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Current Transformers How To Specify Them
Current Transformers How To Specify Them
Ca hie r t e c hnique no . 1 9 4
Current transformers:
how to specify them
P. Fonti
"Cahiers Techniques" is a collection of documents intended for engineers
and technicians, people in the industry who are looking for more in-depth
information in order to complement that given in product catalogues.
Foreword
The author disclaims all responsibility subsequent to incorrect use of
information or diagrams reproduced in this document, and cannot be held
responsible for any errors or oversights, or for the consequences of using
information and diagrams contained in this document.
Paola FONTI
Contents
1 Introduction p. 4
2 Network disturbances and protections 2.1 Disturbances p. 7
2.2 Protections p. 7
3 Current transformers 3.1 Reminder of ferromagnetic transformers p. 9
3.2 Non-magnetic transformers p. 13
3.3 CT manufacturing and implementation p. 13
4 Choosing CTs according to protections 4.1 Choosing CT ALF according to protections p. 15
and applications 4.2 Characterising CTs according to applications p. 17
4.3 Special case of differential protection p. 21
4.4 Distance protections p. 26
5 CT specification examples 5.1 Motor feeder protections p. 27
5.2 Transformer feeder protections p. 27
5.3 Transformers differential protection p. 28
5.4 Differential protection for busbars (87B) p. 28
6 Conclusion p. 31
Bibliography p. 32
The design of MV and HV electrical networks is criteria to draw up the single-line diagram for the
a complex undertaking that must take into installation (see fig. 1 ).
account the needs to be satisfied, i.e.: He must then select the earthing system, define
c safety of people and equipment, the busways, calculate the fault currents, define
c continuity of supply, the protection system (discrimination, choice of
c installation and operating costs. protections, see Cahier Technique no. 174).
The designer uses the load points, their Figure 2 shows an example of protections
simultaneity coefficient and the above-mentioned chosen for the standby supply in figure 1.
63 kV
Stanby supply
20 kV
Bank Crushing
5 kV
Processing Mills
LV LV 5 kV
Shaft no.1,
level – 300
49 Thermal image
a 46 Negative sequence
27 Undervoltage
59 Overvoltage
2.1 Disturbances
A MV or HV electrical network is disturbed: It is thus necessary to provide the relevant
c exceptionally by lightning overvoltages, by protection devices with the right information to
temperature rises further to overloads or ensure prompt action, as the greater the
following violent short-circuits between phases or damage, the longer and more costly the repairs
phase-to-earth, and the heavier the losses.
c more frequently, and more naturally, by However, transient and normal disturbances are
switching overvoltages (e.g. capacitor energ- a necessary evil and installations must be
isation) or natural transient conditions (e.g. motor designed to withstand them. Furthermore, the
starting or power transformer switching) resulting current transformer/protection pair(s) must not
in high but temporary overcurrents. cause nuisance tripping.
2.2 Protections
Définition of protections Digital technology is becoming widespread for all
c Function of protections applications (network components or protected
The protection functions of a network are loads). This technology has an ample data
intended to monitor one or more parameters of processing capacity, which allows control and
the installation, for example: currents, voltage, monitoring linked to protection functions and
temperature, frequency, etc. communication to a supervisory unit or a
These values are permanently measured and centralised control system.
compared with setpoints or thresholds beyond These units are normally supplied with a
which the situation is defined as abnormal and standard protection, control and indication
dangerous. When a fault occurs, the protection programme, thus enabling them to be used
device issues a tripping signal. Then, in order to without extra studies or programming. Only
durably isolate the faulty part, it prevents parameters have to be set on commissioning
reclosing until the device has been repaired. (e.g. the protection settings).
It can also generate an alarm to inform They are designed to fully meet application
maintenance personnel and enable them to take needs. All you have to do is select the version
the necessary action. corresponding to the functions available for each
c The technologies application. Some examples of applications are:
With the particularly rapid growth of electronics v transformers,
technology, protection relays, originally v generators,
electromechanical, have become static devices: v capacitors,
analogue electronic then digital electronic thanks
to microprocessors. These devices perform v motors,
increasingly sophisticated functions and are more v substations,
and more often referred to as processing units. v etc.
Fig. 4 : simplification and savings provided by a multifunctional digital system (protection - automation - metering)
compared with the former electromagnetic technique.
n° 9191671 RCF 2 / B
Network
type
norme Safety
17,5/38/95 kV 50 Hz standard CEI - 185
current Ith 25
rapport bornes
kA 1s Idyn 62,5 kA ext.
classe
% factor (SF)
ratio terminals VA class FS ou FLP
characteristic 150/5 1S1 - 1S2 15 0,5 7
150/5 2S1 - 2S2 15 5P 10
Ith : 25 kA/1 s
Idyn : 62.5 kA peak Accuracy limit
2 221 625
factor (ALF)
Ratio
1 primary circuit Accuracy Accuracy
1 secondary circuit 1S1 - 1S2 power class
1 secondary circuit 2S1 - 2S2
Fig. 5 : example of the nameplate of a current transformer with two secondaries.
Accuracy Current error for Phase shift for the Composite error for the
class the nominal current nominal current accuracy limit current as
as a % Minutes Centiradians a%
5P ±1 ± 60 ± 1.8 5
10P ±3 – – 10
Fig. 6 : errors on the module and the phase at nominal current according to standard IEC 60044-1.
V (volts)
I1
Vn
Operating point of the CT
when it is loaded at Pn and
supplied by a current kn In
S1 S2 S3
Ior Ion Io
Fig. 8 : manufacturing principle of a CT with 3
secondaries (with 3 windings in the same mould). Fig. 10 : operating points of the CT according to its load.
kr
Pi = 2 VA
80
70
60
50 Pi = 5 VA
40
30
20
10
0
0 5 10 15 20 Pr
Fig. 11 : behaviour of the accuracy limit factor kr = f(Pr) of two CTs of 10 VA-5P20 with different internal losses
(Rct) according to the real load connected to the secondary.
Differential protections Fig. 16 : the toroid placed in (1) or (2) gives the same
Increasingly used for the protection of transformers, information… but the toroid placed in (1) also monitors
rotating machines and busbars, they have the the faults located upstream of the toroid (2).
advantage of being fast and independent from
the other protections in terms of discrimination.
These “relays” often operate during the transient Conclusions
fault current period. Just as for the earth fault c It is the high setting of the overcurrent
protections, an aperiodic DC component may protections that determines the minimum kr
result in transient saturation of the CTs and thus (real ALF) to be complied with.
generate a false differential current. Since
differential protections are tricky to implement, c It is the stability of the relay up against
manufacturers normally supply the necessary transient phenomena that determines the ALF or
information to design and install the CTs. class X for earth fault and differential protections.
51G
150/6 kV
22.5/30 MVA
Zsc = 11 % (30 MVA) 300/1
YD 11 300/5
40
87T
46
27I
81
a 49
27 51
51G 27
3000/5 51V
27 27R 51 50t
87
3000/1 300/1
66
66 300/5 200/5 100/5 100/5
50 51 51 50t
100/5 600/5
46
51N 51N
49
46
50 6 kV/400/230 V
49
2500 kVA 400 kVA
Zsc = 7.5 % Zsc = 4 %
51N 51N DY11
315 A
49
132 kW
In = 250 A
Id / In = 5 M
Td = 2 sec
Fig. 17 : example of a protection plan.
37 Undercurrent c c
46 Unbalance c c c
49 Thermal image c c (c) c c c
50 Instantaneous high c c
threshold overcurrent
50N Instantaneous c
earth fault
51N Time delayed earth fault c c c c c c c
51N1 Star-star capacitor c
unbalance
51LR Locked rotor / c c
too long start
51V Voltage restrained c
overcurrent
51-1 Time delayed low c c c c c
threshold overcurrent
51-2 Time delayed high c c c c
threshold overcurrent
66 Number of starts c c
67 Directional overcurrent c c c
67N Directional earth fault c c c
c Is is unknown
In1 100
Transformer feeders kr = 2 Not concerned
In Zsc
Is I max
Transformer incomers, kr = 20 (by excess) between: 30 , 36, and 1.5 sc ,
In (CT) In (CT)
Line incomers and feeders if no definite time on a second threshold
Capacitor feeders kr = 10 (by excess) Not concerned
Circuit-breaker motor feeders kr = 16 Not concerned
Contactor with fuse motor feeders kr = 8
Generator incomers kr = 14* kr = 14*
In this table: Is is the setting current of the overcurrent threshold for which the response time is
shortest for the high currents,
In is the CT nominal primary current,
In1 is the power transformer nominal current,
(*) = general cases.
Fig. 20 : real ALF (kr) required for overcurrent according to the applications.
Psct with
(Psct Pu ) .
Rst (Psct + Pu )
The through fault current must then be converted
into Issc seen at the CT secondary.
Rp
Line or cable differential protection with pilot
wires (see fig. 24 ).
A relay of this type is installed at each end of the
b cable or the line.
On the pilot wires, each relay reproduces a
Rp voltage which is the image of the sum:
Rst a I1 + b I2 + c I3 + d Ih .
If the two voltages are different, both relays trip.
NB:
Note that the coefficients a, b, c and d are
different to ensure that all fault types correspond
to a sum other than zero. Consequently, the
operating threshold of a two-phase fault or of a
phase-to-earth fault is slightly different according
to the faulty phase.
In this case also, class X CTs are required, and
Fig. 23 : “restricted earth fault” protection of the each manufacturer gives an empirical formula for
secondary [a] or primary [b] windings of a transformer. the minimum knee point voltage Vk.
RL RL
Pilot wires
Line differential Line differential
87L 87L
B1 C1.2 B2
B3 B4
C3.4
C1.3 C2.4
D1 D2 D3 D4
CMT = current metering and transfer (for feeders D1, D2, D3 and D4)
CM = current metering (for crossing and in-line couplers C1.2, C1.3, C2.4 and C3.4)
1 = transfer and metering
2 = protection
Fig. 25 : example of a low impedance differential protection for a double busbar.
Monitored area
21
RL
RL
21
Monitored area
Fig. 26 : distance protections: at each end of the line a relay monitors 80 % of the line with instantaneous
operation.
Fig. 27 : calculation of CT knee point voltage Vk for distance protection relays, for various line lengths, showing the
advantage of using the Isc as a reference at the end of the line to define these CTs.
We shall deal in an incomplete but educational concerning conventional protections and two
manner with two examples of specifications examples concerning differential protections.
Transformer U = 22 kV CT characteristics
Power Zsc Isc max In TFO In ALF required
(MVA) (%) (kA) (A) (A) (Isc / In x 1.5)
0.5 4 0.3 13 40 12.3
0.63 4 0.4 17 40 15.5
0.8 4 0.5 21 40 19.7
1 5 0.5 26 50 15.7
2.5 5 1.3 66 100 19.7
5 6 2.2 131 200 16.4
10 8 3.3 262 300 16.4
20 10 5.2 525 600 13.1
30 12 6.6 787 1000 9.8
40 13 8.1 1050 1500 8.1
80 16 13.1 2099 2500 7.9
Rst
87B
Note:
When consulting the class X CT suppliers, you MUST ask for all the values of minimum Vk, maximum Rct
and maximum Io as these are essential for completing the study.
Besides the minimum Vk, the value of real Vk is also necessary to calculate peak voltage, when high
impedance differential relays are used.
Current transformers are essential links between CT technology must also be taken into account
electrical busways and the devices protecting the as it can offer advantages, for example:
MV and HV network components. c standard CTs are optimised and available,
Their precise definition and optimisation are not c CTs with several secondaries offer space and
simple and require thorough understanding of cost savings,
their operation and close co-operation of many c multifunctional CTs, used in standard panels,
contributors. As a rule the choice of a CT is allow cost savings.
easier when it is associated with conventional If, despite all the precautions taken, problems
protections. However, when differential arise, there is always a solution. This is the
protections (class X) are chosen, they must be purpose of Cahier Technique no. 195 which
examined with care and require good highlights the traps (most common errors) and
communication with the CT manufacturer. the possible solutions.
However, as we have shown in this document, it Finally, this Cahier Technique demonstrates the
is possible to specify CTs by excess according to extreme care that installation designers must
protections and applications. This solution is a take when defining CTs, in particular when
means of avoiding many problems relating to drawing up the protection plan and the
safety, costs and lead times. discrimination study.
Standards
c IEC 60185: Current transformers -
Characteristics
c IEC 60044-1: Instrument transformers - Part 1:
Current transformers (replaces IEC 185).
c IEC 60044-8: Instrument transformers - Part 8:
Electronic current transformers.
c NF C 42-502: Measuring instruments. Current
transformers. Characteristics.
c BS 3938 (replaced by BS 7626): Specification
for current transformers.
Various works
c Guide de l’ingénierie électrique
ELECTRA - 07.86
c Protection des réseaux électriques
Ch. PREVE - Ed. Hermes - 06.98
037609 02-00