Instrument Transformers

Presented By
Mohammed Nurul Absar
Manager
Chandpur 150 MW CCPP
 INSTRUMENTS TRANSFORMER
These are special types of transformers used
for the measurement of voltage,
current ,power & energy. As the name
suggests , these transformers are used in
conjunction with the relevant instruments such
a ammeters, voltmeters, watt meters &
energy meters.
 NEED OF INSTRUMENT TRANSFORMERS

For the purpose of measurement of large currents and high

voltage in transformer we uses instrument transformer.
It also make it possible to measure it with low range
voltmeters and low range ammeters.
For these purpose ,specially constructed accurate ratio
instrument transformers are employed in conjunction with
many measuring instruments.
They are basically of two types –
1. Current Transformers
2. Potential Transformers
APPLICATIONS OF INSTRUMENT TRANSFORMER

• It would not be economical to have a ammeter to

measure 600amps in a conductor directly , but we
can have an ammeter range 0-5amps which
corresponds to 0-600amps.
• Similarly , for measuring voltage of 14,400volts
directly it would not be economical , so we place 0-
120 volts will be corresponds to 0-14,400volts &
economical.
• The degree to which an instrument transformer
produces a current or voltage i. e. proportionate to
the one to be monitored is to it’s accuracy.
 CURRENT TRANSFORMER
• They generally used to step down current in a
very predictable fashion with respect to
current and phase
• The current (or series) transformer has a
primary coil of one or more turns of thick wire
connected in series with the line whose
current is to be measured.
• The secondary consists of a large number of
turns of fine wire & is connected across the
ammeter terminals.
For example: 1000/1A, 200/5A etc.
 CT
Types of CT cores
• Measuring cores—Accuracy class is high
• Protection cores—Saturation is high
 CT Electrical Formula
• The C.T. is step up transformer which step up the voltage of
primary side to secondary side.
• From current point of view, C.T. is step down transformer
which step down current of primary to secondary.

𝐼1/𝐼2=𝑁2/𝑁1
• Its depends of following equation,

𝐼1= primary current

where,

𝐼2= secondary current

𝑁1= number of primary turns
𝑁2= number of secondary turns
 Types of CT
Based on Function Based on Construction
• Measuring current transformers. These • Bar Type. This type consists of a bar of
current transformers are used along suitable size and material forming an
with the measuring devices for the integral part of the transformer.
measurement of current, energy, • Wound Type. This type has a primary
power. winding of ore than one full turn
• Protective current transformers. These wound over the core.
current transformers are used along • Window Type. This type has no
with the protection equipment such as primary winding. The secondary wind
trip coils, relays, etc. of the CT is placed around the current
flowing conductor. The magnetic
electric field created by current flowing
through the conductor induces current
in the secondary which is used for
measurement.
Symbol & Equivalent Circuit of CT
Factors to be considered while selecting CT

• Accuracy Class
• Knee Point Voltage
• Burden
• Short Time Current Rating
• Accuracy Limit Factor
 Accuracy Class
• It is defined as the deviation of ration from true
value. It is expressed as N(Is-Ip)/Ip*100
• The accuracy varies with the secondary burden and
also dependent upon the saturation flux density of
the core .
• Accuracy class tells you how accurate the current
transformer is. Accuracy class shall be 0.2, 0.5, 1, 3
or 5. For example, if the accuracy class of a current
transformer is 1, then the ratio error will be ±1% at
the rated primary value.
 Accuracy Class
• The letter 'P' indicates it is a protection CT.
• The number 5 indicates the accuracy of the CT. Most common
accuracy numbers are 5 and 10.
• The number 20 (called accuracy limit factor) indicates that
the CT will sense the current with the specified accuracy
even with 20 times of its secondary current flows in the
secondary. This is required for protection CT, because the
fault current is high and the CT should be able to sense
the high fault current accurately to protect the system.
The common numbers are 10, 15, 20 and 30.
• Class PS:
• PS is for 'Protection Special'. This class of CT's are used
for special protection such as differential protection,
distance protection etc.
• Class 1M:
• The letter 'M' indicates it is a measuring CT.
• The number 1 indicated the accuracy of the CT. The
measuring CT's should be more accurate than the protection
CT. The most common accuracy numbers are 0.5 and 1.
 Knee Point Voltage
• The knee-point voltage of a current transformer is the magnitude of the
secondary voltage above which the output current ceases to linearly follow the
input current within declared accuracy. In testing, if a voltage is applied across
the secondary terminals the magnetizing current will increase in proportion to
the applied voltage, until the knee point is reached. T
• The knee point is defined as the voltage at which a 10% increase in applied
voltage increases the magnetizing current by 50%. For voltages greater than the
knee point, the magnetizing current increases considerably even for small
increments in voltage across the secondary terminals.
• The knee-point voltage is less applicable for metering current transformers as
their accuracy is generally much higher, but constrained within a very small
range of the current transformer rating, typically 1.2 to 1.5 times rated current.
• However, the concept of knee point voltage is very pertinent to protection
current transformers, since they are necessarily exposed to fault currents of 20
to 30 times rated current
 Burden
The secondary load of a current transformer is
termed the "burden" to distinguish it from the
primary load. The burden in a CT metering
circuit is largely resistive impedance presented
to its secondary winding.
It is given as VA in the name plate.
Typical burden ratings for IEC CTs are 1.5 VA, 3
VA, 5 VA, 10 VA, 15 VA, 20 VA, 30 VA, 45 VA and
60 VA.
 Short time current rating
• Short time current is maximum fault current
that a CT can withstand for a short duration of
time.
 Accuracy limit factor
• Protective CT are required to faithfully
transform maximum possible fault currents .
• Accuracy Limit factor (ALF) is given by :
ALF = Maximum fault current / Rated Primary current
• A CT is so often specified as 15VA, 5P10 where
15Va denotes burden , 5 denotes composite
error and 10 is the ALF
 CT Secondary Open?
• If you open the secondary of a current
transformer,the voltage at the secondary is
abnormally high and it can damage the
insulation and result in fire. The
magnetomotive force produced at
the secondary will produce high exciting
current and resultant large flux density
producing an extremely high voltage .
 CT Secondary Open?
• If the secondary winding circuit of a CT is kept open then it will lead to severe consequence to the
personnel opening the CT secondary and to the CT itself. The question arises why?
• To understand this, first we should know the basic difference between a Power Transformer and a CT. The
basic difference between a Power Transformer and a CT is that, in Power Transformer the primary current is
the reflection of the secondary current by N1I1 = N2I2 while in CT the primary current is dependent on the
load current or line current as Ct is connected in series with the line. So primary current of CT (assuming
constant line current) is constant irrespective of whether the secondary of CT is connected with burden or
not.
•
During normal operation of CT, the primary and secondary winding produces mmf which by lenze’s law
opposes each other. As the secondary mmf is slightly less than the primary mmf, the net mmf is small. This
net mmf is the working / magnetizing mmf of the core of CT.
•
Now, in case secondary winding is kept open then secondary current will be zero while the primary current
of CT will remain same. Therefore the opposing mmf of secondary will no longer exist. Hence the net mmf
is due to primary current only i.e. N1I1 which is very large. This large mmf will produce large flux in the core
and will saturate the core. Again, due to large flux in the core the flux linkage of secondary winding will be
large which in turn will produce a large voltage across the secondary terminals of the CT. This large voltage
across the secondary terminals will be very dangerous and will lead to the insulation failure and there is a
good chance that the person who is opening the CT secondary while primary is energized will die due to
shock.
 PARTS OF CURRENT TRANSFORMER
Like any transformer, a current transformer has a
primary winding, a core and a secondary winding,
although some transformers, including current
transformers, use an air core. In principle, the
only difference between a current transformer
and a voltage transformer (normal type) is that
the former is fed with a 'constant' current while
the latter is fed with a 'constant‘ voltage.
Typically current transformers consist of a silicon
steel ring core wound with many turns of copper
wire .
APPLICATIONS OF CURRENT TRANSFORMERS
• Current transformers are used extensively for
measuring current and monitoring the operation
of the power grid.
• Current transformers can be mounted on the low
voltage or high voltage leads of a power
transformer; sometimes a section of a bus-bar
can be removed to replace a current transformer.
• Often, multiple CTs are installed as a "stack" for
various uses. For example, protection devices
and revenue metering may use separate CTs to
provide isolation between metering and
protection circuits.