AL-ZAYTOONAH UNIVERSITY OF JORDAN

Electrical Engineering Department

Power Systems Lab

Experiment No. 5
Current Transformers

NAME ID
‫أحمد عبدالرحمن المخالفي‬ 201610573

‫أحمد جمال أبو خاطر‬ 201710679

‫محمد وائل أبو الهيجا‬ 201710290

Content of experiment:

1- To determine the transformation ratio of a current transformer for various primary currents and to
investigate the influence of the load on the transformation ratio.
2- To explain the terms ratio error (current error), accuracy class and rated accuracy limit factor.
3- To assemble the common current transformer circuits for measurements on three-phase networks.

Introduction:

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

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

Generally, the voltage and current 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 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 are constructed as single-phase transformers; the current of the

installation flows directly through the primary side.

In accordance with the German VDE standard 0414, these supply a rated current on the
secondary side of 1 A, or also 5 A at rated operation of the installation. The rated
transformation ratio KN = 11N / I2N 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 "I”.
The following illustration shows the graphic symbol and the connection of a current
transformer.

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In order to maintain unambiguous potential relationships on the secondary side, one
terminal (usually terminal k) must be grounded. The following circuit is used to measure
the conductor currents in a three-phase system; this circuit is usually called a three-
transformer three-phase system.

In the case of asymmetrical faults in three-phase networks, the significant value is the
current flowing through the neutral conductor. This current is termed the zero-phase
sequence current.

Current transformers are designed for loads with a very low resistance, and may never be
operated with an open circuit on their secondary side. Otherwise, a dangerously high
voltage appears at the terminals and the transformer could be destroyed by its strong
magnetic field through core burning. For this reason, fuses may not be used in the
secondary circuit.

The currents of an installation and thus the primary currents of transformers can, in the
case of a short-circuit, increase to values many times the rated current. Because of the
resulting saturation of the iron core, no transformer is able to transform the entire current
range with sufficient accuracy. For this reason, the operating currents are measured using
instrument transformers (designated M) and short-circuit currents are measured by
protection transformers (labelled P). The cores of the respective transformers are very
often installed in a common housing.

The deviation of the secondary current from the set value in percent is called the current
error Fi

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(I1 = primary current in A, I2 = secondary current in A, KN = rated transformation ratio of
the transformer)

In the same way, a difference in the phase angles occurs between the primary and
secondary voltages; this difference is called the angular difference.

Transformers are divided into classes similar to measurement instruments; in the Republic
of Germany, the respective limits for current error and angular difference are established
for the individual classes in the VDE regulations.

Transformers in the classes 0.1 to 0.5 are used for exact measurements (e.g. for electricity
accounting). These units ensure that the ratio error is limited to 0.1 to 0.5 % in a range up
to 1.2 times the rated current. For operating measurements (recorders, counters),
transformers of the classes 1 to 5 are sufficient. The error in this range will be at most 1 to
5 %.

The respective accuracy, however, is only ensured when the transformer is operated with
its rated load, i.e. when the rated power is consumed at the secondary side. This fact must
be considered when connecting measuring instruments and relays.

The linear range of the iron core's magnetizing curve is exceeded at overcurrents, so that
a systematic ratio error occurs and a measuring instrument in the circuit shows a current
which is too low. This property is advantageous for instrument transformers, as it protects
the measuring devices from overloading in the case of overcurrents. Protection
transformers, on the other hand, should show a transformation ratio that is as accurate as
possible, i.e. linear, in the overcurrent range.

The range in which the ratio error of a transformer does not yet exceed a certain value is
called the rated accuracy limit factor. It is given after the designation (M or P) and provides
information on the ratio error at n-times the rated current; the corresponding percentage
error is given in front of the designation letter. Thus, in accordance with VDE 0414, a
protection transformer labelled 10P10 may show a maximum measuring error of 10% at an
overcurrent of 10 times the rated current; if the device is labelled 5P20, the maximum error
is 5% at an overcurrent 20 times the rated current.

The specification of the rated accuracy limit factor is only applicable with the rated load.
When a load smaller than the rated load is connected, the accuracy limit factor increases;
overloading decreases it.

For this reason, care must be taken that the secondary load of a transformer is carefully
matched to its rated power.

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Procedure:
Part 1 : single phase.
Assemble the circuit as shown in the next Fig.

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

The resistive load (Cat. No. 733 10) is located in the primary circuit; the three individual resistors are to be
connected in parallel for this experiment. This means that the system can handle loads up to a maximum
current value of 9 A. At the beginning of the experiment the resistance value is to be set to 100 %. Set the
load for the current transformer on the secondary side to an initial value of 0 %. This means that the only
load on the secondary circuit is the ammeter in the circuit, and its internal resistance is negligible. Initially,
connect the current transformer so that the resulting current transformation ratio is 1 : 1. Then, starting
from 0 V, increase the value of the single-phase transformer and/or change the ohmic load to obtain the
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 currents 12 in the secondary circuit and enter these in the table below.

Current I1 (A) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
Current I2 (A) 0.1 0.19 0.3 0.39 0.48 0.58 0.69 0.78 0.89 0.98
Current error (%) 0 0 0 -2.5 -4 -3.3 -1.4 -2.5 -1.1 -2

What is the maximum current error?

Fi= 4%

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The influence of the load on the secondary current can be best represented by recording the voltage on the
secondary side as a function .of the load resistance at a constant primary current. To do this, connect a
voltmeter to the terminals k and I of the current transformer and vary the value of the load from 0 Ω to the
maximum 56 Ω steps of approximately 5 Ω.

For this experiment, the current in the primary circuit of the transformer must be set to 1 A and be held
constant by regulating either the voltage or the load resistance. Enter the values you have measured in the
table below.

Load (Ω) 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 56
U2 (V) 0 5 10 15 19 22 23 25 26 27 27 27

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Part2: Three phase

The three-phase current transformer (Cat. No. 745 12) is required for measurements on threephase current
transformers. Assemble the circuit with this device according to the next Fig

To carry out this experiment, you must first set the secondary voltage at the three-phase transformer to
the rated value. Measure the three conductor currents intermittently using the threephase current
transformer at different settings of the ohmic load, once with the neutral conductor N connected and once
with this conductor disconnected, and compare the measured values.

Result:

The circuit as assembled here is also used in actual practice for operation measurements, as asymmetrical
loads can also be measured with it.

Use the load for voltage transformer (Cat. No. 745 15) for demonstrating this, and connect the device
(without its series resistor) in parallel to the individual resistor of the resistive load in conductor L1. The
resistive load must be set to a value of approximately 30 %, and the parallel resistance to around 50 %.

Measure the three conductor currents again, once with and once without the neutral conductor N
connected.

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Conclusion:
-Current transformers are suited to several applications, and many CT designs exist to suit
them.
-the current error is not that large.