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therefore, larger errors in the secondary current waveform. The reason for this is that a given secondary
current requires more voltage from the ct for a higher burden, and the core flux density is proportional to
the time-integral of this voltage.
When the core becomes saturated, significant current is diverted through the cts magnetizing branch,
and the desired secondary current is reduced and distorted. Burden calculations are, therefore,
necessary to ensure that ct accuracy limits are not exceeded.
The total ohmic burden on the ct is the vector sum of the ct winding resistance, the connecting lead
resistance, the impedance of any auxiliary cts, and the impedance of the connected relays and meters.
Impedances of devices connected in the secondary of an auxiliary ct should be reflected (multiplied by
the square of the auxiliary ct ratio) to the primary side, when calculating the burden on the main ct. This
is only accurate if the auxiliary ct is not saturated.
As a first check in making the burden calculation, it is common practice to add the individual burdens
arithmetically rather than vectorially. In many cases, this approach is very accurate, particularly if the ct
winding resistance and the connecting lead resistance comprise the bulk of the secondary burden.
However, if this method predicts poor ct performance, and if information on burden power factor is
available, the less conservative, but more complicated, vectorial method should be
used. Electromechanical relays are usually subject to saturation themselves, at high currents.
Coil impedances at the currents of interest (as opposed to rated current) should be used in the burden
calculation. A table of burdens vs, current (burdens may be expressed either in ohms or volt-amperes) is
usually provided in the relay instruction book, but information on the power factor is often incomplete. In
this case, it is customary to assume a purely resistive burden.
With the ohmic burden determined, the next step in predicting ct performance is to determine the
required ct excitation voltage by multiplying the calculated total ohmic burden (using the magnitude, in
the case of vectorquantities) by the maximum expected secondary fault current.
The ct excitation characteristic is then used to determine the excitation current. The higher the excitation
current, as a proportion of the expected secondary current, the worse will be the actual replication of the
primary current waveform. If errors greater than 10% are indicated (or more conservatively, if the
calculated excitation voltage is above the knee-point), then the application is suspect and measures to
reduce the burden are advised.
Sample burden calculation
Consider the 1200/5 ct of figure 1 below applied under conditions of a 24 000 A maximum fault current
as illustrated in below. First consider the circuit without the auxiliary ct and then with the auxiliary ct.
The relay time-overcurrent unit is to be set for 5 A, and the instantaneous unit for 40 A. The secondary
current under maximum fault conditions is expected to be 24 000/240 = 100 A.
Total burden on the main ct: Reflected to the primary the auxiliary ct secondary burden is 4.9/25, or
0.196 ohm. The total burden on the main ct is, therefore, 0.61 + 0.196, or 0.81 ohm. The required
excitation voltage on the main ct is now 81 V, representing a dramatic reduction compared with the
previous example.
It should be pointed out that in general, other factors such as dc offset in the primary current waveform,
ct remanence, the operating characteristics of the connected relays etc., should also be considered. This
may result in a requirement for better cts (or smaller connected burdens) than calculations of the above
type would indicate.