Application Note Date: 11.11.2004 / ANGEN.

EN002

Current transformer selection for VAMP series overcurrent

and differential relays

Iron core current transformers (CT) are accurate in amplitude and phase when used
near their nominal values. At very low and at very high currents they are far from ideal.
For overcurrent and differential protection, the actual performance of CTs at high
currents must be checked to ensure correct function of the protection relay.

1. CT classification according IEC 60044-1, 1996

CT model

Figure 1. A CT equivalent circuit. Lm is the saturable magnetisation inductance, L is

secondary of an ideal current transformer, RCT is resistance of the CT secondary winding,
RW is resistance of wiring and RL is the burden i.e. the protection relay.

Composite error εC
Composite error εC is the difference between the ideal secondary current and the
actual secondary current under steady-state conditions. It includes amplitude and
phase errors and also the effects of any possible harmonics in the exciting current.

T
1
T ∫0
( K N i S − i P ) 2 dt
εC = ⋅ 100% (eq. 1)
IP

T = Cycle time
KN = Rated transformation ratio INPrimary/INsecondary
iS = instantaneous secondary current
iP = instantaneous primary current
IP = Rms value of primary current
Note:
All current based protection functions of VAMP relays, except arc protection, thermal
protection and 2nd harmonic blocking functions, are using the base frequency
component of the measured current. The IEC formulae include an RMS value of the
current. That is why the composite error defined by IEC 60044-1 is not ideal for VAMP
relays. However the difference is not big enough to prevent rough estimation.

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Standard accuracy classes
At rated frequency and with rated burden connected, the amplitude error and phase
error and composite error of a CT shall not exceed the values given in the following
table.

Accuracy Amplitude error Phase dis- Composite error εC at

class at rated placement at rated accuracy limit
primary current rated primary primary current
(%) current
(°) (%)
5P ±1 ±1 5
10P ±3 - 10

Marking: The accuracy class of a CT is written after the rated power. E.g. 10 VA 5P10,
15 VA 10P10, 30 VA 5P20

Accuracy limit current IAL

Current transformers for protection must retain a reasonable accuracy up to the largest
relevant fault current. Rated accuracy limit current is the value of primary current up to
which the CT will comply with the requirements for composite error εC.

Accuracy limit factor kALF

The ratio of the accuracy limit current to the rated primary current.

kALF = IAL/IN. (eq. 2)

The standard accuracy limit factors are 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30.

Marking: Accuracy limit factor is written after the accuracy class.

E.g. 10 VA 5P10, 15 VA 10P10, 30 VA 5P20.

Figure 2. This figure of equation 3 shows that it is essential to know the winding resistance
RCT of the CT if the load is much less than the nominal. A 10 VA 5P10 CT with 25% load
gives actual ALF values from 15..30 when the winding resistance varies from 0.5 Ω to 0.05
Ω.

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The actual accuracy limit factor kA depends on the actual burden. (Figure 2)
Si + S N
k A = k ALF (eq. 3)
Si + S A

kALF = Accuracy limit factor at rated current and rated burden

Si = Internal secondary burden. (Winding resistance RCT in Figure 1
SN = Rated burden of the CT
SA = Actual burden including wiring and the load.

If the current is an asymmetric short circuit current like in Figure 3 the needed accuracy
limit factor should be multiplied by coefficient kDC:

k DC = 1 + ωτ (eq. 4)

ω = Angle frequency 2πf

τ = Time constant of the short circuit current

15
Current (kA)

10

-5

-10
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
Time (s)

Figure 3. Asymmetric short circuit current with time constant τ = 50ms

2. CT requirements for differential protection

When the through current equals and exceeds kAxIN there may be enough secondary
differential current to trip a relay although there is no inzone fault. This is because the
CTs are unique and they do not behave equally when saturating.
To avoid false tripping caused by heavy through faults the actual accuracy limit factor
kA of the CTs should obey equation:
I NTra
kA > c ⋅ Ik ⋅ ⋅ k DC (eq. 5)
I NCT

c = Safety factor. See Table 1.

Ik = Maximum through fault short circuit current
INTra = Rated current of the transformer
INCT = Rated primary current of the CT
kDC = Extra coefficient for decaying dc component according equation 4.

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Table 1. Safety factor c for accuracy limit factor. Using slightly smaller safety factor than
indicated in the table will increase the setting inaccuracy.

Protection application Safety factor c

Overcurrent 1.4
Transformer differential, ∆-winding or unearthed Y-winding 3
Transformer differential, earthed Y-winding 4
Generator differential 3

Formula to solve needed CT power rating SN

By replacing the complex power terms with corresponding resistances in equation 3 we
get

RCT + R N
k A = k ALF (eq. 6)
RCT + RW + RL

where the nominal burden resistance is

S N
RN = 2
(eq. 7)
I NCT sec

RCT = Winding resistance (See Figure 1)

RW = Wiring resistance (from CT to the relay and back)
RL = Resistance of the protection relay input
SN = Nominal burden of the CT
INCTsec = Nominal secondary current of the CT

By solving SN and substituting kA according equation 5, we get

 ck I I  2
S N >  DC k NTra (RCT + RW + RL ) − RCT  I NCT sec (eq. 8)
 k ALF I NCT 

Example 1
Transformer:
16 MVA YNd11 Zk = 10%
110 kV / 21 kV (84 A / 440 A)

CTs on HV side:
100/1 5P20 15 VA
Winding resistance RCT = 0.3 Ω (RCT depends on the CT type, INCT and power rating. Let's
say that the selected CT type, 100 A and an initial guess of 15 VA, yields to 0.3 Ω.)
Safety factor c = 4. (Table1. Transformer differential, earthed Y.)

CTs on LV side:
500/1 5P20 15 VA
Winding resistance RCT = 0.4 Ω (RCT depends on the CT type, INCT and power rating. Let's
say that the selected CT type, 500 A and an initial guess of 15 VA, yields to 0.4 Ω.)
Safety factor c = 3. (Table 1. Transformer differential, ∆.)

Maximum through fault short circuit current Ik =10 x IN

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RL = 0.05 Ω Typical burden of a VAMP relay 1 A current input.
RWHV = 0.138 Ω Wiring impedance of high voltage side.
(2x16 m Cu, 4 mm2)
RWLV = 0.086 Ω Wiring impedance of low voltage side.
(2x10 m Cu, 4 mm2)
f = 50 Hz Frequency
τ = 50 ms DC time constant

Equation 4 gives:
kDC = 1 + 2π50 x 0.05 = 16.7

The needed CT power on HV side will be (eq. 8)

 4 ⋅ 16.7 ⋅ 10 ⋅ 84 
SN >  ⋅ (0.3 + 0.138 + 0.05) − 0.3 ⋅ 12 = 13.4 VA
 20 ⋅ 100 

⇒ 15 VA is a good choice for HV side!

And on the LV side

 3 ⋅ 16.7 ⋅ 10 ⋅ 440 
SN >  ⋅ (0.4 + 0.086 + 0.05) − 0.4 ⋅ 12 = 11.4 VA
 20 ⋅ 500 

⇒ 15 VA is a good choice for HV side!

3. CT requirements for overcurrent protection

Undirectional overcurrent protection does not set as high requirements for a CT as the
differential protection.

The nominal primary current should be enough for the maximum short circuit current
according equation:

Ik
I CTpri ≥ (eq. 9)
100

ICTpri = Nominal primary current of the CT

Ik = Maximum short circuit current

The needed minimum value for the actual accuracy limit factor kA (equation 3.)
depends on the highest setting value, the applied delay type definite/inverse and the
needed fault current grading for selectivity. A reasonable actual accuracy limit factor
for most cases should be according equation 9.

k A > c ⋅ I SET ⋅ k DC (eq. 10)

c = Safety factor. See Table 1.

ISET = Relative setting of the most coarse overcurrent stage
kDC = Extra coefficient for decaying dc component according equation 4.

The needed power rating for the CT is

 ck I  2
S N >  DC SET (RCT + RW + RL ) − RCT  I NCT sec (eq. 11)
 k ALF 

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Example 2
Network:
Ik = 30 kA Maximum short circuit current
RL = 0.008 Ω Typical burden of a VAMP relay 5 A current input.
RW = 0.09 Ω Secondary wiring impedance

CT:
1000/5 10P10 30 VA (10P10 ⇒ 10% error @ 10x1000 A)
RCT = 0.4 Ω Secondary winding resistance

Settings of the most coarse overcurrent stage:

Iset = 10 x IN = 10000 A
Delay type = definite time
f = 50 Hz Frequency
τ = 50 ms DC time constant

According equation 9 the CT primary value is ok (30k/1000 = 30 and 30 is well under

100).

Equation 4 gives:
kDC = 1 + 2π50 x 0.05 = 16.7

Next we check if the power rating is adequate (equation 11).

1.4 ⋅ 16.7 ⋅ 10 
SN >  ⋅ (0.4 + 0.09 + 0.008) − 0.4 ⋅ 5 2 = 281 VA
 10 

This is an impractical big CT. We must either use a CT with 1 A nominal secondary or
ignore the DC-component. The latter choice may increase trip time at heavy faults.

Let's ignore the DC effect.

1.4 ⋅ 10 
SN >  ⋅ (0.4 + 0.09 + 0.008) − 0.4 ⋅ 5 2 = 7.4 VA
 10 

⇒ 10 VA is enough, but only if we ignore the decaying DC component.

4. Maximum allowed wiring distance between CT and a relay

From equation 11 we can solve the maximum possible wiring resistance:
 S  k
RW max =  2 N + RCT  ⋅ ALF − RCT − RL (eq. 12)
 I NCT sec  cI SET

This resistance corresponds to a wire length of

RA
Lmax = (eq. 13) , where
δ
Lmax = Maximum wire length
R = Wiring resistance
A = Cross-sectional area of the wire
δ = unit resistance of the wire

The corresponding distance will be half of the wire length, because there are two wires
from the CT to the relay.

Max. distance = Lmax/2 (eq. 14)

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 Example 3
Let us calculate the maximum possible distance between CT and protection relay with
in the following case.

CT = 500/5 10P10
kAFL = 10 Accuracy limit factor at rated current and rated
burden according CT specification.
INCTsec = 5A Nominal secondary current of the CT
SN = 15 VA Rated burden of the CT
RL = 0.008 Ω Burden of a VAMP relay 5 A current input.
RCT = 0.6 Ω Secondary winding resistance
c = 1.4 Safety factor. See Table 1.
ISET = 8xIN Overcurrent setting
Wire = 2.5 mm2 Cu Cross-sectional area and material
δCu = 17.2 nΩm Unit resistance of copper
kDC = 1 This ignores any decaying DC component

From equation 11 we get the maximum allowed wiring resistance

 15  10
RW max =  2 + 0.6  ⋅ − 0.6 − 0.008 = 0.46Ω
5  1 .4 ⋅ 8

and from equation 13 we get the corresponding wire length

0.46 ⋅ 2.5 ⋅ 10 −6
Lmax = = 669m
1.72 ⋅ 10 −9

Thus the maximum possible distance will be according equation 14

Distancemax = 669/2 = 330 m

Keywords : Current transformer, Current selection, Current requirements, Current accuracy class, Current
accuracy limit, Current power rating, Current wiring

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