On-Site Calibration of

Current Transformers
Michael Krger, Florian Predl, OMICRON AUSTRIA
Measurement Principle of the CT Anal yzer
1. Measurement of Residual Magnetism
2. Measurement of Winding Resistance
3. Measurement of Excitation Losses
4. Measurement of Eddy Losses
5. Measurement of Turns Ratio N (core ratio)
6. Calculation of current ratio error and phase displacement using
excitation curve, core ratio N, Rct and desired burden values
Page 2 OMICRON
1. Measurement of Residual Magnetism
Page 3 OMICRON
Ip
Np
Ns
P1
P2
V
core
R
CT
R
CT I
ECT
S1
S2
Iexc
Reddy
Lmain
I
L
I
E
R
H
V
RCT
V
TERMINAL
N
t

res

0
1 t
2
t
3
t
n n


,
2
n n
=
1
2 n
t
1 n
t
n
t
n

1
t
5 . 0
1 res
2. Measurement of Winding Resistance
Page 4 OMICRON
Ip
Np
Ns
P1
P2
V
core
R
CT
R
CT
S1
S2
Reddy
Lmain
I
L
I
E
R
H
V
RCT
V
TERMINAL
N
I
DC
U
t
DC
DC
CT
I
U
R =
3. Measurement of Excitation Losses

Page 5 OMICRON
Ip
Np
Ns
P1
P2
V
core
R
CT
R
CT I
ECT
S1
S2
Iexc
Reddy
Lmain
I
L
I
E
R
H
V
RCT
V
TERMINAL
N
4. Measurement of Eddy Losses

Page 6 OMICRON
Ip
Np
Ns
P1
P2
V
core
RCT
RCT
I
EXC
S1
S2
Reddy
Lmain
IL
IE
RH
V
RCT
V
TERMINAL
N
I
EXC
Measurement at two different frequencies with the same resulting
magnetic flux in the core
2
2 2
2
1 1
2
* *
* *
*
*
2
1
f b f a P
f b f a P
f b P
f a P
P P P
f
f
Current Eddy
Hysteris
Current Eddy Hysteris Iron
+ =
+ =
=
=
+ =

) (
) (
1 2 2 1
2 1 1 2
1 2 2 1
2
1 2
2
2 1
f f f f
f P f P
b
f f f f
f P f P
a

=
5. Measurement of Turns Ratio N

Page 7 OMICRON
Ip
Np
Ns
P1
P2
R
CT
R
CT
S1
S2
Reddy
Lmain
I
L
I
E
R
H
V
Core
V
RCT
=I
exc
*R
CT
V
Terminal
I
Exc
V
PRIM
I
Exc
PRIM
CORE
V
V
N =
6. Calculation of Current Ratio Error and
Phase Displacement

Page 8 OMICRON
Ip
Np
Ns
P1
P2
R
CT
S1
S2
R eddy
L main
I
L
I
E
R
H
N
Z
B
I
S
I
EXC
I
P
/N

=I
EXC
+I
S
V
Core
V
RCT
=I
S
*R
CT
I
P
=N*(I
EXC
+I
S
)
( ) ) *
2
2
B B CT S Core
X R R I V + + =
I
S
I
EXC
I
P
/N

Measurement Accuracy
Page 9 OMICRON
Residual Magnetism
>Typical Residual Magnetism effects in cores occur:
... after being confronted with very high transient fault currents
during fault conditions
... Circuit Breakers: electric arc extinguishes at zero crossing of the
current signal
... DC currents due to wrong handling on site (winding resistance
measurement)

Page 10 OMICRON
Residual Magnetism

Page 11 OMICRON
Ipn
Flux density (B)
Flux intensity (H)
20 x Ipn
Residual Magnetism

Page 12 OMICRON
20 x Ipn
residual magnetism
Residual Magnetism

Page 13 OMICRON
Ipn
~10 x Ipn reserve
Residual Magnetism Transient Fault

Page 14 OMICRON
2 / max = = when I
DC
[ ] ) sin( * ) / ( * 2 + = t Z V I
P P
[ ]

/
* ) sin( * ) / ( * 2
t
P
e Z V

P P P P P P
R L R L Tan L j R Z / / ) (
1
= = + =


=
P
I
AC
I
+
DC
I +
Residual Magnetism Transient Fault
Page 15 OMICRON

p

Residual Magnetism Transient Fault
Page 16 OMICRON
Closed core (TPX) with Kr = 80%; Tp = 0.02s; Ts = 1.5s; Tfr = 0.4s

Residual Magnetism: Affectes Distance
Protection










Page 17 OMICRON






Netz 1
F2 F1
Schutzgert 1 Schutzgert 2
Schutzabschnitt des Schutzgertes 1
operating section of protection unit 1
protection unit 1 protection unit 2
Main 1
Distance protection relay sees higher fault impedance -> it trips with
a time delay
Residual Magnetism: Affects Differential
Protection
Page 18 OMICRON







CT1
Netz 1
F2 F1
CT2
Schutzgert 1
Schutzgert 2
protection unit 1 protection unit 2
Main 1
Unwanted tripping due to pre-saturation of one CT -> not the same current
measured at both protection units
Residual Magnetism How to get rid of?
Page 19 OMICRON
Demagnetization process














Done automatically by the CTAnalyzer at the very end of the
measurement
Residual Magnetism
Page 20 OMICRON
CT charged with DC
(winding resistance
measurement)
CT specs:
Class: 5P20
Ratio: 1000:1
Rated Burden: 30VA
michael.krueger@omicron.at
Questions and Remarks?