Presentation 7.

Measuring CT Parameters for Differential Protection

Dr. Michael Krüger, OMICRON

The transformer Np:Ns is an ideal transformer, the
magnetic losses of the CT are represented by the
1. Abstract resistance Rm

For current transformers subjected to high fault currents NP Number of turns primary
or DC components the magnetic cores may saturate. NS Number of turns secondary
For protection cores this is an undesirable effect since Xm Main reactance of the core
particularly under heavy fault conditions a correct re- Rm Magnetic losses of the core
plica of the primary current is required for the protection RB Resistance of the complex burden
relay to function properly. Hence the understanding of XB Reactance of the complex burden
current transformers and the knowledge of all relevant ϕB Burden's phase angle = arctan (XB/RB)
current transformer data is of particular importance to EMF Electromotive Force = inner core voltage
optimize the performance of protection relays as well as US Secondary voltage
the entire power system.
IP Primary current
IS Secondary current
The IEC standard 60044-6 for current transformers
RCT Secondary winding resistance
covers the application for protection relays very
Ie Excitation current
thoroughly. This has been triggered by the extended Figure 2 shows the vector diagram for currents and voltages
possibilities of modern protection relays, which for a linear Xm.
significantly increase the demands on the transient
behavior of current transformers especially under high
currents. Apart from the traditional classes P and M,
Part 6 of IEC 60044 contains the requirements for the
transient performance of current transformers. Class
TPS, TPX, TPY and TPZ current transformers are
specifically suited for modern protection relays, e.g. for
differential protection.

The new measuring technique determines the most

important parameters like internal and external burden,
the hysteresis curve, saturated and unsaturated
inductance, remanent flux, symmetrical over-current
factor, the transient dimensioning factor as well as ratio
and phase angle error in dependence of the burden
connected and primary current measured. All this data
is fed into an accurate CT model, which allows the Figure 2 Vector diagram of currents and voltages
Particular for higher currents the excitation current is non-linear
simulation of the transient performance of a current (figures 3 and 4).
transformer.

2. Equivalent Circuit Diagram

Figure 1 shows the equivalent circuit diagram of a

current transformer for the rated frequency, figure 2 the
corresponding vector diagram.

Figure 3 Hysteresis loops and the non-linear excitation current

Figure 1 Equivalent circuit diagram of a CT

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 2006 – International Protection Testing Symposium

 Presentation 7.2
Figure 4 Ip, Is and the excitation current Ie
The Hysteresis curve (figure 5) shows the magnetic flux
Φ, - which is proportional to the magnetic flux-density B,
which is proportional to the integral of the voltage over
the time - over the magnetic field strength H which is
proportional to the current.
Figure 5 Hysteresis loop
The area between the Hysteresis curves is related to
the magnetic losses. The core losses have three
components:
­ Hysteresis losses
­ Eddy losses
­ Excess losses
There is a difference between the static (DC) and the
dynamic Hysteresis (AC) loop, which is shown in figure
6. The area within the hysteresis loop grows with
increasing frequency.
Figure 6 Static and dynamic hysteresis loops
© OMICRON electronics GmbH 2006 – International Protection Testing Symposium
In Figure 7 the Hysteresis, Eddy and Excess losses are
separated and their dependency on the frequency is
shown.
Figure 7 Separation of magnetic losses
Figure 8 Improved model of the CT with non-linear elements
for the main inductivity and the magnetic losses
Due to the non-linear behavior of the main inductivity
and the magnetic losses it is necessary to improve the
CT model shown in figure 1. The non-linear resistors
RHysteresis REddy and EExcess in figure 8 represent the
magnetic losses.
When the losses are measured at the same flux, but at
different frequencies, all elements of the equivalent
circuit diagram can be determined. The non-linear Xm
represents the main inductivity according to the
magnetizing curve.
3. Fault Currents
If a fault occurs in a network (figure 9), the initial
transient current can be calculated with the following
formulas:
Figure 9 Fault equivalent circuit diagram
 Presentation 7.3

Z = ( R P + jωL P ) ϕ = Tan −1 L P / R P τ = L P / R P
I P = ( 2 * V P / Z * sin(ωt + α − Φ )) ⇒ I AC
−t / τ
+ ( − 2 * V P / Z * sin(α − Φ ) * e ) ⇒ I DC
I DC = max when α − ϕ = −π / 2

RP and LP represent the network impedance at the

location of the fault. The primary time constant is τp =
LP/RP. A typical curve of a fault current with a full DC
offset is shown in figure 10.

Figure 12 Autoreclosing C-O-C-O, primary fault current (lower

purple trace) with full DC offset and flux in the CT core (upper
blue trace)

4. Influence of the Core Saturation on the

Functionality of a Protective Relay

Two practical examples demonstrate the influence of

Figure 10 Fault current with full DC offset the saturation of the magnetic core on the performance
of a relay [1].

First example:

Start-up of a 10kV / 13MVA motor with differential

protection. Figure 13 shows the circuit diagram, figure
14 the motor currents of all three phases and figure 15
the relay operating characteristic.

Figure 11 Primary fault current (lower purple trace) with full DC

offset and the CT core flux (upper blue trace)

Due to the DC offset in the primary current (lower

purple trace in figure 11), the magnetic flux in the core
(upper blue trace in figure 11) is increased to very high
values. If the CT is not especially designed for this
application, the core will saturate. The worst case is an
autoreclosing, where a power system with a fault is
energized with a maximum DC offset. Due to the high
fault current, the relay is tripping after the accuracy limit
time tal1 is exceeded and the circuit breaker is opened
after a time t1. After a recovering time tfr the circuit
Figure 13 Motor differential protection
breaker is closed again. If the fault is cleared within the
recovering time, the system stays in operation (C-O-C).
If the fault persists, the relay trips after the accuracy
limit time tal2 is exceeded and the circuit breaker will be
opened again after a time t2 (C-O-C-O).

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 2006 – International Protection Testing Symposium

 Presentation 7.4

Figure 16 shows the circuit diagram, figure 17 the motor

currents of all three phases and figure 18 the relay
operating characteristic.

CT saturation

Figure 14 Motor currents during start-up

Figure 17 Generator currents

Figure 15 Relay operating characteristic

Due to the differing saturation of the CT's in phase L1,

the relay trips after 40ms. Figure 18 Relay operating characteristic

Second example: Due to the differing saturation of the CT's in phase L1,
the relay trips after 80ms. Especially the second
Generator with differential protection and a far away example shows, that in spite of not very high fault
fault. current amplitudes DC offset can cause saturation of
magnetic cores which in turn can result in incorrect
relay tripping.

5. IEC 60044-6 Standard for Protection CT's

In order to guarantee proper protection function it is

essential to test the most important current transformer
data. This fact was also taken into consideration in the
IEC standards. IEC 185: 1987 + A1: 1990 were re-
placed by the standards IEC 60044-1 [2], which is
identical with BS-EN-60044-1 and IEC 60044-2. In
these new standards the behavior of current trans-
formers and the testing by means of measurement were
specified more precisely than in the past. Of course the
"old" IEC 185 part A1 from 1990 already dealt with
Figure 16 Generator with differential protection
current transformers for protection purposes. However,
in contrast to IEC 60044-1, this standard only specified
the accuracy limit factor (in the past called over-current

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 2006 – International Protection Testing Symposium

 Presentation 7.5

factor) and the secondary accuracy limit voltage but did
not specify the knee point EMF (electromotive force)
and the magnetic residual behavior.
Within the new IEC 60044-6 standard, current
transformers for protection applications are considered
very thoroughly. This is also a result of the extended
possibilities of modern protection technology which
significantly increased the demands on the transient
performance of current transformers especially at high
currents. The standard defines TPS/TPX classes for
closed ring cores and TPY/TPZ classes for gapped
cores (figure 19).
Class TPX
The basic characteristics for class TPX current
transformers are similar to those of class TPS current
transformers, except for the different error limits
prescribed.
Like the TPS class this CT has no gapped core. A large
cross section of the magnetic core with a high accuracy
limiting factor (ALF) protects the core against
saturation.
The TPX class is defined by the accuracy limit which is
determined by the instantaneous peak value of the error
during a specific transient current sequence. There is
no limit value for the remanent flux. The phase error is
negligible.

The following table includes some definitions of the TPX

class:

Ktd Rated transient dimension factor

Kssc Symmetric over-current factor
Ktd Transient dimensioning factor
t1 Duration of first cycle
Figure 19 Typical hysteresis curves for TPX, TPY and TPZ t2 Duration of first cycle
classes tal1 Accuracy limit time of first cycle
tal2 Accuracy limit time of second cycle
TP Primary time constant
Class TPS TS Secondary time constant
Kr Remanence factor
This class applies to current transformers with a low
tfr Dead time between tripping and closing within a
leakage flux without a specification of the remanent flux.
autorecloser
The turn's ratio has to be equal to 1/Kn and the ratio
error may not exceed 0.25 %. The error limit condition
Figure 20 shows the behavior of a TPX class CT with a
is determined by the excitation curve. The secondary
remanence factor of 0.8 and a secondary time constant
excitation limit voltage Ual may not be smaller than the
of 1.5s.
specified value. The excitation current flowing at Ual (=
error current) has to be smaller than the maximum
permitted error current. For a 10% increase of the
voltage Ual the current may not increase by more than
100%. The secondary accuracy limit voltage should be:

U al ≥ KK ssc ( Rct + Rb ) I sn
with:

K Factor which has to be determined (a detailed

example calculation is included in annex D of Figure 20 TPX with Kr=0.8, Ts = 1.5s, Tfr =0.4s
IEC 60044, part 6).
Kssc Factor of the rated symmetrical short-circuit
current. Class TPY
Rct Secondary transformer winding resistance.
The TPY class CT has a small air gap in the magnetic
Rb Burden resistance. core to make the magnetizing curve more linear for high
Isn Nominal secondary current. fault currents and DC offsets.

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 2006 – International Protection Testing Symposium

 Presentation 7.6

The TPY class is defined by the accuracy limit which is Ktd at tal1 of CO duty (one cycle):
determined by the instantaneous peak value of the error
during a specific transient current sequence. The limit ⎧⎡ ωT T ⎤ ⎡ − t 'al −t 'al
⎤ ⎫⎪
⎪ Tp
⎥ ⎢e ⎥⎬ + 1
p s
value for the remanent flux is less than 10% of the K td = ⎨⎢ − e Ts
saturation flux. For a C-O-C-O duty cycle, the transient (T
⎪⎩⎣⎢ p − T )
s ⎦⎥ ⎢⎣ ⎥⎦ ⎪
⎭
dimensioning factor will be affected by the ratio of the
secondary time constant Ts=Ls/Rs and the dead time tfr Ktd at tal2 for COCO duty (double cycle):
(figure 21).
⎧ ⎡ ωT T ⎤ ⎡ − t ' − t ' al
⎤ ⎫ − ( t fr + t ''al )
⎪ p s Tp ⎪
K td = ⎨⎢ ⎥ ⎢e − e ⎥ − sin ωt '⎬e
Ts Ts

⎪⎩⎢⎣ (T p − Ts ) ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ ⎥⎦ ⎪⎭

⎡ ωT p Ts ⎤ ⎡ T pal ⎤
− t '' − t '' al

+⎢ ⎥ e⎢ − e Ts ⎥ + 1
⎢⎣ (T p − Ts ) ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ ⎥⎦

In total the CT should fulfill the following condition:

Figure 21 TPY with Kr=0.1, Ts = 0.54s; Tfr =0.4s
Class TPZ
The TPZ CT has several air gaps in the core and has
therefore has a linear magnetizing curve also for very
high fault currents with high DC offsets. The remanence
factor Kr is negligible.
U al ≥ K td K ssc(Rct + Rb )I sn
The IEC formula for the C-O-C-O duty doesn't take into
account that the core may be saturated with the
remanent flux. Figure 23 shows a TPX class CT with
the influence of the remanence and without remanence
like it is calculated according to IEC. This shows that
the remanence plays an important role and may not be
neglected.

This class is defined by the accuracy limit which is

determined by the instantaneous peak value of the AC
component fault current during a single flow of current
applied with the highest DC offset at a specific time
constant (Ts=Ls/Rs) of the secondary circuit. There is no
demand on the error limit of the DC component. In
practice the remanent flux is negligible (figure 22).

Figure 23 Autoreclosing of a TPX core with (upper red trace)

and without (lower green trace) remanence

Ip is the primary fault current, which is set to 1 (=100%).

According to IEC 60044-6 a Ktd of 8 would be sufficient.
That means that the CT should withstand an over-
current of 8 times the poor AC fault current. Taking the
remanence into account, a Ktd of 12 is necessary.

Figure 22 TPZ with Kr=0, Ts = 0.1s, Tfr =0.4s

Example:

With a Kssc = 20 → Ual should be:

6. Requirements for the Transient Performance

IEC 60044-6 includes formulas for the calculation of Ktd. U al ≥ K td K ssc (Rct + Rb )I sn
Ktd at tmax: according IEC 60044-6 A5:
with K td = 12 and K ssc = 20
TP U al ≥ 240 (Rct + Rb )I sn
⎛ Tp ⎞ Ts −T p )
K td = K tf = ωTP ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ +1
⎝ Ts ⎠

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 2006 – International Protection Testing Symposium

 Presentation 7.7

One can see that very high accuracy limiting voltages
are necessary to avoid saturation in a non-gapped core.
This is the reason why a gapped core with a negligible
remanence enables smaller and lighter cores.
7. Measurements for Assessing the Transient
Performance of Current Transformers
The following parameters are important for the assess-
ment of the proper functioning of protection CT's and to
generate the CT model according to figure 8.
By reducing the measuring frequency knee point
voltages up to 15kV can be measured, although the
maximum test voltage is limited to 120V. The test
instrument has a weight of less than 8 kg. Figure 25
shows the test arrangement for the ratio test and the
measurement of hysteresis curves at the test laboratory
of KEMA in Arnhem, Netherlands. The small test
instrument replaces all the equipment shown in figure
25. Similar tests were made with the Physikalisch
Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig, Germany
(PTB).

Rct Secondary transformer winding

resistance, referred to 75°C
Zb Burden impedance and cos ϕ
Uexc = f (Iexc) Excitation and hysteresis curve at
different frequencies
U knee Kneepoint voltage
I knee Kneepoint current
UAL Accuracy limiting voltage
I AL Accuracy limiting current
Kr Remanence factor
Lu, Ls Unsaturated and saturated inductivity
Tp Primary time constant
Ts Secondary time constant
Figure 25 Test arrangement at KEMA
Np : Ns Turns ratio
Kssc Symmetric short current factor
For lower test voltages the measurement of the error
Ktd Transient dimensioning factor
current (= test current) is made directly. For high
Kssc * Ktd Total over-current factor voltages the ratio and the phase displacement are
t–al1 Time to reach the accuracy limit determined using the excitation curve according to
during the first magnetizing cycle figure 26. The modeling enables the determination of
t1 On-time of first cycle the current error and phase displacement without the
t-al2 Time to reach the accuracy limit repetition of measurements for all current amplitudes up
during the second magnetizing cycle to 99000 A, and for all burdens. For the patented
t2 On-time of second cycle measuring principle the PTB certificated a measuring
tfr Recovery time or dead time uncertainty of 0.02% for the current error and 1'
(minute) for the phase displacement.
Figure 24 shows a measuring instrument for a fully-
automatic measurement of all necessary parameters.
All necessary parameters are calculated by the internal
program without any manual calculation. Additional to
the IEC formulas also the influence of the remanence
can be taken into account (option).

Figure 26 Current error and phase displacement

Figure 24 OMICRON CT Analyzer measurement, using the excitation curve

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 2006 – International Protection Testing Symposium

 Presentation 7.8
The whole test procedure is running fully automatic
without any change of the wiring. Figure 27 shows the
wiring for a post type high voltage CT, figure 28 for a
bushing type CT inside a power transformer. With the
new test method even bushing and SF6 switchgear
CT's can be measured with high precision.
Figure 27 Connection of a post type CT
Figure 28 Connection of a bushing CT
Figure 29 Screen shots for data input
© OMICRON electronics GmbH 2006 – International Protection Testing Symposium
With the input data (figure 29) the assessment of the
TPS, TPX, TPY and TPZ class CT's is made auto-
matically without complicated calculations.
Figure 30 shows the screen shot of an excitation curve.
Figure 30 Excitation curve
8. Simulation of the Transient Behavior using the
CT Model
The transient behavior of CT's can be simulated using
the simulation software NetSim [7] which also takes the
saturation behavior of the current transformer into con-
sideration. This software calculates the instantaneous
voltage and current curves based on the most important
current transformer data.
Figure 31 shows a fully offset short-circuit current for a
current transformer loaded with 25 % of the nominal
burden. The upper curve displays the simulated secon-
dary transformer current; the lower curve displays the
primary current ideally transformed to the secondary
side. The entire current curve is correctly reproduced by
the transformer as no saturation effects are visible.
Figure 32 shows the signals of the same current
transformer, now loaded with the nominal burden. The
distortion of the secondary current curve caused by
saturation effects in the core is clearly visible in the
upper curve.
Figure 31: Current transformer 60 VA 5P10, burden = 25%
 Presentation 7.9

[3] IEC60044-6
"Instrument transformers, Part 6: Requirements for
protective current transformers for transient per-
formance", International Electrotecnical Com-
mission, Geneve, Switzerland, 1992

[4] Krüger, M.: "CT excitation curve testing methods",

Energy Source and Distribution, Nundah (Australia)
Sept./Oct. 2001

[5] Krüger, M.: "Einfluß der Stromwandlerkern-

Figure 32 Current transformer 60 VA 5P10, burden = 100%
This example illustrates the influence of burden on the
transient behaviour of current transformers during high
fault currents. For example, using two such transfor-
mers with different burdens connected to, a differential
protection application may lead to unwanted tripping.
sättigung auf das Übertragungsverhalten bei
großen Strömen", S. 179-184, ETG-Fachbericht
Diagnostik elektrischer Betriebsmittel, Vorträge und
Poster am 26.2.-27.2. in Berlin. VDE Verlag GmbH
– Berlin – Offenbach, 2002
[6] Krüger, M.: "Messung der Stromwandler-daten
gemäß den neuen VDE-Normen", ETZ , Heft 11-12
2002, VDE-Verlag, Berlin

Such calculated currents and voltages can physically be [7] NetSim, Introductory Examples, OMICRON
injected into a relay using a secondary injection test set electronis, Klaus 2001
such as the CMC 256. Realistic testing of the entire
protection circuit hence can be performed even for
extreme conditions.

9. Conclusion

The standard IEC 60044-6 provides detailed definitions

and test instructions for current transformers used in
protection circuits. Modern protection relays have great
demands on the current transformers. The measuring
principles realized in the OMICRON CT Analyzer
enable very easy and efficient testing. A lot of time
consuming tests are now replaced by automatic test
procedures. Test results are available within seconds
without expert knowledge. Using the gained CT
parameters, a computer simulation (e.g. OMICRON
NetSim) can be performed. The simulated currents and
voltages can be applied to a protection relay using a
secondary test set such as the OMICRON CMC 256.
Testing of the entire protection circuit can hence be
performed under realistic extreme conditions.

10. Literature

[1] Mueller, N. "Stromwandlersättigung und ihre

Auswirkung auf Differentialschutz-Einrichtungen",
OMICRON User Meeting 2006, Weimar, Germany

[2] IEC60044-1 + Amendment 1 (2000)

"Instrument transformers, Part1: Current trans-
formers", International Electrotecnical Commission,
Geneve, Switzerland, 1996

© OMICRON electronics GmbH 2006 – International Protection Testing Symposium