Current Transformer

Almost all AC protective relays in various protection systems are actuated by the
current supplied by the current transformers. It is not an easy way to measure the
high magnitude alternating current with low range ammeters. And also relays must
be rated at high currents to actuate under these high alternating currents. Therefore,
the current transformer does the current conversion from high currents to a
measurable range of currents. The specific application of current transformers
involves in various considerations such as type of mechanical construction, ratio of
primary to secondary currents, type of insulation (oil or dry type), thermal conditions,
accuracy, service type, etc.

Current Transformers (CTs)

It is a type of current transducer that will give current in the secondary which is
proportional in magnitude to the current flowing through the primary. These are used
to convert the high currents from power circuit into a measurable current range of
instruments and control devices. In addition, they provide isolation to the ammeters,
other measuring instruments and control devices from high voltage power circuitry. It
is the cheapest and easiest method of current measurement above the range of
digital meters and

The primary winding of the current transformer consists of one or more turns having
a heavy cross sectional area and is connected in series with the circuit in which the
current flow is to be sensed. In bar type CTs, the primary winding has only one turn
that means the conductor itself acts as primary winding. The secondary winding
made with large number of turns of a fine wire having small cross sectional area.
This winding is connected to either operating coil of the relay or current coil of the
instruments as shown in figure. Very often CTs are designed such that the
secondary terminals deliver either 5A or 1A current at full or rated primary current.

Working Principle of Current Transformers

The operation of current transformer is similar to the conventional power transformer.
CTs are basically step-up voltage transformers, on the other hand, these are step-
down transformers in view of current. This is because at the high voltage side lower
will be the current and at low voltage side the current is higher. When primary of the
CT is energized, the primary side ampere turns produces a magnetic field in the
core. This magnetic flux linking with secondary induces an EMF and this EMF drives
the current in the CT secondary. The current in the secondary tries to balance the
primary ampere turns. Hence, the relation between the primary and secondary is
given as

I1N1 = I2N2

I1 / I2 = N2 / N1
 I1/I2 = n

This is called as transformation ratio of the current transformer.

Where I1 and I2 are the primary current and secondary current respectively

N1 and N2 are the primary turns and secondary turns respectively and

n is the turns ratio between secondary to primary winding.

As an example, a typical 100 to 5A current transformer has a nominal ratio of single

primary turn to 20 secondary turns or 1:20. From the above equation, by knowing
secondary ammeter current and current ratios, we can easily determine the current
flowing through the primary which is connected to the main line. In power
transformer the primary current is depends on the secondary current. In contrast, the
primary winding of the CT is connected directly in series with power circuit and also
voltage drop across it is very less and hence the primary current is independent of
secondary current.

It should be noted that the secondary of the CT should not be kept open while the
primary is energized. If the secondary is left open, the secondary current becomes
zero, but practically the secondary ampere turns opposes the primary ampere turns.
Hence, an unopposed primary mmf produces a large magnetic flux in the core as
there is no counter secondary mmf. This results more core losses and thereby
increases the heat of the core. In addition, this causes to induce high EMFs on both
primary and secondary side leads to damage the insulation. Hence it is very
important that the secondary must be connected in series with low resistance current
coils of the instruments or simply shorted. And also, for avoiding danger of shock the
secondary side must be connected to the ground. In practice, CTs are provided with
a short circuit switch at the secondary terminals.

Construction of Current Transformers

The construction of the current transformer can be wound or bar type. Wound type
CT is similar to the two winding conventional transformer. The primary winding
consists of more than one full turn or multiple turns which is wounded on the core.
For a low voltage wound type CT, the secondary turns are wound on a Bakelite
former and with a suitable insulation in between, primary are directly wounded on the
top of the secondary winding. Depends on the core structure, these can be ring, or
rectangular or window type CTs. In bar type CT, the primary winding is nothing but a
single bar which passes through the center of the core forms single turn primary
winding.

The flux densities used in CTs are much less compared to the power transformers.
Therefore, core materials are selected such that they ensure low reluctance, low
core loss and also to work with low densities of flux. Since the ring cores are of joint
less and robust, hence they offer low reluctance. Common materials used for the
cores include hot rolled silicon steel, cold rolled grain oriented silicon steel, and
nickel iron alloys. For high accuracy metering, core of the CT is made with very high
grade alloy steel called as Mu meal. To provide insulation, varnish and tape
materials are used for small line voltages. But for high line voltages, compound filled
or oil filled CTs are used. In case of CTs used in higher transmission voltages,
insulation between secondary windings and HV conductors uses oil-impregnated
paper. Again the construction of such CTs can be live tank and dead tank forms.

Types of Current Transformers

Current transformers are classified into different types based on the factors like type
of use, voltage of the circuit, method of mounting etc. Some of these types include

Indoor Current Transformers

These are generally used for low voltage circuits and further classified into wound
type, bar type and window type transformers. Just like a normal transformer, wound
type transformer has both primary and secondary windings. These are used at very
low current ratios such as summing applications. Because of higher values of
primary ampere turns, high accuracy can be achieved by these CTs. The bar type
CT consist of bar primary which is an integral part of the CT with secondary cores.
The accuracy of bar type CT decreases due to the magnetization of the core which
requires a large fraction of the total ampere turns at low current ratings. Window type
CTs are installed around the primary conductor (or line conductor) because these
are constructed with no primary. These are most common CTs available in solid and
split core constructions. Before installing solid window CT, primary conductor must
be disconnected while in case of split core it can directly install around the conductor
without disconnecting it.

Outdoor Current Transformers

These are generally used for much higher voltage circuits such as switch yards and
substations. These CTs are provided with oil or SF6 gas insulation. Compared to the
oil filled CTs, SF6 insulated CTs are lighter in weight. The top tank is connected to
the primary conductor and hence these are called as live tank construction CTs.
Small bushings are used because the primary conductor and tank are at same
potential. This tank is mounted on the insulator structure as shown in figure. At the
base, secondary terminals are located in the terminal box. Also, an earthing terminal
is provided at the base.

OutdoorCurrentTransformer

For multi-ratio current transformers, the primary winding is of split type. So taps are
provided on the tank for the primary winding. Using these transformers, variable
current ratio can be obtained providing taps on either primary or secondary. When
applied to the secondary, operating ampere-turns are changed while applied to the
primary, much of the copper space is left unused except in the lowest range.

Back to top

Bushing Current Transformers

The bushing type CT is also similar to the bar type CT in which core and secondary
are mounted around the primary conductor. The secondary winding is wound on a
circular or annular shaped core which is installed in the high voltage bushing of
power transformers, or circuit breakers, generators, or switchgears. The conductor
passes through bushing acts a primary winding and the core is arranged such that to
encircle an insulating bush. Due to the less expensiveness, bushing CTs are mostly
used for relaying purpose in the high voltage circuits.
 Bushing Current Transformers

Back to top

Portable Current Transformers

These are of high precession type CTs used for high accuracy ammeters and power
analyzers. These can be split core, flexible and clamp ON portable CTs. A typical
portable CT current measurement range is in the order of 1000 to 1500 A and also
these CTs provide the isolation from high voltage circuits for the measuring
instruments.

Portable Current Transformers

Back to top

Errors in Current Transformer

In an ideal current transformer, primary to secondary current ratio is exactly equal to
the secondary to primary turns ratio and also currents in each winding produce equal
mmf in exact anti-phase. However, in actual practice the current ratio diverges from
turns ratio and also certain phase angle exist in between them from the opposition.
These are called ratio errors and phase angle errors. In case of CTs that are
employed for high accurate metering and measurement, these errors must be as
small as possible.

Consider the phasor diagram of current transformer shown below,

where

Io = No load current

Im = magnetizing component of no load current

Ie = Wattful component of no load current

Es and Ep = Induced voltages in secondary and primary windings respectively

Np and Ns = Number of turns in primary and secondary windings respectively

Ip and Is = Primary current and secondary current

Rs = Resistances of secondary winding

Xs = Reactance of secondary winding

β = Phase angle error

n = Turns ratio = N2/ N1

In order to keep the iron core excited, CT draws a primary current. This current
excitation current consists of two components, i.e. magnetizing component and
wattful component as shown figure. The EMF induced in the secondary circulates
secondary current through the burden and due to the inherent resistance and
reactance of the secondary winding causes voltage drop in secondary. In the above
phasor, I2 is referred to the primary (shown in dotted line) so there exists an angle
beta between primary and secondary currents.

Ratio Error
In the above phasor, I1 or primary current consists of the excitation current
component. Hence, by considering the triangle OBC, we can get the actual ratio
error in terms of the vector components of I2, Io (in turn it depends on magnetizing
and wattful components) and I1. And also, secondary current gets affected by its
winding resistance and reactance and also by the power factor of the burden. But the
nominal or rated current ratio is exactly equal to the ratio of secondary to primary
turns. Therefore, the ratio error of the CT is defined as the variation in actual ratio of
transformation from nominal ratio.

Current or Ratio Error = (Nominal ratio – Actual ratio) / Actual ratio

= (Kn – R) / R × 100 %

Phase Angle Error

In a perfect current transformer the secondary current must be displaced exactly by
180 degrees from the primary current. In other words, there should be a zero phase
angle between primary current and reversed secondary current. In the above phasor
diagram, the reversed secondary current leads the primary current by certain angle
hence introduces phase angle error. If the reversed secondary current lags the
primary current, the phase displacement is negative while it leads, the phase angle is
positive.

To reduce these errors in CTs, the exciting or no load current must be kept small and
also the load angle of the secondary load must be small. For having these
requirements core should have a low core loss and low reluctance to minimize the
wattful and magnetizing components of the exciting current. Also, by decreasing the
number turns in secondary and reducing the secondary impedance results these
errors minimum.

Back to top

Applications of Current Transformers

The current transformers are used in a wide variety of applications ranging from
power system control to the precise current measurement in industrial, medical,
automotive and telecommunication systems. Some of the applications include

 Extending the range of measuring instruments such as ammeter, energy

meter, KVA meters, wattmeter, etc.
 Differential circulating current protection systems.
 Distance protection in power transmission systems.
 Over current fault protection.