How to Calculate Knee Point Voltage of Current Transformer?

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CT Magnetization curve August 2020
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The knee point is defined as the voltage at which a 10% increase in applied voltage increases the magnetizing current April 2020
by 50%. For voltages greater than the knee point voltage, the magnetizing current increases considerably even for
March 2020
small increments in voltage across the secondary terminals.
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Functions of a CT April 2019

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Definition of KPV according to IEC : What is the knee point? January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
According to IEC, Knee Point Voltage of a Current Transformer is defined as the voltage at which a
10 % increase in voltage of CT secondary results in a 50 % increase in secondary current. October 2018
September 2018

Above knee point, the CT gets saturated. The knee point is a important parameter for CT selection
for a particular electrical installation. The knee point indicates the CT saturation point on the
magnetization curve or B-H curve.

Importance of Knee Point Voltage for PS class CT:

Differential protection Scheme:

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How to Calculate Knee Point Voltage of Current Transformer? - Electrical Volt 6/4/21, 6:12 pm

The magnetizing characteristics of both LV & HV sides CTs used for differential protection must
have the same knee point voltage Vk and the same excitation current Ie at Vk/2. If there is variation in
knee point voltage of CTs, the CT having less knee point voltage(KPV) will get saturated in case of the
external fault and the differential protection relay will get tripped with nuisance tripping. Therefore, both
the set of CTs used at the primary and secondary side of the equipment must have the same knee point
voltage and the excitation current(Ie) at Vk/2.

The Knee point voltage is selected for PS class(Differential protection) CTs at half of the knee point
voltage so that the point lies in between the ankle and the knee point of the magnetization curve of the
CT. The point K on the below-given graph is the ‘Knee Point’. The initial point of the graph is known as
an ankle point of the magnetization curve of CT. The Knee Point Voltage has a significance when the CT
is used for differential or REF protection.

CT Magnetization curve

Knee Point Voltage Calculation:

The CT knee point calculation can simply be done using the Ohm’s Law.

According to Ohm’s law

V=I*R

R is the total resistance of the secondary of the CT.

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How to Calculate Knee Point Voltage of Current Transformer? - Electrical Volt 6/4/21, 6:12 pm

Knee Point Voltage Formula:

CT Knee Point Voltage can be calculated using formula;

Vkp = K * If/CTR * (RCT + RL + RR)

Where,

K = Constant, conventionally taken as 2.0

Vkp = The minimum Knee Point Voltage

If = Maximum Fault Current at the location, in Amperes

CTR = CT Ratio

RCT = CT Secondary Winding Resistance, in Ohms

RL = 2-way Lead Resistance, in Ohms

RR = Relay Burden, in Ohms

RCT + RL + RR = CT burden

Example:

If the system fault current is 30 KA, CTR-600/5, RCT+RL+RR=0.5 Ohm

Knee point voltage of the current transformer is;

Vkp = K * If/CTR * (RCT + RL + RR)

Vkp = 2*30000/120*0.5 = 250 Volt

Based on the above calculation, check the rated knee point voltage of CT. If the knee point voltage calculated on the
basis of the power network is higher than the specified knee point voltage of CT, then there is a chance of CT
saturation during a fault in the power network, and probably protection relay will not operate.

How to Check the Knee Point voltage of the CT?

The current transformer of PS class can be tested for whether or not the CT has the knee point voltage as
per the manufacturer specifications. The test procedure is very simple and can be done if the variable
voltage source is available.

Test Set-up:

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How to Calculate Knee Point Voltage of Current Transformer? - Electrical Volt 6/4/21, 6:12 pm

Test Procedure for knee point Voltage calculation of CT :

1. Disconnect the CT from all external connection

2. Note down the knee point voltage of CT ( as per datasheet of the CT).
3. Apply 5-10 % voltage of the knee point voltage to the secondary of the CT by auto-transformer. Note
down the secondary current.
4. Increase the voltage gradually to 20,30,40,50,60,70,80,90 % of the rated knee point of the CT and
note down the secondary current.
5. Now increase the voltage to 100% of KPV and note down the current.
6. Increase the voltage above 110% of KPVand observe the increase in the secondary current. If the
secondary current increase is 50% with an increase in this 10% voltage. The Knee point voltage of
the CT is the voltage as per step No.5.

Test Results :

This is the sample of the test results of the knee point calculation.

Read More

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How to Calculate Knee Point Voltage of Current Transformer? - Electrical Volt 6/4/21, 6:12 pm

You may
also like
to read :

Magnetization Curve of Current Transformer

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7 Comments

ANONYMOUS
Insightful and informative article.

June 8, 2019 Reply

ROD HUGHES
Just to comment … the factor K is not an arbitrary figure.
By Ohm's Law, for a Merz-Price circulating current CT connection with High Impedance relay
August 22,
path as shown above it is a MINIMUM of 2.
2019 However because a differential relay operates for internal faults where the CT by definition
will saturate heavily due to the high impedance relay path, you need a relay that is
specifically designed to operate with heavily saturated waveforms. As discussed here
https://ideology.atlassian.net/wiki/x/AoC5 , some electromechancial relays do this
(MCAG14/34, MFAC14/34) with just a k factor of 2. But some electronic relays may need a k
factor of as high as 16!!

Reply

ANONYMOUS
Star rating Transformers manufacturers
Transformers manufacturers
November 28,
Transformers manufacturers in bangalore
2019

Reply

SERVO VOLTAGE STABILIZER MANUFACTURER

Thanks for sharing such good information written in a very attractive way. Your blog
information improve my knowledge about Transformer.
February 1,
Servo Voltage Stabilizer Manufacturer

https://www.electricalvolt.com/2018/09/how-to-calculate-knee-point-voltage-of-current-transformer/ Page 5 of 6
How to Calculate Knee Point Voltage of Current Transformer? - Electrical Volt 6/4/21, 6:12 pm

February 1,
Servo Voltage Stabilizer Manufacturer
2020 Transformer Manufacturer In Greater Noida

Reply

EXPERIENCEATSHARPCIRCLES
Pretty good post. I have just stumbled upon your blog and enjoyed reading your blog posts
very much. I am looking for new posts to get more precious info. Big thanks for the useful
February 1,
info. clamp-on current transformer
2020
Reply

UNKNOWN
thanks for sharing good information.

September Reply

30, 2020

CHONG
how does Rct of CT influence the Vkp ? If higher Vkp is required, the Rct value shall be
increase as well ?
October 22,

2020 Reply

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