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How to Size Current Transformers  DataSheet PDF

By Steven McFadyen (/user-profile/userid/3)on November 7th, 2011
Search Site.
Download Datasheets for
The correct sizing of current transformers is required to ensure satisfactory operation of measuring instruments and Free.
protection relays. Several methods exist to size current transformers. This note will look at several methods, with particular
Offers a great collection
attention being paid to protection class CTs sized in IEC 60044, which is adopted internationally.
of electronic parts
datasheet.

datasheetspdf.com

Harmonised Cable Codes and Colours

(https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/228/harmonised-
cable-codes-and-colours)
Within Europe the European Committee for Electrotechnical
Standardization (CENELEC) has standardised the both the
designation and colour of cables. ...
(http://myelectrical.com/Portals/0/SunBlogNuke/2/Windows-Live-Writer/How-to-Size-Current-
Transformers_E50F/ABBCT_2.jpg) What are you reading!
ABB Current (https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/114/what-are-
Transformer you-reading)
Reading is a bit of a hobby of mine and I"ve done a few off-
Example of a CT specification: - a very common specification for a protection class CT would be an accuracy topic posts in the past on this. Rather than continue doing
class 5P (1%), with rated accuracy limiting factors of 10 or 20. Typical burdens would be 5, 10, 15 or 20 VA. A the occasional post I thought ...
typical specification would be 5P10 15 VA.

How Electrical Circuits Work

(https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/139/how-
Contents [hide] electrical-circuits-work)
1. The IEC 60044 Method If you have no idea how electrical circuits work, or what
1. What the Manufacturer Wants people mean then they talk about volts and amps, hopefully
2. Connection Leads I can shed a bit light. I’m intending...
2. Other CT Sizing Methods and Requirements
1. BS 3938 and BS 7626 Cable Sheath and Armour Loss
2. ANSI/IEEE C57.13 (https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/235/cable-
sheath-and-armour-loss)
When sizing cables, the heat generated by losses within
any sheath or armour need to be evaluated. When
The IEC 60044 Method significant, it becomes a factor to be considered...

IEC 60044 specifies the requirements for protection CTs (in addition to measuring CT's, VTs and electronic sensors). Differential protection, the good old days
(https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/90/differential-
The key to CT dimensioning under the standard, is the symmetrical short circuit current and transient dimensioning factors: protection-the-good-old-days)
This morning I was explaining how differential protection
Kssc - rated symmetrical short-circuit current factor works to a junior engineer. To give him something to read I
K’ssc - effective symmetrical short-circuit current factor opened up the NPAG (Network Protection...
 Ktd - transient dimensioning factor Voltage Levels to IEC 60038
(https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/203/voltage-
The factor Kssc is relatively easy to understand and relates to the liner portion levels-to-iec-60038)
Example IEC 60044 Calculation
of a CT characteristic. The voltage and current across a CT are linear only The standard aims to consolidate AC and traction voltages
up till a certain value (normally specified as a multiple of the nominal rating), within the industry and defines the following bands: band 1 -
Consider a CT with the following
after which the CT will saturate and the curve will level off. A CT rated at say A.C. systems 100 V to 1...
specification and protection
5P20 will stay linear to approximately 20 times its nominal current. This
requirements:
linear limit is the Kssc (i.e. Kssc = 20). As a reminder, the 5 [in the 5P20] Power Factor
would be the CT accuracy class and the ‘P’ signifies a protection class CT. (https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/197/power-
CT: 600/1 5P20 15 VA, Rct = 4
factor)
Ω
Slightly more complicated is the effective factor, K’scc. This is a calculated Power factor is the ratio between the real power (P in kW)
2
CT Leads: 6 mm , 50 m long
value which takes into account the burden (resistance) of the relay, and apparent power (S in kVA) drawn by an electrical load.
- use R=2 ρ l /a to calculate =
resistance of the CT windings and resistance of the leads: The reactive power (Q in kVAr)...
0.0179 Ω/m
Relay: Siemens 7SJ45, Ktd = 1
Bows and Arrows
Short circuit current, Iscc max =
(https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/42/bows-and-
30 kA
arrows)
It starts with me reading one of the Horrible History books
To find the lead resistance Rleads (two with my son (Groovy Greeks). Arrows were mentioned
leads – supply, return) we can use the which lead to the discussion of the bodkin...
standard formulae for resistivity:
Generator Sizing & Operation Limits
Rleads = 2 ρ l /a = 2 x 0.0175 x 50 / 6 = (https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/62/generator-
0.3 Ω operation-limits)
When selecting a generator, there are inherent limits on the
Numerical relays have low burdens, active and reactive power which can be delivered.
typically 0.1 Ω (where possible the relay Generators are normally sized for a certain...
manual should be consulted).
ABB Technical Guides - Motor Operation
Plugging everything into the equations: (https://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/34/abb-
technical-guides-motor-operation)
2
Rb = 15 VA / 1 A = 15 Ω ABB has produced a range of technical guides that offer
concise explanations of the major technologies and
R’b = Rleads + Rrelay = 0.3 + 0.1 = 0.4 Ω technical issues in low voltage AC drives. ...

K’scc = Kscc (Rct + Rb)/(Rct + R’b)

= 20 (4 + 15 )/ (4 + 0.4) = 86.4

(http://myelectrical.com/Portals/0/SunBlogNuke/2/WindowsLiveWriter/HowtoSizeCurrentTransformers_FC74/7345944727c6cb5e8f2423756b28f0bb_2.png)
Required K’scc > 1 x 30000/600 = 50

Rct - secondary winding d.c. resistance at specified temperature

In this case the effective K’scc of 86.4 is
Rb - rated resistive burden of the relay
greater than the required K’scc of 50 and
R’b - Rleads + Rrelay; this is thel connected burden
the CT meets the stability criteria.
CTs need to be able to supply the required current to drive the relays during transient fault conditions. The ability of the CT
and relay to operate under these conditions is a function of K’scc and the transient performance of the relay, Ktd. The factor,
Ktd is supplied by the relay manufacturer. Correct functioning is achieved by ensuring the following is valid:

(http://myelectrical.com/Portals/0/SunBlogNuke/2/WindowsLiveWriter/HowtoSizeCurrentTransformers_FC74/c176f53a1ee1cd44331dd80e552366ff_2.png)

Issc max - maximum symmetrical short-circuit current

Ipn - CT rated primary current

That it. Once you have confirmed the above is ok, you know your CT is ok.

What the Manufacturer Wants

There is a slight complication in the manufacturers know their relays better than we (or the IEC) do. As general advice, you
should always refer to the manufacturers information:

firstly it is the only way to get the factor Ktd

 secondly manufacturers sometimes have additional requirements; for example Siemens’ overcurrent, motor
protection, line differential (non-pilot)and transformer differential are good to go with the above, while their line
differential (pilot wire) and distance relays require the above and have additional limitations on K’scc

Connection Leads

In the sizing of protection transformers, the resistance (burden) of the connection leads can have a considerable effect. In
calculations, the resistance of the connection leads can be estimated from:

where:

l is the connection lead length in m

ρ is the resistivity in Ω mm2 m-1 (=0.0179 for copper)
A is the cross sectional area in mm2

Other CT Sizing Methods and Requirements

BS 3938 and BS 7626

BS 3938 and BS 7626 are older British Standards which deal the the specification and sizing of current transformers. Both
of these have been withdrawn and are superseded by the IEC 6044 standard.

The standards adopted the concept of knee voltage and it is still common to find knee voltage voltage being used as a CT
sizing parameter.

Knee voltage is defined as the point at which a 10% increase in voltage across the terminals, causes a 50%
increase in excitation current

Utilising the British Standards, CTs were defined by the knee point voltage UKN and the internal secondary resistance Ri. To
convert an IEC design the following can be used:

where: I2N is the nominal secondary current

ANSI/IEEE C57.13

The IEEE standard C57.13 covers the requirements for CT sizing in the North American markets.

Class C of the standard defines CTs by their secondary terminal voltage at 20 times nominal current (for which the ratio error
shall not exceed 10%). Standard classes are C100, C200, C400 and C800 for 5 A nominal secondary current.

This terminal voltage can be calculated from the IEC data as follows:

with

and
If anyone has any questions, comments or suggestions on how to improve the post, please add them below.

Current Transformers (https://myelectrical.com/notes?tag=current+transformers), Equipment Ratings

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Steven McFadyen (/user-profile/userid/3)
Steven has over twenty five years experience working on some of the largest construction projects.
He has a deep technical understanding of electrical engineering and is keen to share this
knowledge.
About the author(/user-profile/userid/3)

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