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Specifying current transformers can be a daunting task especially if information is not available, or the engineer has
not gained sufficient experience in the task. It is common to find many parameters to be out of specification resulting
in mal-operation, or non-operation of protection equipment leading to severe equipment damage or personnel risks.
This article provides some basic understanding of current transformers and how these may be specified.
Current transformers are manufactured use fully certified designs including the Basic principles
in many different construction types, components, will limit the amount of cores
Relay burden (Sr)
and sizes. DIN 42600 standard and its that can be installed in their switchgear.
dimensions provides a universal type series The relay burden is the input current
It is not uncommon to find the burden imposed by the relay on the
of transformers which are used worldwide
manufacturer cannot manufacture a current transformers. This is determined
in switchboards, commonly referred to as
transformer according to the specified by the input impedance of the relay and
block type or DIN current transformers.
parameters. In almost every case the is normally published in the relay user
Single turn primary transformers are problem is the current transformer has guide or technical information sheet.
mostly used whereas wound primary been incorrectly specified, the safety For this article we will use the following
transformers are generally used for low coefficients used are too high, or too input impedances:
ratios. The magnetic core is responsible many safety coefficients have been
for determining the amount of current that added to the calculations. If the core At 5 A input and 0,020 Ω impedance,
can be transferred through the transformer requirements are high it may necessitate Sr = 0,5 VA
to the secondary core as well as the that two cores be split across two current At 1 A input and 0,100 Ω impedance,
accuracy of the current being transferred. transformer blocks. Sr = 0,1 VA
Fig. 1 shows how magnetic circuits and What are key parameters? Lead loop burden (SL)
secondary cores can differ in size. In
The current transformer key parameters The burden of the connecting leads
general the more stringent the electrical
are the values given to the current between the current transformer and
parameters required on the secondary
transformer to ensure proper operation. the protection relay must be taken into
core the larger the magnetic core should
The IEC 61869-2 standard provides the account. Over short distances this burden
be. For example, a class PX secondary
following definitions for the parameters is almost insignificant however over
core will require a larger magnetic circuit
which will be considered in this article. longer distances the burden can play a
than say a class 5P core which in turn is
larger than a metering class core. The rated transformation ratio (Ip/Is) significant role in the functionality of the
protection circuit.
Generally speaking it is common for where:
one block not have more than two or RL= x l/A x k
Ip =primary current
three cores per block, as it is limited by where:
the physical dimensions of the design. Is =secondary current
Switchgear manufacturers use different = resistivity of the conductor material
The parameter where the current (for copper at 20°C = 0, 0178 μΩ)
types of configurations in their designs,
transformer starts to saturate and is given
but once they have completed designs l = length of the conductor
as the nominal accuracy limit factor (ALF)
together with type test certification they
for protection cores. The rated burden of A = cross-sectional area
are limited to the amount of cores
the current transformer (Sn).
they can fit within the certified current k = 1,2 for a four wire system and
transformer and switchgear design. For These parameters are shown on the k = 2 for a six-wire system
this reason switchgear manufacturers who rating plate.
For the burden of the leads we use:
SL = In2 x RL
For simplicity we will consider the relay
burden together with the lead burden as
the total load burden given as:
Sb = Sr + SL
Current transformer ratio
The ratio of the current transformer is
based on the transformer principle where:
Fig. 1: Typical DIN current transformers.
a) Wound primary type current transformer. b) Single-turn type current transformer. Ip/Is = Ns/Np
FLR1 = 1,6 x 25 = 40
FLR2 = 1,6 x 25 = 40
FLR3 = 1,5 x IPSC/CT ratio
= 1,5 x 20 000/2000 = 15
The required accuracy limit factor
required is:
FRQ = Minimum (FLR1-2 and FLR3)
= Minimum (40 and 15) = 15
Fa ≥ FRQ and 46,2 ≥ 15
Conclusion: the current transformer
is adequately sized for the protection
function.
If the actual limit factor is greater than
100 then the relay, current transformer or
secondary wiring will be damaged. Most
relays can only sustain a high current of
100 x In for 1 s.
If the fault level was increased say to
40 kA, will the current transformer still
be suitable?
In this case we will only need to check
what happens to FLR3
FLR3 = 1,5 x IPSC/CT Ratio
= 1,5 x 40 000/2000 = 30 Fig. 6: Metering and earth fault protection combined on metering core.
FRQ = 30
Fa ≥ FRQ and 46,2 ≥ 30 Parameter Description Unit Parameters with different primary current ratings
Conclusion: the current transformer is IP CT primary current A 100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000
adequately sized. Primary short
IPSC kA 31,5 31,5 31,5 31,5 31,5 31,5 31,5
circuit current
What are the recommended
Sn CT rated burden VA 15 15 15 15 15 15 15
parameters?
CT secondary
Actual accuracy limit factors IS A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
current
An accuracy limit factor (Fa) of around Cl Class 5P 5P 5P 5P 5P 5P 5P
40, provides an ideal solution for the Nominal CT
following reasons: Fn accuracy limit 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
factor
• The accuracy limit factor is sufficiently
Actual accuracy
high enough for most protection Fa 373 222 132 80 62 52 46
limit factor
requirements.
Equivalent knee
• Current transformer manufacturers Vkpa point voltage for V 275 286 306 347 384 422 458
can generally match the parameters, class PX
including the calculated secondary Required knee
resistance, the ALF, and the rated Vkpz V 531 464 419 291 280 272 267
point voltage
burden for the ratio selected,
Table 1: Calculated parameters of a current transformer.
within the space limitations of the
switchgear.
• In cases where more than one core is
should be selected from between 0,75 Determining the current transformer
required in the DIN block, reducing
and 30 VA. primary ratio
the accuracy limit factor allows
more room for additional current A good place to start is by selecting Protecting electrical equipment requires
transformer cores. the burden in the middle of the range, isolating the faulted area as quickly as
i.e. 5 or 10 VA and then calculate the possible from the system, while keeping
Current transformer rated burden
rated and actual accuracy limit factors the rest of the system running. Selecting
To ensure the current transformer is not as appropriate. The burden can be a current transformer ratio is difficult, if
oversized, it is a good idea to reduce the decreased or increased to achieve the not impossible, to achieve as we need
burden for lower ratios. Typical burdens required ALF. to consider the limits. The upper limit
Increasing the current transformer’s ratio (Fa) down to an acceptable level around 62, increases the
Assume we are required to provide a class PX current equivalent saturation voltage (Vkpa = 384 V) and reduces the
transformer with a suitable ratio to ensure stability with a required voltage (Vkpx = 280 V).
fault level of 31,5 kA. The required knee point voltage is
To provide stability for differential protection we need to
calculated using the following formulas, to ensure stability.
ensure the current transformer equivalent knee point voltage is
Table 1 shows the calculated knee point voltage (Vkpz) required greater than the required knee point voltage, while the actual
as well as the key parameters of actual ALF (Fa) and equivalent ALF is above the desired value but below the maximum value
knee point voltage for various ratios from 100:1 to 2000:1. of 100. Our experience to best way to achieve this criteria is
For example when selecting a current transformer with a first to adjust the current transformer ratio to come close to the
ratio of 100:1 at an accuracy limit factor of 373 (Fa) will only criteria, and then tweak the current transformer by adjusting
produce an equivalent saturation voltage of around 275 V the other parameters such as Rct or class rating.
(Vkpa) compared with the required voltage of 531 V (Vkpz).
Contact Bryan Johnson, ABB, Tel 010 202-6071,
Using the ratio at 1200:1 and above brings the actual ALF bryan.johnson@za.abb.com