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CT and VT Comparison and Connection

This document compares and contrasts current transformers (CTs) and voltage transformers (VTs), also known as potential transformers (PTs). CTs transform high primary current to low secondary current, while VTs transform high primary voltage to low secondary voltage. This allows measuring and protection instruments to safely interface with high-voltage systems. CTs are connected in series with transmission lines, while VTs are connected between lines and ground. Proper connection and sizing of instrument transformers is necessary to avoid altering the monitored system.

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805 views5 pages

CT and VT Comparison and Connection

This document compares and contrasts current transformers (CTs) and voltage transformers (VTs), also known as potential transformers (PTs). CTs transform high primary current to low secondary current, while VTs transform high primary voltage to low secondary voltage. This allows measuring and protection instruments to safely interface with high-voltage systems. CTs are connected in series with transmission lines, while VTs are connected between lines and ground. Proper connection and sizing of instrument transformers is necessary to avoid altering the monitored system.

Uploaded by

Abdus Salam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CT And VT Comparison And Connection

In the last two articles we discussed about the Voltage


Transformer(VT) and Current Transformer(CT). Here we
will discuss few more facts about the instrument
transformers and compare the two. In industry the
voltage transformer is also called as Potential
transformer(PT). In a power system representation. CT
and VT or PT are shown symbolically. Below are the
symbols commonly used for VT and CT. Sometimes VT is
also represented by two overlapping circles (as in power
transformer). Also similar to power transformer, small
round dots are used for identification of polarities of the
instruments. Proper polarities identification is important
for connection of instrument transformers.

Here below we compare some important characteristics


of CT and VT
A Voltage Transformer(VT) transform high voltage
of the primary side to low voltage and Current
Transformer(CT) Transform high primary side
current to low current. These low values of voltage

and current can be readily used by the measuring


and protection instruments.
The instrument transformers insulate the low
voltage measuring and protection instruments from
the high voltage side. It enhances safety for the
personnel at the low voltage control and protection
side.
The instrument transformers make it possible for
standardization of instruments and relays etc.
VT is connected between the line and ground or
between the lines(see fig-B). In high voltage
application it is usually connected between the line
and ground. A CT is connected in series with the
line (fig-B).
When energized from the primary side the
secondary of CT should never be kept open and
secondary terminals should be shorted. The VT
secondary should never be shorted. So a fuse is not
inserted in the secondary of CT. But a fuse can be
inserted in the primary or secondary side of VT.
The primary of CT carries the actual current of the
Line whose value of current is to be measured or
sampled. Hence the primary side of CT is comprised
of thick conductor to carry line current and the
secondary side has several turns of conductors of
thinner cross section. In a VT the primary side
voltage is high so there are large numbers of turns
in the primary side of thinner conductor. The
secondary side of VT has few turns of conductor of
large cross sectional area. The secondary side
carries large current for supply to the burden.
For a VT the ideal transformer Law, Vp/Np = Vs /
Ns is important. For a CT the transformer Law IpNp

=IsNs is important. The design of the VT and CT


should be such so that these ideal laws are satisfied
to good accuracy for the respective instrument
transformers.

CT and PT Connection
You have studied in the school that the ammeter should
be connected in series with the load and voltmeter
should be connected across the terminals of the load for
which the voltage is to be measured. Similarly A CT is
connected in series with the load or line and the VT is
connected between the line and ground (or between the
terminals of load or source). See the figure below. In
the figure is a simple system with an AC source and a
load connected by a line. This is the HV system shown in
thick line. The connection of CT, VT and other measuring
and protection instruments are shown with thinner lines.
V and I are the voltmeter and ammeter connected to
secondary sides of VT and CT respectively for
measurement of voltage between the lines and current I
flowing through the line. R is the Relay, one is connected
across the secondary of VT and another is in series with
CT secondary. The relay connected in VT is the voltage
operated type and the one connected in the secondary
of CT is current operated type. The VT is also shown as
connected to the pressure coil of the watt meter and the
CT is connected to the current coil of the same watt
meter. The VT and CT can be connected to many
measuring and/or protection devices. But the sum of the
burdens of the devices should not exceed the rated
burden of the Instruments.

VT and CT are the measuring instruments and the main


purpose is to measure the circuit condition or
parameters. So the connection of the instrument
transformers should not influence or alter the original
circuit condition. It follows that the CT is desired to have
very little impedance (or resistance) across its terminals.
So that the CT in series with the line should not result in
any significant voltage drop across its terminals. The
current flowing in the secondary of the CT does not
influence the primary side current. The primary side
current is solely determined by the load impedance,
source voltage and of course the line parameters.

A voltage transformer is connected between line and


ground. It is desired to have very high impedance. A
low impedance results in comparatively large current
flow in VT primary and can considerably alters the
original circuit condition which is not desired. Otherwise
we can say that the voltage transformer should have
negligible loading effect on the main circuit. In figure-B,
the values of Iz and I should not show any noticeable
difference due to connection of VT and CT.
In fig-C is shown the SLD of the simple system
illustrating symbolic connection of CT and VT.

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