CURRENT TRANSFORMER

TESTING - IEEE
Vojko Mrdic
Application engineer
1.
Introduction
Contents
 Presentation
contents
• CT theory
• Methods for testing CTs
• CT parameters to be tested

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2.
CT theory
Basics, types
 CT theory

• CT is used for measuring current?

• Wrong!
• CT is electrical apparatus that transforms high currents to a
measurable level (usually 1 A or 5 A)
• Measuring device connected to CT secondary measures
current
• Measuring device + wires from CT = burden (CT load)
• CT + burden = system for measuring high currents

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 CT theory

• CT is electrical apparatus that transforms high currents to a

measurable level (usually 1 A or 5 A)
• The most important parameter – CT accuracy
• What makes a CT accurate?
• Core, winding, burden

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 CT theory

• Accuracy is defined for turns ratio (ratio error) and phase

shift (phase error)
• Turns ratio is the ratio of primary and secondary current
amplitudes
• Ratio error is percentual difference of actual and rated turns
ratio
• Phase shift is the phase difference between primary and
secondary current sine waves
• When secondary current leads the primary current, phase
shift is defined as positive
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 CT theory

• Ratio error and phase error are not the same as composite
error
• Composite error is the sum of all errors, including both ratio
and phase error

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 CT types

• Metering – for measuring rated currents, under “normal”

conditions
• Protection – for measuring high fault currents, several times
or several tens of times higher than rated currents

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 Metering CTs

• Defined by one major parameter

• Accuracy class

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 Metering CTs
Accuracy class
• According to IEEE standard C57.13
• Classes 0.15S, 0.15, 0.15N, 0.3S, 0.3, 0.6, 1.2
• Standard defines TCF (transformer correction factor) and
RCF (ratio correction factor) limiting values for each class

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 Metering CTs
Accuracy class
• Standard TCF and RCF limiting values

Accuracy At 100% rated current At 10% rated current At 5% rated current

class Minimum Maximum Minimum Maximum Minimum Maximum
0.15S 0.9985 1.0015 - - 0.9985 1.0015
0.15 0.9985 1.0015 - - 0.9970 1.0030
0.15N 0.9985 1.0015 0.9970 1.0030 - -
0.3S 0.9970 1.0030 - - 0.9970 1.0030
0.3 0.9970 1.0030 0.9940 1.0060 - -
0.6 0.9940 1.0060 0.9880 1.0120 - -
1.2 0.9880 1.0120 0.9760 1.0240 - -

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 Metering CTs
Accuracy class
• RCF is calculated from ratio error:

±𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟[%]
• 𝑅𝐶𝐹 = 1 −
100

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 Metering CTs
Accuracy class
• Or ratio error limits can be calculated from RCF limits:

• 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟[%] = 1 − 𝑅𝐶𝐹 × 100

• Where RCF is taken as minimum and maximum

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 Metering CTs
Accuracy class
• Ratio error limiting values [%]
Accuracy class At 100% rated current At 10% rated current At 5% rated current
0.15S ±0.15 - ±0.15
0.15 ±0.15 - ±0.3
0.15N ±0.15 ±0.3 -
0.3S ±0.3 - ±0.3
0.3 ±0.3 ±0.6 -
0.6 ±0.6 ±1.2 -
1.2 ±1.2 ±2.4 -

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 Metering CTs
Accuracy class
• Phase error limits are calculated from TCF:

• 𝑃ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 𝑅𝐶𝐹 − 𝑇𝐶𝐹 × 2600

• Where TCF is taken as minimum and maximum

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 Metering CTs
Accuracy class
• Phase error limiting values [minutes]
Accuracy class At 100% rated current At 10% rated current At 5% rated current
0.15S ±7.8 - ±7.8
0.15 ±7.8 - ±15.6
0.15N ±7.8 ±15.6 -
0.3S ±15.6 - ±15.6
0.3 ±15.6 ±31.2 -
0.6 ±31.2 ±62.4 -
1.2 ±62.4 ±124.8 -

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 Metering CTs
Accuracy class

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 Metering CTs
Accuracy class

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 Metering CTs
Accuracy class

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 Metering CTs
Accuracy class

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 Metering CTs
Accuracy class
• Limits are valid for standard burden
• The accuracy class at a lower standard burden is not
necessarily the same as at the specified standard burden

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 Metering CTs
Standard burdens

Burden Total power Total power

Burdens Impedance [Ω] Power factor
designation [VA] at 5 A [VA] at 1 A
Electronic E0.04 0.04 1.0 0.04 1.0
Electronic E0.2 0.2 5.0 0.2 1.0
Metering B-0.1 0.1 2.5 0.1 0.9
Metering B-0.2 0.2 5.0 0.2 0.9
Metering B-0.5 0.5 12.5 0.5 0.9
Metering B-0.9 0.9 22.5 0.9 0.9
Metering B-1.8 1.8 45.0 1.8 0.9

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 Metering CTs
Rating factor
• According to IEEE standard C57.13
• Defines if accuracy will be valid for primary currents higher
than 100% of rated primary current
• Typical rating factors are 1, 1.33, 1.5, 2, 3, 4

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 Metering CTs
Rating factor
• If rating factor (RF) is 1, the accuracy must be met at 100%
of rated primary current
• If RF is 1.5, the accuracy must be met at 150% of rated
primary current
• If RF is 2, the accuracy must be met at 200% of rated
primary current
• Etc.

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 Metering CTs
Multiple taps
• The metering accuracy rating applies only to the full
secondary winding, unless otherwise specified

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 Protection CTs

• Defined by one major parameter

• Accuracy class

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 Protection CTs
Accuracy class
• According to IEEE standard C57.13
• Classes C, K, T, X

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 Protection CTs
Accuracy class
• Ratio error limiting values [%]
Accuracy class At rated current At 20 times rated current
C, K, T 3 10
X 1 user defined

• Phase error limiting values not defined by IEEE C57.13

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 Protection CTs
Classes C, K, T
• Another important parameter
• Secondary terminal voltage (Vb)
• The voltage which the CT will deliver to a standard burden
at 20 times rated current, without exceeding the limits
• Real Vb must be higher than the limit provided by the
standard

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 Protection CTs
Standard burdens

Burden Total power Terminal

Burdens Impedance [Ω] Power factor
designation [VA] at 5 A voltage [V]
Relaying B-0.1 0.1 2.5 0.9 10
Relaying B-0.2 0.2 5.0 0.9 20
Relaying B-0.5 0.5 12.5 0.9 50
Relaying B-1.0 1.0 25.0 0.5 100
Relaying B-2.0 2.0 50.0 0.5 200
Relaying B-4.0 4.0 100.0 0.5 400
Relaying B-8.0 8.0 200.0 0.5 800

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 Protection CTs
Secondary terminal voltage

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3.
Methods for testing
instrument transformers
 Methods for testing
instrument transformers
• Primary injection
• Secondary injection
• Model-based testing

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 Primary injection
test method
• Also called direct test
• Very high AC current
• Injected at primary side
• Current measured at secondary side
• Requires very heavy equipment
• Only used in factories and laboratories
• Not portable
• Not suitable for field use

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 Secondary injection
test method
• High AC voltage
• Up to 2 kV, rated frequency (50 or 60 Hz)
• Applied at CT secondary side
• Portable equipment (around 20 kg)
• Suitable for field use

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 Model-based
test method
• Low AC voltage
• Up to 120 V, variable frequency (up to 400 Hz)
• Applied at CT secondary side
• Portable equipment (around 10 kg)
• Suitable for field use

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 Standard
IEEE C57.13
• Paragraph 9.1.1 Accuracy calculations for current
transformers

• “For current transformers having substantially continuous

ring cores, uniformly distributed secondary windings, and
having either a centrally located primary conductor or a
uniformly distributed primary winding, the values of ratio,
ratio error, and phase angle may be obtained by
calculation (computation) from the obtained secondary
excitation characteristics at the rated frequency.”

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 Standard
IEEE C57.13
• Paragraph 9.1.1 Accuracy calculations for current
transformers

• “Although the following indirect test will lead to results which

are close to the results obtained in the direct test, the
routine accuracy tests for the metering current transformers
shall always be performed as a direct test.”

• “On the other hand, the alternative method is suitable for

on-site measurements, and for monitoring purposes.”
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 Thanks
Questions?
You can contact me at vojko.m@[Link]