Practical Properties of Rogowski Coil Construction

David Halomoan Malau

Electrical Power Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology Ganesha 10, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
Phone: +628126095364, Email: davidmalau92@yahoo.com

Abstract- Rogowski coil has been widely well known in testing laboratories, industrial measuring instruments, power electronics and unconventional measuring systems used in energy transport networks. Rogowski coil practically one type of induction based coil sensors, the one type of sensor that can be manufactured simply and directly by a user. This paper will presents Rogowski coils operating principles and Rogowski coils aspects that practically need to be considerated in order to construct an ideal Rogowski coil, devided to geometrical property, physical parameters effect, and simple and low cost construction. Keywords- induction based coil sensors, operating principles, practical aspects, geometrical property, physical parameters effect, simple and low cost construction.

This paper summarize practical properties of Rogowski coil as aspects that mainly affect Rogowski coils performance as a current transducer used as measurement applications. II. ROGOWSKI COIL AS AN INDUCTION BASED COIL SENSOR

A. Induction Based Coil Sensors: Operating Principles Induction based coil sensors are also called search coil sensors, pickup coil sensors, or magnetic antennae. Voltage induced to the coil results from the fundamental Faradays law of induction

I.

INTRODUCTION

where is the magnetic flux passing through the coil with passed area A and number of turns n.

Operating principle of Rogowski coil first described by Chattock in 1887 but further description of Rogowski coil given by Rogowski and Steinhaus in 1912, therefore sometimes this coil called a Chattock coil [4]. Rogowski coil as a current transducers have been widely used in power system as a convenient clip-around instrument. But compared to conventional ferromagnetic core-current transformers, Rogowski coil have some advantages and disadvantages. Those advantages are linearity through wide range of current measured, compact in size, wider bandwidth, and light in weight [2].
Fig. 1. Illustration of induction based coil sensors [5]

Current transducer in power system commonly used as protective relaying purposes and measuring applications. As a current transducer, one instrument requires proper accuracy, wide bandwidth, and very high electric isolation between input and output [3]. Rogowski coil as one type of air coreinduction based coil sensor with small mutual coupling between primary conductor and secondary winding provides small output power, so it can not drive current through lowresistance burden [1] and easily disturbed by external magnetic field [3]. In order this Rogowski coil can operate as a current transducer properly, further consideration of some aspects need to be properly designed, compared to conventional ferromagnetic core-current transformers.

Compared to another type of sensors (such as Hall type sensors, magnetoresistive sensors, or fluxgate type sensors), this induction based coil sensors is practically the only one that can be manufactured directly by a user since the method if coil manufacture is simple and the materials of winding wire are commonly available [4]. B. Induction Based Coil Sensors: Core Behavior There are two main designs of induction based coil sensors: air core and ferromagnetic core.

Ferromagnetic core acts as a flux concentrator inside the coil, thus air coil sensors come with disadvantages such as low sensitivity and problems with its miniaturization [4]. Voltage induced to the ferromagnetic core-coil sensors is

Relative permeability, r, could be larger then 105, so this can result significantly to the sensor sensitivity. However, it should be considered that the resultant permeability of the core, c, can be much lower than the material permeability due to demagnetizing field effect defined by the demagnetizing factor N, which is dependent on the geometry of the core [4]. However, enhancement in coil sensitivity is achieved with the sacrifice of its linearity, which provided by air core-coil sensors. The core comes with some non linear factors that affect the linearity of the coil which depend on temperature, frequency, flux density, etc [4].

Fig. 3. Typical design of an air core-coil sensors [4]

where l is the length of the coil, D is the outer diameter of the coil, Di is the inner diameter of the coil, and d is the diameter of the wire. The resultant area of multilayer coil sensor can be calculated by [4]: ( )

If the measured flux density is a sine wave form ( ) then the induced voltage is:

where f is a frequency of the measured field, n number of turns of the coil, D is diameter of the coil, and B is the measured flux density [4]. .
Fig. 2. Comparison of V-I characteristics [1]

Voltage induced to the coil as a function to magnetic field strength, H, could be derived by substitute [4]:

Some ferromagnetic core-coil sensors designed with an air gap in the core. An air gap in the core could reduce remanent flux (flux remained in the core after a fault current interruption which will remain in the core until the coil is demagnetized) to an acceptable level by 0.0001 0.0003 per unit of mean length of magnetic path, but this method increases the phase error and the coil will be need more time to allow stored energy to dissipate [1]. Linearity of this air core-coil sensors extend from few amperes to several hundred of kiloamperes (current range) and from few hertz to several hundred of kilohertz (frequency range) depends on its design [3]. C. Design of Air Core Induction Based Coil Sensors Typical design of an air core-coil sensors could be presented in figure 3

The number of turns, n, depends on the diameter, d, of the wire used, the packing factor, k, and the dimensions of the coil [4]: ( )

The sensitivity of the air core-coil sensors can be derived [4]: ( )( )

Resistance of the coil can be derived [4]: ( )( )

Air core-coil sensors are widely used as eddy-current proximity sensors or for eddy-current sensors for non-

destructive testing, since sensitivity is not as important as the spatial resolution and compactness of the whole device [4]. D. Rogowski Coil: Equivalent Circuit and Frequency Response Rogowski coil is toroidal winding wounded over an nonmagnetic air core, thus Rogowski coils operating principles and main idea of the design had been previously explained in induction based coil sensors and air core-coil sensors.

with each parameter respected to each physical parameter could be presented as: ( [( ) [ ( )] ) ( )]

) (

[ ( )

)]

The transfer function of Rogowski coil equivalent circuit if Rogowski coil connected to a linear load is: ( ) ( ) ( ( ) ) ( ( ) )

Fig. 4. Illustration of Rogowski coil [1]

Voltage generated in the coil is induced by main conductors current flow. This induced voltage to the coil by the main conductor could be modeled as two coupled inductors, with the main conductor as the primary inductor and Rogowski coil as the secondary inductor. The voltage induced to the coil is: where is mutual inductance between primary inductor and the secondary inductor, which is: ( )

where is current flows in primary inductor (main conductor, source), is voltage induced to Rogowski coil (Rogowski coil equivalent circuits input voltage), and is output voltage of Rogowski coil. III. DISCUSSION ABOUT ROGOWSKI COILS CONSTRUCTION ASPECTS

A. Geometrical Effects [7] Experiment done to investigate how geometrical property of Rogowski coil construction could effect Rogowski coils output voltage waveform.

Rogowski coil could be modeled with equivalent circuit drawn below:

Fig. 5. Geometrical illustration of Rogowski coil

Fig. 5. Equivalent circuit of Rogowski coil [6]

Rogowski coil that used in this experiment has physical parameter such as coil pitch 0.43mm, core diameter 9mm, coil material copper (enamel coating), copper line diameter 0.3mm, turn density 2326 turn/m, radius of Rogowski coil 14cm.

Experiment done by variating the A/B ratio, A is minor axis and B is major axis, with values variate form 1, 0.75, 0.573, to 0.314.

Fig. 9. Output voltage waveform with A/B ratio = 0.3141

Fig. 6. Output voltage waveform with A/B ratio = 1

From figure 6 to 9, the waveform of output voltage are unstable when the A/B ratio is small, because the current carrying conductor doesnt placed at the real center of the coil, thus the error of amplitude and phase differences at output voltage of the coil become large when the A/B ratio is small. B. Output Voltage Determined by Physical Parameters It could be derived from Rogowski coils transfer function that output voltage of Rogowski coil determined by value of its electrical properties (L, r, and C). Each of those parameters determined by Rogowski coils physical parameter value. Thus, it could be concluded that each physical parameter effect the Rogowski coils o utput voltage indirectly. This simulation done by variating each physical parameter to see how the output voltage could be effected for optimization purposes.

Fig. 7. Output voltage waveform with A/B ratio = 0.75

Fig. 10. Effect of wire radius and number of turns changes to output voltage

Simulation above done with constant value of inner radius (15cm) and core radius (2.5cm).
Fig. 8. Output voltage waveform with A/B ratio = 0.578

The x axis from the figure 10 above is number of turns (variates from 0 to maximum value, ) and the y axis is output voltage, the line in counter-clockwise turn are the results of variation in wire radius value (from 0.25mm to 1mm with addition 0.05mm each changes). The optimal value of wire radius and number of turns could be derived from figure above. The optimal value of wire radius is 0.5mm with number of turns around 910.

kept uniform along the length of the coil. This requires patience from the coil maker during the winding progression. It is possible to improve the sensitivity of the coil in several ways. But many trade-offs exist. Decreasing the size of the wire allows more turns per unit length, but small gauge wire is fragile and reduces the robustness of the coil. Increasing the average turns by means of additional winding layer, produces greater output but results in increased overall diameter which may limit the possible locations where the sensor can be used. This method also increases inter-winding capacitance and will limit the bandwidth. Single layer coils are more convenient from several viewpoints: ease of winding, better flexibility and relatively smaller inductance which gives a better bandwidth. 3) End Wires: to eliminate the interference from nearby conductors carrying high currents, the end winding needs to be returned to its start along the central axis of the coil. However, although multiple layers make the coil less flexible, if the coil has an even number of winding layers, and the even layers are wound in the opposite direction of the odd layers, there is no need for the return path through the middle of the former. To increase the reliability of the Rogowski transducer, special care needs to be taken while taking out the end wires. Since the winding wire is very thin, it is important to append thicker wires to both ends of the coil. To bend both ends of the Rogowski coil together, a thinner wire latched in the middle of the former can be used. 4) Heat Shrink Tubing Protection: to protect the coil from mechanical hazards, heat shrink sleeving is used. The coil is inserted into the heat shrink tube which is heater using a hot air gun. To remove any extra error due to the induced voltage in the attached leads, it is better to keep the leads very close together. Again, heat shrink sleeving can be used. Insulating tape can also be used. IV. CONCLUSIONS

Fig. 11. Effects of inner radius and core radius changes to output voltage

Simulation above done with constant value of wire radius (0.5mm) and number of turns (800). The x axis from the figure 11 above is core radius (variates from 0 to 1m) and the y axis is the output voltage, the line in clockwise turn are the results of variation in inner radius value (from 0 to 30cm with addition 3cm each changes). The optimal value of the inner radius and core radius could be derived from figure above. To get the biggest value of output voltage the coil must be as close as possible and the core must be as thick as possible. C. Simple and Low Cost Construction [8] There are several aspects in Rogowski coil construction that need to be considerated in order to obtain ideal construction with cost as one of the concern. 1) Core Selection: the core of the Rogowski coil can be made of any non-magnetic material. The plastic sheath of an electric cable is suggested for use as a former (core); however, the diameter and flexibility of the former have to be considered. A coil with a bigger diameter has a greater sensitivity; but, it limits the possible locations that the coil can be used. The flexibility of the core should be such that it is easily bent round the conductor being measured whilst maintaining its uniformity. 2) Winding: winding is a very important part of the Rogowski coil construction. It greatly affects the sensitivity, accuracy and reliability of the transducer. To increase the accuracy of the measurement, the winding order should be

The paper describes practical properties in constructing an ideal Rogowski coil. Several conclusions could be derived, such as: 1) The waveforms of output voltage become unstable, when the ratio of A/B is small, thus the errors of amplitude and phase become large. 2) The coil must be rounded as close as possible to the measured conductor in order to obtain bigger output voltage. 3) Larger number of turns gives better output voltage. 4) Optimal value of wire radius differs through different value of inner radius. 5) Thicker core radius gives better output voltage.

6) Simple and low cost construction method had been explained in this paper. ACKNOWLEDGMENT The author wish to thank Dr. Ir. Syarif Hidayat, MT. for his valuable support and guidence in studying Rogowski coil as my final assignment object. REFERENCES [1] Kojovic, Ljubomir A., et al. Practical Aspects of Rogowski Coil Applications to Relaying . IEEE PSRC Special Report. 2010. [2] Kojovic, Ljubomir A. Comparative Performance of Current Transformers and Rogowski Coils used for Protective Relaying Purposes. [3] Faifer, M., and R. Ottoboni. An Electronic Current Transformer Based on Rogowski Coil. Dipartimento di Elettrotecnica, Politecnico di Milano. Italy. 2008. [4] Tumanski, S. Induction Coil Sensors A Review. Institute of Electrical Theory & Measurement. Poland. 2007. [5] Murgatroyd, P. N. and D. N. Woodland. Geometrical Properties of Rogowski Sensors. IEE Colloquium on Low Frequency Power Measurement and Analysis. Savoy Place. 1994. [6] Jingsheng, Liao, et al. Studies of Rogowski Coil Current Transducer for Low Amplitude Current (100 A) Measurement. Huazhong University of Science and Technology. China. [7] Lee, Kang-Won, et al. Geometrical Effects in the Current Measurement by Rogowski Sensor. Chungbuk National University. Korea. [8] Abdi-Jalebi, Ehsan and Richard McMahon. Simple and Practical Construction of High-Performance, Low-Cost Rogowski Transducers and Accompanying Circuitry for Research Applications. Cambridge University. United Kingdom. 2005. [9] Marinescu, A. A Calibration Laboratory for Rogowski Coil used in Energy Sistems and Power Electronics. International Conference on Optimization of Electrical and Electronic Equipment, OPTIM. 2010.