2019 3rd IEEE International Conference on Green Energy and Applications
Quantitative Analysis of Saturation of Measurement Current Transformer by
Direct Current Bias
Rundong Lv
Shandong University
Jinan, China
e-mail: 18856311051@163.com
Abstract—The DC bias caused by single pole-ground mode or
bipolar unbalanced mode of HVDC transmission or
geomagnetic induced current phenomenon may lead to the
measuring CT saturation, which may affect the measurement
performance. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the
saturation degree of the CT. By using the effective
permeability, analyzing the equivalent model of CT under DC
bias state and combining with the electromagnetic relationship
between flux and voltage, the expression of the saturation
degree, DC current and circuit parameters is analyzed and
derived. By simulating different types of CT, the effectiveness
of the analytical expression is verified, and the influence on the
saturation degree is analyzed. The actual power system
parameters are used for numerical analysis, and the rough
estimation of the measurement error is used to show the
specific application of the method for analyzing the DC bias
magnetic conditions of the measuring CT.
Keywords-measurement CT; DC bias; effective magnetic
permeability; saturation depth
I. INTRODUCTION
High-voltage direct current (HVDC) that works in single
pole-ground mode, bipolar unbalanced mode or geomagnetic
induced current (GIC) phenomenon may cause DC current to
rush into the AC system. Then it may result in the DC bias of
the electromagnetic equipment in the system [1-5], which
will threaten the security of the power system. The DC
component of the exciting current causes the DC bias of the
operating point of the electromagnetic device. Then due to
the nonlinearity of the core excitation characteristics, the
excitation current increases sharply, and the current is
severely distorted. In recent years, with the increasing
number of HVDC transmission projects, the impact of DC
inrushing on the CT operating state of AC systems has been
attracting more attentions. Therefore, the evaluation of the
influence of DC bias on the operating state of CT has
practical significance for the planning of DC transmission
system and the installation and selection of CT.
In order to evaluate the influence of DC bias on the
operating state of CT, the distribution of inrushing DC in the
AC system is needed to know at first [6-9],and then the
working status of each CT distributed in the AC system is
also needed to analyze and evaluate. The research of the
latter currently focuses on the effects of DC bias on the CT
transfer characteristics and initial saturation time. Reference
[10] analyzes the relationship between the saturation start
978-1-7281-1383-8/19/$31.00 ©2019 IEEE
Ke Zhu
Shandong University
Jinan, China
e-mail: zhuke@sdu.edu.cn
time of CT and the DC bias, and deduces the quantitative
relationship between CT measuring error and DC bias. The
reference [11] deduces the relationship between CT
measuring error and magnetic permeability, and summarizes
the influence trend of DC bias on the measuring error and
harmonics through experiments. In [12], the influence of DC
bias on the saturation start time of CT and its differential
protection on transformers is analyzed. The influence of GIC
on CT is studied in [13], especially considering its
characteristics different from HVDC.
The above references have analyzed and studied the
influence of DC bias on error of CT. But these papers need
to know some information obtained difficultly, such as CT
hysteresis loop, and to calculate in the complex iterative
process. , Therefore, these methods are not convenient for
evaluating the influence of DC bias on numerous CTs in
practice. Based on the parameters of CT, such as
magnetization curve, this paper establishes an expression to
quantify the relationship between the CT saturation degree
and the DC bias by analyzing the CT saturation mechanism.
And then the CT affected significantly by the DC bias is
selected, which can facilitate the subsequent analysis of
transmission characteristics and other effects of the CT.
II. ANALYSIS OF EQUIVALENT MODEL
When a geomagnetic storm occurs or HVDC works in
single pole-ground mode, the surface potential is unevenly
distributed, and a potential difference is generated between
the two transformer grounding points. The transformer
grounding point and the transmission line form a DC loop
with the earth, resulting in DC current inrushing. The system,
as Figure 1 shows, is a simple model of DC bias, where T1
and T2 are represented as the transformer, and I d is DC that
causes DC bias.
Id
Id
Id
T1 T2
3I d 3I d
Figure 1. Current loop with DC bias.
1
 CT is a special transformer, and its working principle is between the magnetic permeability and the magnetizing
basically the same as that of the transformer, but its working inductance L is as shown in (3)
state is different from that of the transformer. When the CT
works, it is equivalent to the single-phase transformer with  N 2S
L  (3)
the short-circuit secondary side [14]. The number of primary le
side turns is much fewer, sometimes only one turn, so the
Equation (2) is substituted into equation (3).
impedance of its primary winding can be ignored. The
equivalent circuit of CT is shown in Figure 2 which dose not m
L  N  (4)
consider the iron loss. Im
When the piecewise magnetization curve is used, it can
R2 L2 be seen from (4) that during the transient, the magnetizing
inductance L can be obtained as
t 0  s
 L1  I  t  ts 
I ac L  s
Id L   (5)

L  e t  t 
  2 I e s
Figure 2. The equivalent circuit of the current transformer. Where t s is the time when the magnetic flux firstly
crosses the inflection point of the magnetic flux f during the
Where L is the magnetizing inductance of transformer, transient.  s is the flux inflection point, I s is the excitation
R2 is the secondary side resistance of the transformer, L2 is current corresponding to the inflection point of the magnetic
the secondary side inductance of the transformer, I d is the flux,  e is the peak value of the magnetic flux in the
inrushing DC current of CT, I ac is the alternating current, saturated state, and I e is the peak value of the current in the
and the parameters are all calculated to the secondary side. saturated state. As shown in Figure 3, the magnetizing
When DC bias is generated, as shown in Figure 2, it is inductance L is actually the slope of the line connecting the
equivalent to connecting a DC current source I d when t=0. peak of saturation flux to the zero point.
During the transient process, a DC component is generated
in the voltage of the excitation branch, and CT is biased, and 
 'e
then the DC component of the voltage across the excitation e
branch is gradually attenuated. When the attenuation is
completed, the circuit enters a steady state. Due to the s
integral relationship between the flux and the voltage, before L1 L2
the end of the transient, the magnetic flux generated by the
DC component in the voltage is continuously accumulated,
which may cause the transformer to saturate.
In order to analyze the magnetizing inductance L in the
transient process, the concept of effective magnetic Is Ie I
permeability[15] is introduced,
Figure 3. Effective magnetic permeability.
Bm
e = (1)
Hm
Where Bm is the peak of magnetic density, and H m is III. QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF CT SATURATION
CAUSED BY DC BIAS
the peak value of magnetic field strength. According to the
relationship of magnetic permeability, magnetic flux and Since the leakage inductance of CT L2 and the
inductance, the magnetic permeability e can be obtained. magnetizing inductance ratio L are usually small, the
B  m /S l  differential equation can be obtained from the equivalent
e  m =  e  m (2)
H m  N  I m  / le NS I m circuit of Fig. 2 by neglecting L2 .
Where N is the number of turns, le is the effective air
diL
gap of the core silicon steel plate, S is the cross-sectional L
dt  i  I  I (6)
area of the core,  m is the peak value of the magnetic flux, L d ac
and I m is the peak value of the current. The relationship
R2

2
 Where iL is the exciting current on the magnetizing  e  [ I ds  b   s k2  
(15)
 I ds  b   s k2 
2
inductor L , and the DC component of the voltage on the  4k2b s ] / 2k2
magnetizing inductor can be obtained by the (6), The saturation degree is defined as
 
t
e

 I d R2 e 1 (0  t  t s ) Ke  (16)
uL   (7) s
t t t
  s  s
1 2 When Ke  1 , CT is not saturated. When Ke  1 , CT is
 I d R2 e e (t  t s )
saturated. The expression of saturation can be obtained from
Where 1  L1 /R2 ,  2  L 2 /R2 . The integral (15) and (16),
relationship between voltage and magnetic flux can be Ke  [ I ds  b   s k2  
obtained (8), (17)
 I ds  b   s k2   4k2b s ] / 2e k2
2
ts
 0
uL dt   s   m (8)
It can be seen from Fig.3 that due to the error between
Where  m is the peak of the magnetic flux when there is the segmental magnetization curve and the original
no inrushing DC. The time when the magnetic flux firstly magnetization curve, in order to reduce the error, I e can be
crosses the inflection point of the magnetic flux can be obtained by (12) and (15). According to Fig.3, the
obtained by substituting the (7) into the (8),
corresponding corrected saturation flux  e ' on the original
s  m
ts  1 ln(  1) (9) magnetization curve can be obtained. The corrected
I d L1 saturation level can be obtained by substituting the  e ' into
If there is no real solution in (9), it means that the equation (17) .
magnetic flux is not in the saturation zone. At this time, the
inductance can be regarded as a linear inductance. According IV. SATURATION SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
to (7) and the integral relationship between voltage and According to the analysis method of this paper, equation
magnetic flux, the  e can be obtained by (10). (17) is used to calculate the of three different types of CT
e  m  I d R21 (10) saturation degree under different inrushing DC current. The
parameters of CT are shown in Table 1, and the calculated
t
If s is a real number, it means that the magnetic flux saturation value is compared with the simulation value in
starts to enter the saturation zone, and CT starts to have Simulink, as Figure 4 shows.
magnetic bias saturation. According to (7) and the Based on the circuit principle, the saturation caused by
relationship between magnetic flux and excitation voltage, the DC bias isproportional to the magnitude of the inrushing
(11) is obtained. DC and the duration of the transient process. As can be seen
 from Fig. 4, the greater the intensity of the inrushing DC is,
 ts
uL dt  e   s (11) the greater the degree of CT saturation can be. In addition,
according to the magnetization curve shape of CT LB7-
According to Figure 4, the relationship  e between I e 110W3 and LMZ-3, the flux inflection points are far away
from the CT normal operating point and the overall slope is
can be obtained,
large, so they are saturated under the influence of DC bias.
k1 e  0  t  ts 

The LB6-35W3 type CT does not saturate because the flux
Ie   (12) inflection point is close to the CT normal operating point and
k2  e  b(t  ts )
 the overall slope is small.

After  e is regarded as an unknown number, (13) can be TABLE I. BASIC PARAMETERS OF CT

obtained by substituting (9) and (12) into (11). Basic LB7-
LB6-35W3 LMZ-3

ts parameters 110W3
Id e 1
e  e I e   s I e  0 (13) Rated ratio 1600/1 1000/1 1200/5
Rated frequency 50Hz 50Hz 50Hz
Because e   s , and t  ts , (14) can be obtained as Rated Capacity 15VA 10VA 50VA
following the expression. DC(% I N ) 10% 10% 10%

k2 e2   I ds  b   s k2  e  k2b s  0 (14)

The calculation error can be obtained based on Fig. 4 and
There are two solutions to (14). Because e   s , the is shown in Fig.5. It can be seen from the figure that the
 e can be obtained algorithm proposed in this paper can accurately calculate the
degree of CT saturation caused by DC bias.

3
 1.4 CT1-CT5 compared with the simulation are shown in Table
2-4. It can be seen that the calculated result of CT saturation
1.2 by using (17) is very close to the simulation value, which
indicates that the proposed algorithm can calculate the CT
saturation effectively under the influence of DC bias.
Saturation degree

0.8 TABLE II. CT SATURATION DEPTH CALCULATION AND SIMULATION

RESULTS FOR EACH LOCATION (INVASION DC 50A)

0.6 Position Calculation Simulation Error/%

CT1 1.0032 1.0018 0.14
0.4
CT2 0.9889 0.9782 1.09
CT3 1.0171 1.0124 0.46
5 5.5 6 6.5
7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 CT4 1.0082 1.0073 0.09
DC current /% CT5 0.9755 0.9749 0.06
LB7110W3 LB635W3 LMZ3 Simulation Calculation
TABLE III. CT SATURATION DEPTH CALCULATION AND SIMULATION
Figure 4. Changes in Saturation of different types of CT under the RESULTS FOR EACH LOCATION (INVASION DC 100A)
influence of invasion direct current.
Position Calculation Simulation Error/%
CT1 1.0218 1.0253 0.34
6 CT2 1.0124 1.0113 0.11
5 CT3 1.0282 1.0298 0.16
CT4 1.0224 1.0216 0.08
Error/%

4 CT5 1.0108 1.0218 1.08

3
TABLE IV. CT SATURATION DEPTH CALCULATION AND SIMULATION
2 RESULTS FOR EACH LOCATION (INVASION DC 150A)
1 Position Calculation Simulation Error/%
0 CT1 1.0327 1.0427 0.96
5 6 7 8 9 10 CT2 1.0318 1.0331 0.13
DC current/% CT3 1.0367 1.0438 0.68
LB7-110W3 LB6-35W3 LMZ-3 CT4 1.0229 1.0225 0.04
CT5 1.0309 1.0413 1.00
Figure 5. The error of saturation calculation.
B. Preliminary Assessment of Measurement Error
V. ALGORITHM APPLICATION Based on the inrushing DC intensity of CT and the basic
information of CT, the algorithm can quickly obtain the
A. Saturation Calculation saturation degree of each CT, and determine the start time of
CT saturation, the error caused by DC bias and noise and
vibration intensity of the transformer, CT and PT, etc. This
CT4 paper analyzes the measuring error of CT to show one of the
CT3
specific applications of saturation calculation.
When the CT is not deeply saturated, the measurement
error of the CT can be roughly estimated according to the
Other
saturation calculation method. At this time, the magnetic flux
CT5 CT2 feeder
waveform can be approximated as a sine wave, and the DC
and load
CT1 flux can be obtained.
220kV/10kV
dc  e  m (18)
From (18) and Figure 2, the RMS value of secondary
L current I 2 can be obtained. Since the deep saturation has not
occurred at this time, the distortion of secondary current is
not serious. At this time, the RMS value of secondary current
DC source can be approximated as RMS of the fundamental wave.
Measurement error can be obtained as follow:
K n I 2  I1
Figure 6. Simulation system (local).   100% (19)
I1
The simulation analysis using the actual system is shown Where K n is the rated current ratio, and I1 is the RMS
in Fig. 6. The type of the CT is LMZ3-10.When the
of primary side current.
transformer neutral point inrushing DC currents are 50A,
100A and 150A, the saturation degree calculation results of

4
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