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1.0 Introduction :
The role of current transformer in protection system is very important as it not only insulate the
protective devices from the primary circuits but also provides secondary current in proportion to the
primary.
In practical purpose the output of the current transformer is not an exact replica of the primary since a
portion of the primary current is used as exciting current which supplies the eddy current and
hysteresis losses and magnetises the core.
IS ZCT
Ip/NN
Ie
Vt R
Ze
In this case , Ip /N = Ie + Is , where Ie is the exciting current . The component Ie introduces the
error in the current transformer . The value of Ie depends on the core material and the amount of flux
required to be developed in the core to satisfy the burden requirements of the current transformer.
REQUIREMENT OF CURRENT TRANSFORMERS IN MICOM
More than the steady state current under load conditions of the CTs , the main concern of the current
transformer is about the fault conditions when the protection installed in their secondaries must react
correctly to the short circuit transient , specially during the first cycle.
2.0 Definitions
The Knee point voltage of the excitation characteristic is defined as the point at which a 10%
increase in secondary voltage produces a 50% increase in exciting current. It may, therefore, be
regarded as a practical limit beyond which a specified current ratio may not be maintained as the
current transformer enters saturation. In this region the major part of the primary current is utilised to
maintain the core flux and since the shunt admittance is not linear, both the exciting and secondary
currents depart from a sine wave.
+10% Vk
V
(VS) +50% Iek
ge k
Volta
ing
Excit
Iek
Exciting Current
(Ie)
Non time delayed protection needs to be dependable even when a decaying dc transient in the fault
current causes flux build up in the CT core, the reason for the inclusion of the X/R multiplier.
The system X/R ratio determine the degree of offset in the primary current waveform. As described
above, the dc component contributes an increase in flux; the greater the degree of offset, the sooner
the core will reach the onset of saturation.
In general a guide to the primary system ratio for an overhead line is that it is roughly one sixth of the
line kV rating (but this is a very rough estimate, and can be very different in practice). However, it
would be expected to be higher for lines adjacent to generation or connected directly to power
transformer secondary (due to the high reactance added in circuit).
If we assumed a line angle of degrees, the X/R ratio will be (tan ). This will give the X/R ratio of the
line, but when for the CT Vk calculation you have to use the X/R ratio of the system including the
source and line up to the fault point.
The Class P type of Current transformer are generally recommended for general applications like
Overcurrent and Earth fault where the accuracy greatly in excess of the value required for relay
operation is not required.
When relays such as instantaneous high set over current are required to operate at high values of over
current , say 5 to 15 times of the rated current of the transformer , the accuracy limit factor must be at
least as high as the setting current required to ensure fast relay operation.
Rated VA burden and the rated accuracy limit factor are not recommended to be greater that 15 VA
and 10 VA respectively for general purposes . It is however possible to combine a higher Accuracy
Limit factor with a lower output and vice versa so that the product does not exceed 150. When the
product exceeds 150 the resulting Current transfomer not only becomes costly and/or over
dimensioned .
Multiple of rated current (IN) up to which declared accuracy will be maintained with
rated burden connected.
5P or 10P.
eg. 5P10 , 15 VA CT implies that the CT will maintain an accuracy of 5 % upto 10 times the rated
current at a rated burden of 15 VA
3.2 Class PS
Class PS type current transformer are generally applied for unit schemes where balancing of outputs
from each end of the protected line is vital.
Class PS is also recommended for Distance protection .Laboratory test and operating experience have
shown that CT related waveform distortion can result in erroneous distance relay performance in the
following three ways :
- cause under reaching
- reduce the speed of operation
- result in loss of directionality
- result in instability of unit protection for external faults
Class PS current transformers are generally specified in terms of
- Rated primary current
- Turns ratio
- Ratio error ( less than +/-0.25 %)
- Knee point voltage (depends on application )
REQUIREMENT OF CURRENT TRANSFORMERS IN MICOM
- Magnetising current at specified voltage ( .03 In at VK/2 for high Impedance differential relays)
- Secondary resistance (at 75 degree)
4.1 Primary
The primary rating of a current transformer should be equal to or greater than the full load current of
the protected circuit.
4.2 Secondary
The total secondary burden not only includes the internal impedance of the secondary
winding , the impedance of the relay but also the secondary lead resistance.It is thus recommended to
have a CT secondary of 5 A when the distance between the CT and the protective device is not more
than 25 m .If the distance exceeds 25 m , use of 1 A CT secondary shall be used to limit the lead losses
.
Symbols used
The maximum through fault current will be given by the Busfault level itself since close-up faults
can occur just outside the zone of the Busbar protection.
Motors being the tail end of the electrical network , the question of through fault stability does not arise
unlike busbars or Transformer. The condition which threatens the stability of the motor differential is
the starting current of the motor.Hence, If shall be taken as 6*In .
The worst case through fault current that the scheme will encounter is limited by the transformer
impedance.
For instance if the transformer impedance is 5% , the maximum through fault current shall be
considered as 20 In,i.e,
equal to FLC / % impedance
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