CT for protection

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
 CT-Current Transformer

Used to reduce heavy current flowing in an

element of a power system to low values that
are suitable for relay operation.
CT also isolates the relay circuit from the
primary circuit which is a high voltage power
circuit and allows the use of standardized
current rating of relays.
CT could be 1A or 5A.
1A CT provides more precision in real time
applications.
Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
Requirements of CTs used for
protection
Should give correct ratio up to several times
the rated primary current.
Should perform well at normal currents as
well as fault currents.

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
 CT-Accuracy or Ratio Error

%error= [(NIs-Ip)/Ip]*100
where N=nominal ratio=rated primary current
------------------------
rated secondary current
Is=secondary current
Ip=primary current

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
 CT-Accuracy or Ratio Error
(contd.)
When Ip increases, CT tries to produce
corresponding Is and this needs greater
secondary emf, core flux density and exciting
current.
A stage comes when any further increase in
Ip is wholly absorbed in an exciting current
and Is hardly increases at all. At this stage,
CT becomes saturated.
Thus ratio error depends on saturation.
Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
 CT-Accuracy or Ratio Error
Class Ratio Error (contd.)
Iex/Isat Phase angle in degrees
S +or-3% 3% 2
T +or-10% 10% 6
U +or-15% 15% 9

Saturation factor = Saturation Current

--------------------------------
Rated Primary Current

Performances of CTs are given at certain multiples

of the rated current.
eg. BSS 3938: The rated primary current of CTs are
up to 75KA and secondary currents 5A or 1A

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
Types of CT Cores

Cold rolled Si steel

Hot rolled Si steel
High Nickel Steel

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
Cold Rolled Si Steel

3% Si Steel.
High permeability.
High Saturation Level.
Small Exciting current.
Low Errors.
Used for protective relays.
Good Accuracy up to 10-15 times the
rated current.

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
Hot Rolled Si Steel

4% Si Steel.
Lowest Permeability.
Not much suitable for CTs.

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
High Nickel Steel

77%Ni, 14%Fe.
Highest Permeability.
Low Exciting Current.
Low errors and saturation at a relatively low
flux density.
Good accuracy up to 5 times the rated
current.
Suitable for meters and instruments.

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
CT Burden

Load connected across CTs secondary. Its

unit is ohms.
Unit of CT Burden is VA.

VA=I2*R

Eg. 0.5 ohm burden @ 5A secondary current

=>VA=I2*R=(5) 2*(0.5)=12.5VA

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
CT Burden (contd.)

Total Burden on CT is that of relays, meters,

connecting leads and the burden due to
resistance of secondary winding of CT.
Relay Burden is defined as the power
required to operate the relay.
Burden on Meters depend on its type and
design.

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
CT Burden (contd.)

Burden of leads depend on their resistance

and secondary current. It is appreciable if
long wires run from switchyard to relay
panels placed in control room.Lead burden
can be reduced using low secondary
currents.

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
CT Burden (contd.)

Eg. Let lead resistance = 5 ohm

=>Lead Burden @ 5A=(5) 2*(5)=125VA
=>Lead Burden @ 1A=(1) 2*(5)=5VA
Ratings of large CT is 15VA

Secondary Current is 5A Burden is 0.6ohm

(or)
Secondary Current is 1A Burden is 15ohm

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
Transient Behavior of CTs

Fast Relaying =>Occurs within one or two

cycles after the fault inception
Behavior of CT during first few cycles of a
fault is important since it carries transient
component in addition to steady state
component of fault
DC offset current (or transient current)
causes total fault current to be
unsymmetrical till transient decays
Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
Transient Behavior of CTs

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
Transient Behavior of CTs

Component of core flux due to the transient

dc offset current increases (Xp/Rp) times
the flux due to symmetrical (steady state) ac
current.
=>Large transients flux swing in the
magnetic core of CT.
=>Magnetic core gets saturated causing
undesirable effects on the performance of
protective relays connected to secondary of
CT.
Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
Transient Behavior of CTs

Core saturation due to transient dc component

of fault current in few milliseconds

Isecondary is fully distorted

Inaccurate measurement of fault current by the

relay

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
Remedies to avoid transient
behavior
CT cores must be greatly enlarged.

Air gaps should be provided in the core.

Such cores are called linear cores. They are
called so because time constant of CT is
reduced and the flux density is diminished.

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
Linear Couplers
CT core maybe of iron or non ferrous material
usually air or plastic.
Iron cored CT is suitable for electromagnetic
relays and has good power output. If air
gaps are included in these cores, no
transient errors will occur and this type of
core are called transactors.
Non ferrous core has linear characteristic
and is called Linear Coupler=> No
saturation level and No transient errors by
default.
Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
Types of CT

Conventional:
Primary Bar and Secondary Ring CT

Bushing CT

Wound type CT

Modern:
HV CT

EHV CT

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
HV CT

Initial issues:
>400KV system voltage.

Severe insulation problem.

Expensive.

Performance is limited.

Remedies followed to overcome above issues:

SF6 and clophen are used for insulation.

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika
EHV CT

Used in EHV and ultra high voltage sensors.

Linear coupler encloses EHV conductor.
Signal proportional to secondary current
generated is transmitted via communication
channel.

Prof.O.V.Gnana Swathika