Lab No.

5A

BAHRIA UNIVERSITY KARACHI CAMPUS

Department of Electrical Engineering

Power System Protection

LAB EXPERIMENT # 5A

Single Phase Current Transformer

OBJECTIVE

Determining the transformation ratio of a current transformer for various primary currents and
investigating the influence of the load on the transformation ratio.

To explain the terms ratio error (current error), accuracy class and rated accuracy limit factor.

EQUIPMENT

  1 IT 6004 Resistive load

  1 IT 6016 Experiment transformer
  1 IT 6023 CT load
  1 IT 6043 Single-phase current transformer
  4 IT 6034 Moving-iron ammeter
  2 IT 6036 Moving-iron ammeter
 4 IT 6038 Moving-iron voltmeter

THEORY
In electrical power supply systems, the currents and voltages are constantly measured and
monitored to ensure that they remain within certain limits. The measured values are required for
three reasons:

a) To provide the maintenance personnel with constant information regarding the state
of the system.
b) To be able to determine the amount of power supplied to a customer.
c) To switch off faulty network sections rapidly in case of a fault.

Generally the current and voltage values are so high that they cannot be measured directly.
For this reason, special transformers are used to reduce these values to a level which can be
processed safely and economically: the so-called instrument transformers.

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 Lab No. 5A

The instrument transformers are subject to differing accuracy requirements, depending on

whether the values are to be processed for display in the control room, for accounting purposes
or for protection. This leads to the grouping of the transformers into so-called accuracy classes.
In most cases, these units function according to the transformer principle; they are, however,
designed for very low power values (up to approx. 100 VA) on the secondary side. The
protection and measuring devices connected to the transformer make up the load. We distinguish
between current and voltage transformers, depending on the quantity to be transformed.

CURRENT TRANSFORMERS:-
Current transformers (CT) are constructed as single-phase transformers; the current of the
installation flows directly through the primary side.
In accordance with the standards, these supply a rated current on the secondary side of 1A, or
also 5A at rated operation of the installation. The rated transformation ratio
I1N
KN  Eq5A.1

I
2N

is given in the form of a fraction, e.g. 1000 A/5 A.

When installing current transformers, attention must be .paid to the direction of the current.
For this purpose, the terminals on the primary side are labelled “K” (for power plant) and “L”
(for line). Correspondingly, the terminals on the secondary side are labelled “k” and “1”. The
following figure shows the graphic symbol and the connection of a current transformer.

Figure 5A.1 - Graphic symbol and connection of a current transformer.

In order to maintain unambiguous potential relationships on the secondary side, one terminal
(usually terminal k) must be grounded.

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 Lab No. 5A

PROCEDURE: -

 Assemble the circuit in accordance with the foregoing topographic diagram.

 Do not forget the current transformer may not be operated in open circuit on its
secondary side!

 The resistive load is located in the primary circuit and for this experiment the three
individual resistors are connected in parallel: set the load resistance value to R3.
 Set the resistive CT load on the secondary side to an initial value of 0%: this means that
the only load in the secondary circuit is the ammeter in the circuit and its internal
resistance is negligible.

 Connect the current transformer so that the resulting current transformation ratio is 1:1.
Set the supply voltage 0 ÷ 250 V and starting from 0 V, increase the value of the voltage
to obtain the current values I1 = 0.1 A to 1 A in steps of 0.1 A in the primary circuit of the
current transformer.

 Read off the corresponding secondary currents I 2 in the secondary circuit and enter these
values in the following table.

Transformation ratio 1:1

I1 (A) 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
I2 (A)
Fi (%)

Calculate the current error

K ⋅ I −I Eq6.2
Fi = N 2 1 ⋅100(%)
I

and enter the results in the table: determine the maximum current error

Fimax = …………………..

The rated load of the current transformer is 5 A, i.e., 5Ω at a secondary rated current of 1A.

Set the resistance load for the current transformer on the secondary side to approximately 5Ω,
and repeat the above experiment. Enter the measured and calculated value in the following table.

Transformation ratio 1:1

I1 (A) 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
I2 (A)
Fi (%)

Maximum current error Fimax = ……………..

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 Lab No. 5A

To represent better the influence of the load on the secondary current record the voltage on the
secondary side as function of the resistance load of the current transformer at a constant primary
current.

To do this, connecting the voltmeter to the terminals 2.1 and 2.2 of the current transformer, vary
the resistance load of the current transformer from 0Ω to the maximum.

For this experiment, the current in the primary circuit of the transformer must be set to 1 A and
be held constant by regulating the supply voltage.

Enter the measured values in the following table.

Transformation ratio 1:1

Load (Ω) 0 5 10 15 20 30 40 50 60

U2 (V)

Note: If you want to test the performance of the current transformer with transformation ratio of
5:1, replace the 1A ammeter on the primary side with another one with 5 A range and connect
the current transformer so that the resulting current transformation ratio is 5:1.

Set the resistive load located on the primary circuit to the value R7 and repeat the same
procedure as before.

Transformation ratio 5:1

I1 (A) 0.1 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0
I2 (A)
Fi (%)

Maximum current error Fimax = ……………..

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 Lab No. 5A

CONNECTION DIAGRAM:

Figure 5A.2 – Connections of a single-phase current transformer.

CONCLUSION:

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 Lab No. 5A

Lab Assessment Rubric # 5A

Needs Total
Category Excellent 8 Good 6 Satisfactory 4
improvement 2 (40)
Clearly describes the Adequately Describes the Cannot describe
objectives of lab. describes the objectives but the objectives of
Understands possible objectives, but misses some the lab, or what
Objectives and sources of errors and cannot discuss details. Cannot was learnt,
Results their effects. possible sources discuss possible sources of errors
Suggests ways to of errors and their sources of error or and their effects
minimize them. effects their effects

Circuit works Circuit performs Circuit performs Circuit does not

perfectly. All wires most the but output not give any output.
Circuit are attached. / Code functions, gives exactly as Most wires are
implementation works perfectly output./ Code expected. Some not connected/
/ software gives some errors connections not code not
coding done/ code gives compiled/ many
some correct output errors

Can clearly identify Adequately Describe the Cannot describe

the problems and identify the problem but cannot the problem, and
take steps to fix problems and suggest steps on has no effective
Trouble them. Uses an steps taken to fix how to solve them. strategy on how
Shooting effective strategy to them. Uses an Trouble shooting is to solve them.
solve problems effective strategy not consistent.
but misses some
details
Detailed results are Adequate results Some missing Most results are
Measurements shown for each step. are shown. 80% observations. 70% missing. Only
and 100% measurements measurements are results are correct 30%
Observations are correct correct measurements are
correct
Thorough Good Limited Shows incorrect
understanding of the understanding of understanding of understanding of
concepts underlying the concepts, the concepts. the concept.
the lab. Can apply it however cannot Cannot apply to Cannot find any
Conclusions
in real life situations apply them in real life situations usage of the
real life situations and suggest any knowledge.
use of the Cannot describe
knowledge what was learnt.

Lab No: 5A Total Marks: 40 Marks Obtained:

Signature:

40