness;
current waveform; power system
I. INTRODUCTION
Current transformer (CT) is one of the essential parts in
electric power systems. All types of protection and control
devices need CTs to perform measurement of current.
Although several modern alternatives to iron-core CTs exist
(e.g. Rogowski coil), the iron-core type is by far the most
common. Due to commercial or space limitations, CTs are
often selected for proper steady-state current replication but
with little reserves regarding transient fault conditions. Thus
the primary-side sine-shape currents with a transient direct
current (DC) component during fault occurrence may result
in secondary distortion. This is due to the nonlinear
characteristics of the CT core, and this phenomenon is
known as CT saturation [1].
As CT saturation can result in significant distorting of
secondary current waveform, it may bring in serious
inaccuracies into measurement results or decision-making
procedures which will give rise to the mal-operation of relay
protection devices. Hence, it becomes a necessity to detect
the saturation so as to take proper corrective measures.
Studies have been carried out to detect CT saturation.
Some of them are based on the abrupt change of behavior
observed in the secondary current signal at the start and end
points of the saturated regions. The idea uses the fact that the
transition edges have high frequency components in their
spectral composition. The use of discrete Fourier transform
(DFT) and discrete wavelet transform (DWT) was presented
in [2] and [3], respectively. Many derivative-based
algorithms were also developed and implemented to detect
the saturation regions, based on the high pass characteristic
commonly observed in differentiator filters. The method
developed in [4] uses the 2nd difference function of the
secondary current and a method based on the 3rd difference
function was presented in [5]. Other techniques, such as least
error square (LES) [6] and symmetrical component analysis
[7], are also applied in saturation detection.
The above methods are only concerned with the
identification of CT saturation. However, in some situations,
especially in current differential protection of electric busbar,
transformer, and transmission line, people need to know
whether the saturation characteristics of all the CTs
connected to differential protection relay are consistent. CT
saturation with diffident levels during external faults can
seriously affect the security of the protection scheme. This
condition may occur as a result of the misuse of measuring
CTs and protective CTs, or the mix-use of electromagnetic
CTs and electronic CTs (e.g. optical CTs).
A new method for CT saturation detection, based on the
skewness character of unsaturated and saturated CT
secondary current waveform, is proposed in this paper, and
an index using skewness is suggested to reflect the level of
CT saturation. After numerous simulations are implemented,
it is proved that the proposed scheme can accurately identify
the CT saturation and effectively assess the level of
saturation.
II. ANALYSIS ABOUT CURRENT WAVEFORM
There is a significant difference between the waveforms
of current under saturation and current without saturation.
Both waveforms are described in Figure 1. The curve 1
represents current under saturation. It is an irregular curve.
Curve 2 represents current without saturation. It is a sine
curve with decaying direct current (DC) component.
2
1
Figure 1. Waveforms of two kinds of current
In order to process the data effectively, it is necessary to
determine some useful data windows. Here, we define two
data windows (S1 and S2). As can be seen in Figure 2, S1
represents a data window including data from wave crest
point to zero crossing point, whereas S2 represents a data

2157-1481/17 $31.00 © 2017 IEEE 90

DOI 10.1109/ICMTMA.2017.28
window including data from zero crossing point to wave In Figure 3, same process is described for current
crest point. without saturation. Figure 3(a) depicts the partition of S1
In Figure 2(a), for current under saturation, S1 and S2 are and S2 for current without saturation. Figure 3(b) describes
marked according to the above-mentioned rules. Then, as the projection of sampling data within S1 and S2. After
shown in Figure 2(b), sampling data within S1 and S2 are observing the projection of sampling data, we can find that
projected onto an axis. After observing the projection of sampling data of current without saturation have gathered at
sampling data, we can find that sampling data of current the section far away from the timeline.
under saturation have gathered around the timeline.
III. PROPOSED SCHEME
A. Principle
If we want to know where sampling data have gathered,
the value of skewness can help us [8-9].
In statistics, the value of skewness has been depicted by
t means of the standardization of third-order moment, given
by
3
1 N § x(i)  x ·
S1 S2 Sk ( X ) ¦¨
N i 1© V ¹
¸ (1)

( a) where X={x(1), x(2), … , x(N)}; x(i) is i-th sampling data in

a cycle; N is the number of sampling data in a cycle; x is the
average of X; and V is the standard deviation of X.
.. S1 If the data of X are gathered at the section which is below
. x , the calculated value of Sk(X) will be greater than zero.
.. S2
t Conversely, If the data of X are gathered at the section which
. is above x , the calculated Sk(X) will be less than zero.
S1 S2 It is assumed that X1={x1(1), x1(2), … , x1(N)} is the
sampling data within S1 and X2={x2(1), x2(2), … , x2(N)} is
( b)
the sampling data within S2. According to Figure 2(b), Figure
3(b), and formula (1), the following conclusions are obtained.
Figure 2. Data distribution of current under saturation For current under saturation, we have
°­ Sk ( X 1 ) ! 0
® (2)
°̄ Sk ( X 2 ) ! 0
where |X1| and |X2| are the absolute value computation for X1
and X2.
For current without saturation, we have
°­ Sk ( X 1 )  0
® (3)
t °̄ Sk ( X 2 )  0
The above analysis is based on the state of deep
saturation and the state of unsaturation. In fact, for some
S1 S2 light saturation, it may be obtained
­° Sk ( X 1 ) ! 0 ­° Sk ( X 1 )  0
( a) ® or ® (4)
°̄ Sk ( X 2 )  0 °̄ Sk ( X 2 ) ! 0
In conclusion, a criterion for detecting CT saturation is
.. found: If both Sk(|X1|) and Sk(|X2|) are negative, the state of
. CT will be judged as unsaturation. Otherwise, the state of CT
S1
will be judged as saturation.
Beyond that, the value of skewness can reflect the degree
.. of gather. In fact, the level of saturation is particularly related
. t to the degree of gather. So, we can develop a coefficient
S2
about skewness to quantify the level of saturation. The
defined coefficient can be expressed as
S1 S2

( b)
Figure 3. Data distribution of current without saturation

91
 ­0 Sk ( X 1 )  0, Sk ( X 2 )  0 CTM CTN
°
° Sk ( X 1 ) Sk ( X 1 ) ! 0, Sk ( X 2 )  0 UM
Ls ® (5) ZM ZN
UN
° Sk ( X 2 ) Sk ( X 1 )  0, Sk ( X 2 ) ! 0 line
° Sk ( X 1 )  Sk ( X 2 ) Sk ( X 1 ) ! 0, Sk ( X 2 ) ! 0
¯
B. Technological process fault
In light of the analysis about the characteristic of Figure 5. Positioning principle based on location fingerprints
sampling data distribution skewness, a simplified flowchart
of the proposed scheme has been shown in Figure 4. Mainly In PSCAD/EMTDC, the Jiles-Atherton model is used to
including: simulate the behaviors of CT during different conditions.
Step 1: Digital filter is used to remove high-frequency The CT core magnetization parameters based on Jiles-
noise as [10]. Atherton model can be obtained from [11]. The turn ratio of
Step 2: S1 and S2 are determined as follow. CT is 600:5, the area of core is 2.508×10-3 m2, the path
It is assumed that x(i) is i-th sampling data. If length of core is 0.62 m, secondary resistance is 0.5 Ω,
x(i)×x(i+1)<0, then t0=i. If {x(i)-x(i+1)}×{x(i+1)-x(i+2)}<0 sampling frequency is set as 4000 Hz, system frequency is
and i<t0, then t-1=i. If {x(i)-x(i+1)}×{x(i+1)-x(i+2)}<0 and 50 Hz. Fault inception angle, time constant of simulated
i>t0, then t+1=i. Eventually, S1 includes X1={x(t-1), x(t- system, fault resistance and CT burden have been varied to
1+1), … , x(t0)}, and S2 includes X2={x(t0), x(t0+1), … , realize exhaustive simulation. The obtained results are
x(t+1)}. promising.
Step 3: Sk(|X1|) and Sk(|X2|) are calculated as (1).
100
Step 4: Ls are calculated as (5). Saturation Tendency of saturated current
Step 5: If Ls>0, the state of CT will be identified as

saturation /(A)
Current under
saturation, and the calculated value of Ls will be regarded as 50
the level of saturation. Otherwise, the state of CT will be
identified as unsaturation. 0

start Waveform of current

-50
0 20 40 60 80 100
Time/(ms)
(a)
Filtering high-frequency
noise 3 Tendency of Ls
Level of saturation

2
Ls
(i.e. Ls)

determining S1 and S2 1

0
Calculating Sk(|X1|) and Sk(|X2|) as
-1
(1) 0 20 40 60 80 100
Time/(ms)
(b)
Calculating Ls as (5) Figure 6. Current under saturation and its level of saturation

Some typical simulations are described as follow.

Ye Figure 6(a) shows a simulated waveform of current
Ls > 0 No
s under saturation. As shown in Figure 6(a), in every cycle,
saturation is always existent and the level of saturation get
Saturation, outputting
deeper before it is shallow. This result shows a very good
Unsaturation agreement with the objective laws in reality. Figure 6(b)
the level of saturation
shows the behavior of Ls (i.e. level of saturation) which is
Figure 4. The flowchart of proposed scheme obtained by the current shown in Figure 6(a). In Figure 6(b),
the value of Ls gets bigger before it is smaller, which agree
with the behavior of saturated situation shown in 6(a). That
IV. SIMULATION STUDIES
demonstrates that Ls can effectively reflect the level of CT
In order to evaluate the performances of scheme saturation.
proposed in this paper, various simulations are investigated Figure 7(a) shows a simulated waveform of current
by PSCAD/EMTDC. The simulated system is depicted in without saturation obtained by a unsaturated CT. It is a sine
Figure 5. The sampled current data are loaded into curve with decaying DC component. Figure 7(b) shows the
MATLAB software where the proposed scheme is behavior of calculated Ls. As can be seen in Figure 7(b), the
implemented and assessed. value of Ls is always equal to 0, which shows that the state

92
of CT is accurately judged as unsaturation and the proposed V. CONCLUSIONS
scheme can correctly identify current without saturation. In this paper, a new scheme for detecting CT saturation
100 and assessing the level of saturation is presented. The
difference of numerical distribution characteristic of currents
is analyzed under saturated and unsaturated conditions.
saturation /(A)
Current under

50
According to this difference, a criterion function based on
skewness and a coefficient for the level of saturation are
0 investigated and developed.
Simulation results show that the proposed scheme has
-50 significant abilities in detecting CT saturation and assessing
0 20 40 60 80 100 the level of saturation. In addition, the proposed scheme can
Time/(ms)
(a) operate well using the on-site recorded current signal. That
demonstrates that the proposed scheme has an obvious
Level of saturation

2
1 advantage to be implemented in a real system.
(i.e. Ls)

0
-1
-2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
0 20 40 60 80 100
Time/(ms) This work is supported by Science and Technology
(b) Project of Hunan Electric Power Company under Grant No.
5216A514002J, Chinese Natural Science Foundation of
Figure 7. Current without saturation and its level of saturation
Guangdong Province under Grant No. 2016A030313041,
National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant
60 No. 51677060.
40
saturation /(A)
Current under

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