CHAPTER
5
Worked Example
High Current Measurements
A bar-type current transformer which has 1 turn on its primary and
160 turns on its secondary is to be used with a standard range of
ammeters that have an internal resistance of 0.2s. The ammeter is
required to give a full scale deflection when the primary current is 800
Amps. Calculate the maximum secondary current and secondary
voltage across the ammeter.
Electrical Measurements (BEF 23903)
Contents
Introduction
Types of AC current transformer
Equivalent circuit and phasor diagram
Errors in current transformers
Clamp meter
DC current transformer
Rogowski coil
Electrical Measurements (BEF 23903)
Introduction
For the measurements of large currents in D.C circuit use lowrange ammeters with suitable shunts resistance.
For measuring high voltage low range voltmeters are used with
high resistance connected in series.
This method neither convenient or nor practical for high A.C
current and voltage instruments.
Therefore, Instrument transformers are employed in conjunction
with standard low-range A.C instruments.
The purpose is to reduce the line current or supply voltage to a
value small enough to be easily measured with meters of
moderate size and capacity.
In other words, they are used for extending the range of A.C
ammeters and voltmeters.
Electrical Measurements (BEF 23903)
Instrument Transformers
Types of Instrument Transformer:
Current Transformer (CT) : Used for the measurement of current.
Potential Transformer (P.T) : Used for the measurement of
voltage.
Wiring diagram for CT and PT
Electrical Measurements (BEF 23903)
Current Transformer (CT)
The primary of CT consists of a few turns of thick cross-section
connected in series with the high current line.
Commonly, the primary is just one turn formed (line conductor
through the
secondary
Worked
Examplewinding).
The secondary
winding
consists
ofhas
a large
number
A bar-type
current transformer
which
1 turn on
its primary of
and turns of
160 turns on its secondary is to be used with a standard range of
fine wire designed
for either 5 A or 1 A rating.
ammeters that have an internal resistance of 0.2s. The ammeter is
to give a full scale deflection when the primary current is 800
The CT hasrequired
the
secondary
effectively short-circuited through the
Amps. Calculate the maximum secondary current and secondary
voltage across
the ammeter.
low impedance
of the
ammeter.
Electrical Measurements (BEF 23903)
Basic construction of current transformer (CT)
Electrical Measurements (BEF 23903)
Current Transformer (CT)
The main tasks of a current transformer are:
To transform currents from a usually high value to a value easy to
handle for measuring instruments.
To insulate the metering circuit from the primary high voltage
system.
To provide possibilities of standardizing the measuring
instruments to a few rated currents.
Electrical Measurements (BEF 23903)
CTs in switchboard in electrical substation
Electrical Measurements (BEF 23903)
Electrical Measurements (BEF 23903)
CT 220 KV
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10
Various construction of current transformer used at
power substation
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11
Advantages of Current Transformer
The measuring instruments can be placed for away from the high
voltage side by connecting long wires to the current transformer.
This ensures the safety of instruments as well as the operator.
A current transformer can be used to extend the range of current
measuring instruments like ammeters (more than 100 A).
The power loss in current transformers is very small as compared
to power loss due to the resistance of shunts.
Very high voltages and amperes can be measured with full safety
to the operator.
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Equivalent Circuit of CT
Basic construction of current transformer (CT)
Electrical Measurements (BEF 23903)
13
Equivalent Circuit of CT
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14
Equivalent Circuit of CT
Ip
Rp
Xp
Is
Rs
Np:Ns
Xs
Is
Io
Ie
Vp
Re
Im
Xm Ep
Es
ZL = RL + jX L
Vs
Ideal
CT
Electrical Measurements (BEF 23903)
15
Simplified Equivalent Circuit of CT
Is
Ip
Rs
Np:Ns
Is
Io
Ie
Vp
Re
Im
Xm
Ep
Es
ZL = RL + jX L
Vs
Ideal
CT
Simplified Equivalent Circuit for CT
The primary internal voltage drop does not affect the exciting current
and the errors. Therefore the primary internal impedance is not
indicated in the diagram.
The leakage reactance is negligible where continuous ring cores and
uniformly distributed secondary windings are concerned.
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Equivalent Circuit Of CT Referred To The Secondary Side
Ip
Is
Io
Ie
Es
Re
Im
Xe
Vs
ZL = RL + jX L
Note: Rs has been assumed negligible here.
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Phasor Diagram of CT
Is-Secondary Current
Ip
-Ep
Es - Secondary induced emf
KTIs
Ip - primary Current
Ie
Ep - primary induced emf
Io
Im
KT - turns ratio = numbers of secondary
turns/number of primary turns
Io - Excitation Current
Im - magnetizing component of Io
Iw - core loss component of Io
Is
Es
m - main flux.
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Current Transformer Ratios
1. Turns ratio (K t )- This is the ratio of the turns of the transformer
windings.
Ns
Kt
Np
where
Ns = No. of turns in secondary winding
Np = No. of turns in primary winding
2. Transformation ratio (Actual) -This is the ratio of primary
winding current (Ip) to the secondary winding current (Is) of the
transformer;
K act
Ip
Is
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Current Transformer Ratios
3. Nominal ratio ( K nom )- This is the ratio of the rated primary
winding current (Ip(rated)) to the rated secondary winding
current (Is(rated)) of the transformer.
K nom
I p (rated )
K nom K t
I s (rated )
I p (rated )
I s (rated )
Ns
Np
4. Ratio correction factor (R.C.F.) - This is equal to the
transformation ratio divided by nominal ratio.
K act
R.C.F
K nom
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EMF & flux in transformer
1.
2.
3.
In a transformer, source of alternating current is applied to the primary
winding.
Due to this, the current in the primary winding (called as magnetizing
current) produces alternating flux, in the core of transformer.
This alternating flux gets linked with the secondary winding, and
because of the phenomenon of mutual induction an emf, E gets
induced in the secondary winding.
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EMF & flux in transformer
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EMF & flux in transformer
Flux developed in
core,
Induced emf at
primary winding, E1
Induced emf at
secondary winding, E2
N1
N2
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Michael Faraday
Michael Faraday's greatest contribution to physics was to show
that an electric potential, v or , is generated by a coil of wire
when the magnetic flux, B, enclosed by it changes.
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Example 1
A bar-type current transformer which has 1 turn on its primary
and 160 turns on its secondary is to be used with a standard
range of ammeters that have an internal resistance of 0.2 .
The ammeter is required to give a full-scale deflection when the
Worked Example
primary current
is 800 A.
bar-type current transformer which has 1 turn on its primary and
Calculate A160
turns on its secondary is to be used with a standard range of
ammeters that
have an internal
resistance of 0.2s. The ammeter is
i. the maximum
secondary
current
required to give a full scale deflection when the primary current is 800
Amps. Calculate
the maximum
secondary
current and secondary
ii. The secondary
voltage
across
the ammeter.
voltage across the ammeter.
Electrical Measurements (BEF 23903)
[Answer: 5 A, 1 V]
25
Example 2
A current transformer has a rating of 50 VA, 400 A/5 A, 36 kV, 50
Hz. It is connected into an a.c. line having a line-to-neutral
voltage of 14.4 kV.
The ammeters, relays and connecting wires on the secondary
side possess a total impedance (burden) of 1.2 . If the
transmission line current is 280 A.
Calculate:
i. The secondary current
ii. The voltage across the secondary terminals
iii. The voltage drop across the primary.
[Answer: 3.5 A; 4.2 V; 52.5 mV]
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Exercise
A toroidal transformer has a ratio of 1000 A/5 A. The line
conductor carries a current of 600 A.
i.
Calculate the voltage across the secondary winding of the
the ammeter has an impedance of 0.15 .
ii. Calculate the voltage drop the transformer produces on the
line conductor
iii. If the primary is looped four times through the toroidal
opening, calculate the new current ratio.
[Answer: 0.45 V; 2.24 mV; 250 A/5 A]
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Example 3
An application requires a 20:5 CT ratio, but only a 50:5 CT is available.
Given that the number of primary turns (Np) is 3.
Determine the number of secondary turns that need to be added so
that a 20:5 actual ratio will be obtained.
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Errors in Current Transformers
In practice, the value of transformation ratio (actual ratio) is not
equal to the turns ratio.
Due to the magnetizing and loss components of the exciting
current, the secondary wingding load and its power factor.
This introduces considerable errors into currents measurements.
Two type of errors due to the use of CT:
Type of Error
1. Ratio error (Current and
Turns)
Due to actual ratio being different from the
turns ratio.
2. Phase angle error
Donated by phase different between primary
and secondary which is different from 180.
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Ip
Rp
Xp
Is
Rs
Np:Ns
Xs
Is
Io
Ie
Vp
Re
Im
Xm Ep
Es
Vs
ZL = RL + jX
L
Ideal
CT
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Ratio Error
Not all the primary current passes through the secondary circuit.
Part of it is consumed by the core, which means that the primary
current is not reproduced exactly.
The relation between the currents in this case will be:
Ns
'
Is
I s I o KT I s I o
Np
Percentage ratio error:
K nom K act
100%
K act
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Current Error
Current error is an error that arises when the current value of the
actual transformation ratio is not equal to rated transformation
ratio.
Current Error %
I s ' I p
Ip
100%
K nom I s I p
Ip
100%
Knom = nominal transformation ratio
Ip = actual primary current
Is = actual secondary current
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Phase Angle Error
For a ideal current transformer the angle between the primary
and reversed secondary current vector is zero.
But for an actual current transformer there is always a difference
in phase between two due to the fact that primary current has to
supply the component of the exiting current.
The angle between the secondary current phasor reversed (Is)
and the primary current (Ip) is termed as Phase Angle Error; that
is,
I s' I p
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Example 4
The primary winding of a 1000/5A, 50 Hz current transformer has a
single turn. Its secondary burden consists of a non-inductive
impedance of 1.4 .
If the iron loss in the core is 1.4 W at full load and magnetizing mmf is
80 AT. Calculate the maximum flux in the core.
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How to Reduce Errors in Current Transformer
In current transformer design, the core characteristics must be
carefully selected because excitation current Io essentially
subtracts from the metered current and affects the ratio and
phase angle of the output current.
The higher the exciting current or core loss the larger the error.
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How to Reduce Errors in Current Transformer
1. Use a core of high permeability, low hysteresis loss magnetic
materials, and large cross section.
Cold rolled grain oriented (CRGO) silicon steel
Hot rolled grain oriented (HRGO) silicon steel
Nickel Iron alloys
2. Keeping the rated burden to the nearer value of the actual
burden.
3. Ensuring minimum length of flux path and increasing cross
sectional area of the core, minimizing joint of the core.
4. Reduce the secondary internal impedance.
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Types of Current Transformers
Bar Type CT
Window Type CT
Bushing Type CT
Wound Type CT
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Outdoor CTs
A CT for operation on a 110 kV grid
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Clamp Meter
A clamp meter is an electrical tester that combines a basic digital
multimeter with a current sensor.
A common form of current sensor comprises a split ring made of
ferrite or soft iron and hinged at one to form a pair of jaws that
can be opened to clamp around the conductor whose current is
to be measured.
The conductor around which it is clamped forms the other
winding.
This allows properties of the electric current in the conductor to
be measured without having to make physical contact with it, or
to disconnect it for insertion through the probe.
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Types of Current Clamp
Current Clamp with
Current Clamp with
Current Output
Voltage Output
Clamps that provide a
voltage output
incorporate a current-tovoltage converter
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Electrical Measurements (BEF 23903)
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Digital Current Clamp
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