Instrument Transformer

In power system, the currents and voltages are very large

Therefore, their direct measurements are not possible.

It might appear that the extension of range could be conveniently

done by the use of shunts for currents and multiplier for voltage
measurement,, as in DC.
But this method is suitable only for small values of current and voltage.
Difficult to achieve accuracy with a shunt on AC
Capability of having shunt of large range is not possible
The power consumed by multipliers become large as the voltage increases
The measuring circuit is not isolated electrically from the power circuit

The solution is to step-down

step down these currents/voltages with the
help of Instrument Transformer
So that, they could be metered with instruments of moderate size
Current Transformer (C.T.):
Transformers used for current measurement
Steps down the current to the level of ammeter.

Voltage Transformer (V.T. or P.T.):

Transformers used for voltage (Potential) measurement
Steps down the voltage to the level of voltmeter.

Used in AC system for the measurement of current, voltage,

power and energy.

Finds a wide application in protection circuits of power system

Ex. over current, under voltage, earth fault, etc.
Advantages of Instrument Transformer:
Their reading do not depend upon circuit constant such as R, L & C
As in the case of shunts and multipliers
Possible to standardize the instrument around their ratings.
This makes the replacement of instrument transformer very easy.
Th
The measuring
i circuit
i it is
i isolated
i l t d from
f the
th power circuit
i it
Low power consumption in the metering circuit
Several instrument can be operated from a single instrument
transformer
Ratios of Instrument Transformer:
Transformation Ratio, R = IPri / ISec for a C.T.

and R = VPri / VSec for a P.T.

Nominal Ratio, Kn = Rated IPri / Rated ISec for a C.T.

= Rated VPri / Rated VSec for a P.T.

Turns Ratio, n = Nsec / NPri for a C.T.

= NPri / NSec for a P.T.

Ratio Correction Factor (RCF) = Transformation Ratio/Nominal Ratio=R/Kn

or R = RCF Kn

The ratio marked on the transformer is their nominal ratio

What is the meaning of KVA reading on the Transformer

C
Current
tTTransformer:
f
Primary winding is connected in series with line carrying the current
to be measured
Therefore, IPri Load

Primary winding consist of very few turns

Therefore,
Therefore no appreciable voltage drop across it

Secondary winding has larger number of turns

Exact number is being determined by the turn ratio
Relationship
p in a C.T.:
rs and xs = resistance and reactance of secondary winding
re and xe = resistance and reactance of external burden
Ep andd Es = pprimary
y andd seco
secondary
d y winding
w d g induced
duced voltage
vo ge
Np and Ns = number of primary and secondary winding turns
Vs = voltage at secondary winding terminals
Ip and Is = primary and secondary winding currents
= working flux of the transformer
= phase angle of transformer (angle between Is reversed and Ip)
= angle between Es and Is
= phase angle of secondary winding load circuit
Io = exciting current
Im and Ie = magnetizing and loss component of Io
= angle between Io and

Expression
i for
f Transformation
f i Raito
i isi derived
i on board
Errors in C.T.:
The secondary winding current is not a constant fraction of the
primary winding current
depend
d d upon magnetizing
ti i andd loss
l componentt off exciting
iti currentt
this introduces considerable errors into current measurements

ratio error = (Kn-R)/R

R)/R
It is necessary that the phase of Is shall be displaced exactly by
1800 from Ip.
but, it is displaced by an angle .
Characteristic of C.T.:
Effect of change of Ip
If Ip changes, Is also changes proportionally
At low values of Ip, the current Im and Ie are a great portion of Ip
Therefore, errors are greater
As the Ip increases, Is increases and results in decrement of R.

Effect of change of Is
Increment in Is means increase in Volt-Ampere rating
This increases the secondary winding induced voltage
Therefore, Im and Ie are increased
Thus, the errors will be increased.

Effect of change of Frequency

Increase in frequency will result in proportionate decrease in flux
density
Means to
M t reduce
d th
the error iin C.T.:
CT
Ideally, R=n and =0
But, as a result of physical limitations inherent in electric and magnetic
circuit, the ideality will be lost and errors are induced

The expression of R and indicates that

Both depend upon the Ie and Im respectively
Thus, they are chosen small.
Specific design feature will help in minimization of the errors
Core:
Core must have a low reluctance and low core loss
Reduction of reluctance flux path can be done by
using materials of high permeability
short magnetic path
l
large cross section
i off core
Low value of flux density
The number of jjoints in buildingg upp core should be minimum
because joints produce air gape
which offer path of high reluctance for the flux
Core loss is reduced by choosing materials of low hysteresis
and low eddy current losses
 Effect of secondary winding open
C.T. are always used with the secondary winding closed
Never open the secondary windings circuit of a C.T. while its primary
winding is energized
Failure to this may lead to serious consequences for both
In case of P.T., the current flowing in the primary winding is
l
largely
l the
h reflection
fl i off that
h flowing
fl i in i the
h secondary
d circuit.
i i
whereas, in case of a C.T., the primary winding is connected in series
with the line whose current is being measured
This current is in no ways controlled or determined by the condition of
secondary winding circuit
Under normal operating conditions
conditions, both primary and secondary
windings produces mmf, which act against each other
The secondary mmf is slightly less than the primary mmf
Thus,
Th th the resultant
lt t mmff is
i small
ll
 The resultant mmf maintains the flux in core and supply the iron losses
since the resultant mmf is small,
small the flux density is also quite low
hence, a small voltage is induced in the secondary winding
If the secondary winding is open-circuited when the primary
winding
i di is i carrying
i currentt
the primary mmf remains same while the open secondary mmf reduces
to zero
therefore, the resultant mmf is very large (i.e., equal to primary mmf =IpNp)
this large mmf produces a large flux in core till it saturates
this large
g flux linkingg the turn of secondaryy winding g would induce a
high voltage in the secondary winding which could be dangerous
to the transformer insulation and to the person operating it
Also,, the eddy
y current and hysteresis
y loses would be veryy high
g under
this condition
thus the transformer may be overheated and completely damaged
pp the core mayy become ppermanently
Even if this does not happen, y
magnetized and give erroneous results.