Capacitor Coupled Voltage Transformer

Theory
Consists of a high voltage capacitive divider, a compensating inductive
reactor used to tune frequency and a voltage transformer. CCVTs are used for
reducing Very high primary voltages to a lower secondary voltage that can be
used for metering and relaying. They are also used in combination with a wave
trap for carrier communications.

The CCVT has a capacitive potential divider that achieves a voltage

reduction that is further reduced with the addition of the voltage transformer
inside of the CCVT. The Inductive reactor is used to compensate or tune the CCVT
to help eliminate error that develops as the burden current increases. At line
frequencies the Reactor will need to be properly tuned so that it will resonate
with the capacitor. This is done by adjusting the inductor on the reactor to give
the correct inductance that will resonate with the capacitance of the potential
divider. If done properly, error will be mitigated. CCVTs are also utilized for
communication functions through power line carrier. A wave trap will be used in
conjunction with the CCVT to filter frequencies to only levels that can be used by
the radios inside of the control house. Specific frequencies will be used for
protection functions depending on the protection protocol utilized at that
substation.
Design
Construction of the CCVT generally consists of a stack of capacitors inside of
the insulator of the unit that sits on top of the base tank that houses the
electromagnetic components of the unit. Inside of the CCVT base tank is the
voltage transformer as well as the compensating reactor circuit.

In the image above the internals of the base tank can be visualized. The
capacitor potential divider stack has been shortened to keep the image small,
realistically the CCVT will have many more capacitors in the insulator. The number
of capacitors will depend on the voltage level being reduced.
Testing
*Note- Voltages inside of the base tank can be over 5 kV when energized. The
voltage grounding switch must be engaged to ground the voltage taps, if the unit
is equipped with a carrier grounding switch, that too must be engaged to ground
the carrier lead.
Checklist
 Check grounding switches are functioning properly. The blade must engage
and seat to the receiver.
 Check that the serial numbers of the stacks match the serial numbers on
the base tank of the unit.
 Check that the site glass has oil visible if it is an oil filled cabinet CCVT.
 Check and set, if necessary, that the drain coil spark gap is 0.075 inches.
The voltage gap must be set to 0.06 inches.
ALSTOM / RITZ CCVTs
Test 1
To check stabilizing burden and test intermediate transformer

 1. Connect a variac across the CCVT secondary winding X1 - X3.

 2. Remove the lead at the HF terminal that connects to the terminal block.
CAUTION: Approximately 6000 volts will be developed across the HF terminal
and ground (tank).
 3. Open the potential grounding switch.
 4. Apply 115 volts across the secondary winding X1 - X3. Note: For certain
models, 60 volts should be applied. Refer to manufacture’s test data to
verify the voltage used.
 5. Measure the current.
 6. Lower the voltage and turn off the variac.
 7. Calculate the impedance: V / I
 8. The calculated Impedance should be between 150 - 200 ohms.
The current measured during this test will comprise both the magnetizing current
of the intermediate transformer as well as the resistive current of the stabilizing
burden.
*Note- It has been found that overhead wires near the CCVT can affect the
readings and cause out of tolerance results.

Test 2
To check the series reactance and verify operation of the potential ground switch.
Test setup should still be the same as test 1 up to this point.
 1. Close the potential grounding switch.
 2. Raise the variac voltage to obtain 4 amps secondary current.
 3. Measure the voltage.
 4. Lower the voltage and turn off the variac.
 5. Calculate the impedance: V / I. The value measured should be between 9
- 14 ohms. Refer to manufacture’s test data to verify the impedance
required for a passing test as some metering CCVT’s will have a lower
impedance.

Test 3
To check the series reactance, the Thevenin equivalent capacitance and the tap
capacitance C2.
  1. Reconnect the HF lead to the link.
 2. Connect the HV terminal to the tank.
 3. Open the potential grounding switch.
 4. Raise the variac voltage to obtain 4 amps secondary current.
 5. Measure the voltage.
 6. Lower the voltage and turn off the variac.
 7. Calculate the impedance V/I. The value measured should be less than
1.75 ohms.

ABB CCVTs
Test 1
To check dielectric strength of the unit.
  1. Disconnect the tap voltage lead from the tap voltage (5KV) bushing inside
the potential device housing.
 2. Connect the test setup as shown above.
 3. Gradually increase the voltage across X2-X3 until 95 vac is reached. The
current at this voltage should not exceed 2 amperes. Maintain the voltage
across X2-X3 for one minute.
 4. During the one-minute test there should be no flashing of the gaps or
arcing of the transformer and chokes.
 5. After disconnecting the test equipment, reconnect the tap voltage lead
to the tap bushing.

Trench CCVT's
Test 1
 Ground the primary terminal of the CCVT.
 Disconnect the carrier strap connection from the low voltage secondary
terminal board (from ground if carrier is not being utilized or from the drain
coil if the unit is equipped with carrier accessories). The purpose of this is to
float the C2 section of the voltage divider.
 Connect a variac across the CCVT secondary winding X2 - X3

CAUTION: The carrier stud (C2) on the low voltage terminal board will be induced
to a voltage of approximately 4 kV during test. Maintain a safe distance.

 4) Gradually increase the voltage across X2-X3 until 50 VAC is reached. The
current at this voltage should not exceed 2.0 amperes. Allow the voltage to
remain across X2-X3 for 1 minute.
 During the one minute test there should be no flashing of the gaps or arcing
of the transformer and chokes.
 After disconnecting the test equipment, reconnect the carrier strap
connection from the low voltage secondary terminal board.