Study On Current

Transformers

TABULATION

Table of Protection CT
 Secondary Ex. Voltage (V) Secondary Ex. Current (A)
3.84 22
5.7 24
7.75 38
9.14 42
9.91 46
11.5 50
12.57 54
13.92 60
14.63 62
15.31 66

TABULATION

Table of Measuring CT
 Secondary Ex. Voltage (V) Secondary Ex. Current (A)
7.61 0.5
8.36 0.9
8.66 1.2
9.51 1.8
9.84 2.05
10.27 2.5
10.64 2.85
10.99 3.2
11.26 3.5
11.59 4.0

CALCULATION

(b). The knee point of an excitation curve is defined as the point at which a further increase of
10% of secondary e.m.f. would require an increment of 50% of exciting current.

Knee Point Voltage (V)

Measuring CT 12.8

Protection CT 12.2

(c) Burden of CTs

Current (A) Voltage (V) Burden (V A)

Measuring CT 50 0.439 50 0.439 = 21.95

Protection CT 50 0.45 50 0.45 = 22.5

DISCUSSION
Measuring CT is only required to operate over the normal range of load currents. A protection CT is
employed to give satisfactory protection over a wide range of fault conditions. This may even be
many times the full load current. Therefore, the secondary winding resistance of a protective
transformer must be made as low as possible

The 'knee-point' of the excitation curve of a CT is defined as the point at which a further increase of
10% of secondary e.m.f. would require a 50% increment of the exciting current. Therefore, the knee-
point may be regarded as a practical limit beyond which a specified ratio may not be maintained. A
CT is considered to enter saturation beyond the knee-point. In this region almost all the primary
current is utilized to maintain the core flux

Selection of CT:

1) Indoors or Out Door:

Determine where CT needs to be used. Indoor transformers are usually less costly than outdoor
transformers. Obviously, if the current transformer is going to be enclosed in an outdoor
enclosure, it need not be rated for outdoor use. This is a common costly error in judgment when
selecting current transformers.

2) What do We need:
The first thing we need to know that what degree of accuracy is required. Example, if you simply
want to know if a motor is lightly or overloaded, a panel meter with 2 to 3% accuracy will likely
suit for needs. In that case the current transformer needs to be only 0.6 to 1.2% accurate. On the
other hand, if we are going to drive a switchboard type instrument with 1% accuracy, we will
want a current transformer with 0.3 to 0.6 accuracy. We must keep in mind that the accuracy
ratings are based on rated primary current flowing and per ANSI standards may be doubled (0.3
becomes 0.6%) when 10% primary current flows. As mentioned earlier, the rated accuracies are
at stated burdens. We must take into consideration not only the burden of the load (instrument)
but you must consider the total burden. The total burden includes the burden of the current
transformers secondary winding, the burden of the leads connecting the secondary to the load,
and the burden of the load itself. The current transformer must be able to support the total burden
and to provide the accuracy required at that burden. If we are going to drive a relay you must
know what relay accuracy the relay will require.

3) Voltage Class:
You must know what the voltage is in the circuit to be monitored. This will determine what the
voltage class of the current transformer must be as explained earlier.

4) Primary Conductor:
If you have selected a current transformer with a window you must know the number, type and
size of the primary conductor(s) in order to select a window size which will accommodate the
primary conductors.

5) Application:
 The variety of applications of current transformers seems to be limited only by ones imagination.
As new electronic equipment evolves and plays a greater role in the generation, control and
application of electrical energy, new demands will be placed upon current transformer
manufacturers and designers to provide new products to meet these needs

6) Safety:
For personnel and equipment safety and measurement accuracy, current measurements on
conductors at high voltage should be made only with a conducting shield cylinder placed inside
the CT aperture. There should be a low electrical impedance connection from one end only to a
reliable local ground. An inner insulating cylinder of adequate voltage isolation should be
between the shield cylinder and the conductor at high voltage. Any leakage, induced or
breakdown current between the high voltage conductor and the ground shield will substantially
pass to local ground rather than through the signal cable to signal ground. Do not create a
current loop by connecting the shield cylinder to ground from both ends. Current flowing in
this loop will also be measured by the CT.

7) CT output signal termination:

The CT output coaxial cable should preferably be terminated in 50 ohms. CT characteristics are
guaranteed only when CT is terminated in 50 ohms. The termination should present sufficient
power dissipation capability. When CT output is terminated in 50 ohms, its sensitivity is half that
when terminated in a high-impedance load.