Recommended setting for E/F protection when using the sum connection of phase CT's Page 1 of 1

Recommended setting for E/F protection when using the sum

connection of phase CT's
Answer ID 216 | Published 2005-03-24 02:50 PM | Updated 2012-06-07 10:30 AM

How sensitive settings can be used for E/F protection when using the sum connection of phase CT's?

Theory and considerations

When the sum (residual) connection of the phase CT's is used instead of core balanced CT (known as ring or toroidal CT)
the small dissimilarities of the CT's and especially partial saturation will cause not-true apparent current in the secondary
circuit. This might cause false relay operations.

Normally the apparent earth-fault current seen by the relay because of the CT errors is relative small. In case of a phase-
fault, the phase current can easily be 5..20 times the nominal load current. Assuming, for example, that because of the CT
errors 1% of the phase fault current will be seen by the earth-fault relay this becomes 5..20 x 1% = 5..20% of the rated
secondary current.

Partial saturation of CT's is also very possible with high fault currents and also with lower currents because of DC
component (motor start-ups, transformer inrush situations and cold load pick-ups). Saturation will increase the error of CT's
rapidly causing even higher apparent E/F-current in the secondary circuit. There is therefore a potential danger that the
earth-fault relay can activate at phase-faults etc. when actually no earth current is flowing in primary circuit.

(When the protection has stability in such way that earth-fault protection will not trip (faster) in case of phase-faults is known
as phase-fault stability.)

Recommendations

The recommended minimum setting is 10% of the rated load current. Settings especially below 5% has been found
problematic.

Serial resistance (stabilising resistor) might also be required for the measuring circuit in order to limit effects of the partial
CT saturation.

http://abb.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/216/kw/ct%20error 27/09/2016