1. What are the types of Potential Transformer (PT)? Describe each.

The potential transformer is mainly classified into two types, i.e., the conventional wound types
(electromagnetic types) and the capacitor voltage potential transformers.
Conventional wound type transformer is very expensive because of the requirement of the
insulations. Capacitor potential transformer is a combination of capacitor potential divider and a
magnetic potential transformer of relatively small ratio.
The circuit diagram of the capacitor potential transformer is shown in the figure below. The stack
of high voltage capacitor from the potential divider, the capacitors of two sections become
C1 and C2, and the Z is the burden.
The voltage applied to the primary of the intermediate
transformer is usually of the order 10kV. Both the potential
divider and the intermediate transformer have the ratio and
insulation requirement which are suitable for economical
construction.
The intermediate transformer must be of very small ratio
error, and phase angle gives the satisfactory performance of
the complete unit. The secondary terminal voltage is given
by the formula shown below.

Ratio and Phase Angle Errors of Potential Transformer

In an ideal potential transformer, the primary and the secondary voltage is exactly proportional to
the primary voltage and exactly in phase opposition. But this cannot be achieved practically due
to the primary and secondary voltage drops. Thus, both the primary and secondary voltage is
introduced in the system.
Voltage Ratio Error – The voltage ratio error is expressed in regarding measured voltage, and it
is given by the formula as shown below.

Where Kn is the nominal ratio, i.e., the ratio of the rated primary voltage and the rated secondary
voltage.
Phase Angle Error – The phase angle error is the error between the secondary terminal voltage
which is exactly in phase opposition with the primary terminal voltage.
The increases in the number of instruments in the relay connected to the secondary of the
potential transformer will increase the errors in the potential transformers.
Burden of a Potential Transformer
The burden is the total external volt-amp load on the secondary at rated secondary voltage. The
rated burden of a PT is a VA burden which must not be exceeded if the transformer is to operate
with its rated accuracy. The rated burden is indicated on the nameplate.
The limiting or maximum burden is the greatest VA load at which the potential transformer will
operate continuously without overheating its windings beyond the permissible limits. This
burden is several times greater than the rated burden.
Phasor Diagram of a Potential Transformer
The phasor diagram of the potential transformer is shown in the figure below.
Where, Is – secondary current
Es – secondary induced emf
Vs – secondary terminal voltage
Rs – secondary winding resistance
Xs – secondary winding reactance
Ip – Primary current
Ep – primarily induced emf
Vp – primary terminal voltage
Rp – primary winding resistance
Xp – primary winding reactance
Kt – turn ratio
Io – excitation current
Im – magnetizing component of Io
Iw – core loss component of Io
Φm – main flux
Β- phase angle error
The main flux is taken as a reference. In instrument transformer, the primary current is the vector
sum of the excitation current Io and the current equal to the reversal secondary current
Is multiplied by the ratio of 1/kt. The Vp is the voltage applied to the primary terminal of the
potential transformer.
The voltage drops due to resistance and reactance of primary winding due to primary current is
given by IpXp and IpRp. When the voltage drop subtracts from the primary voltage of the
potential transformer, the primarily induced emf will appear across the terminals.
This primary emf of the transformer will transform into secondary winding by mutual induction
and converted into secondary induced emf Es. This emf will drop by the secondary winding
resistance and reactance, and the resultant voltage will appear across the secondary terminal
voltage, and it is denoted by Vs.
Applications of Potential Transformer
1. It is used for a metering purpose.
2. For the protection of the feeders.
3. For protecting the impedance of the generators.
4. For synchronizing the generators and feeders.
The potential transformers are used in the protecting relaying scheme because the potential coils
of the protective device are not directly connected to the system in case of the high voltage.
Therefore, it is necessary to step down the voltage and also to insulate the protective equipment
from the primary circuit.

2. What are the types of Current Transformer (CT)? Describe each.

Standard Measuring CT
Standard measuring current transformers are used in conjunction with ammeters to measure high
currents which are stepped down to a standard output ratio of either 5 A or 1 A. The VA rating of
the CT is matched with VA rating of the measuring instrument or
ammeter.

200/5 A FSD Series current transformer is used in conjunction with a moving iron ammeter with
a scale from zero to 200 A. The ammeter is calibrated so that full-scale deflection (FSD) occurs
when the output of the current transformer is 5 A.
The burden R of the ammeter should be low as possible to offer close to short a circuit to
guarantee non-obstructed secondary current. Burden R used in conjunction with a voltmeter
should also be as low as possible to keep CT secondary voltage low for increased accuracy.

CT terminated on ammeter
CT Terminated on Burden R is measured on Voltmeter
Typical VA ratings of standard measuring current transformers are 2.5, 5, and 10 VA. It is
important for measuring current transformers to saturate at a level that ensures the safety of the
measuring instrument at higher-than-rated current or under fault conditions.
If the ammeter is removed from the circuit the secondary winding effectively becomes open-
circuited and the transformer acts as a step-up transformer. This due in part to the very large
increase in magnetizing flux in the CT core because there is no opposing current in the secondary
winding to prevent this.
This can result in a very high voltage being induced in the secondary winding equal to the ratio
of Vp × (Ns/Np) being developed across the secondary winding.
For this reason, a current transformer should never be left open-circuited. If the ammeter (or
load) is to be removed, a short-circuit should be placed across the secondary terminals first to
eliminate the risk of shock.
Turns Ratio
The turns ratio of a current transformer can be altered by using multiple turns. The example
below shows how a 300/5 A CT can be used as a 100/5 A CT by using three primary loops to
reduce the turns ratio from 60:1 to 20:1. This enables a higher rated current transformer to be
used to measure lower currents.
The limits for for ratio error for Class 3 & Class 5 measuring current transformers are shown
below.

Ratio error is 3% and 5% respectively, with no requirement for ± phase displacement.

Applications for Class 3 & Class 5 measuring current transformers include:
• Overload Protection
• Current Monitoring Three Phase Generators
• Control Devices
• Control Panels
• Switchgear control and monitoring
• Distribution
While it is desirable to have zero phase shift between primary and secondary current, for 5 A
measuring CT’s it is not so important since ammeters only show the magnitude of the current.

Metering CT
A metering current transformer is designed to measure current continuously and work accurately
within the rated current range. Current error and phase displacement limits are determined by the
accuracy class. Accuracy classes are: 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1.
In wattmeter, energy meters, and power factor meters, phase shift produces errors. However, the
introduction of electronic power and energy meters has allowed current phase error to be
calibrated out.
When current exceeds the rating, the metering CT will saturate thereby limiting the current level
within the instrument. Core materials for this type of CT typically have low saturation level, such
as nanocrystalline.
Nuvotem AP Series and AQ Series are precision current transformers with typical accuracy of
0.1–0.2%, making them suitable for applications requiring high accuracy and minimum phase
displacement.
Protection CT
A protection current transformer is designed to operate well into the overcurrent range. This
enables the protective relays to measure fault currents accurately, even in very high current
conditions. The secondary current is used to operate a protective relay which can isolate part of
the power circuit experiencing a fault condition.
Core material for this type of CT has high saturation level and is normally made from silicon
steel.
Knee Point Voltage

Beyond point K, we need to increase current to a larger extent to have some increase in voltage.
This because the curve beyond point K becomes non-linear. The voltage at point K (Vk) is called
the knee point voltage.
The knee point voltage of a current transformer is defined as the voltage at which a 10%
increase in voltage of the CT secondary results in a 50% increase in secondary current. This also
means that an increase in current of 50% will lead to an increase in voltage of just 10%.
The knee point voltage is important for protection class CTs, i.e. where the CT is used for
protection purposes.
The burden of protection CTs is quite high when compared with a metering class CT, which
means that voltage drop across the burden will be high. Therefore, the knee point voltage of a
protection class CT must be more than the voltage drop across the burden to maintain the CT
core in its linear zone.
Protection current transformers are usually defined in terms of composite error at an accuracy
limit factor, i.e. how accurate the current transformer will remain when the primary current
flowing is many times higher than normal under a fault situation.
Standard classes for protection CT’s are 5P 10 and 10P 10, where P is the designation for
protection. The number before P indicates the composite error percentage. The number after the
letter indicates the factor of primary current up to which composite error will be achieved, i.e.
10x the rated primary current in 5P 10 and 10P 10.
Protection devices will normally specify the classification for the protection CT intended to
operate the protection device concerned.

Talema manufactures an extensive range of standard and custom-designed 50/60 Hz toroidal

current transformers. Each series is designed with specific characteristics in compact packages to
suit most applications. Both PCB-mount and flying-lead options are available as well as the
possibility for IDC or two-way connectors.

3. Discuss the difference between current transformer (CT) and potential

transformer (PT).
The current transformer and potential transformer (also called voltage transformer) are both
measuring devices. A CT lowers the current signals for measurement purposes, while a PT
lowers high voltage values into lower ones. The transformers are designed to measure whether
power systems are both accurate and safe.
In addition, the CT and PT transformer reduces the current and voltage from high to low value.
The current transformer and voltage transformer have similar construction since they feature a
magnetic circuit in their primary and secondary winding.
Regardless, they have distinct differences. This post breaks down the current transformer vs.
potential transformer and highlights the differences between the two.