 Quick guide for

CTsaturationDemo.exe
ABB Oy,
Medium Voltage Products

Contents:
1 Starting the tool ................................................................................................... 2
2 Using the tool........................................................................................................ 3
2.1 CT data - parameters..................................................................................... 4
2.2 Fault data + remanence – parameters ........................................................... 5
2.3 Plotting parameters ....................................................................................... 6
2.3.1 Plotting to external window(s) .......................................................... 6
2.4 Saving simulated CT secondary current ....................................................... 8
2.5 Loading disturbance files.............................................................................. 9
3 Case study........................................................................................................... 11
4 Notes .................................................................................................................... 14
5 Testing with real relay – some ideas/hints ....................................................... 15

 Copyright 2015 ABB Oy, Medium Voltage Products, Vaasa, FINLAND 1 (15)
 Quick guide for CTsaturationDemo.exe

1 Starting the tool

Note that the tool requires that “Matlab Compiler Runtime (MCR) Installer” is run in your
computer. Otherwise you will get an error. The latest version of the MCR can be
downloaded from Matworks web-page
http://se.mathworks.com/products/compiler/mcr/index.html

When you run the tool: CTsaturationDemo.exe it will first load the Matlab RunTime
dynamic libraries which can take a long time, with a slow computer even more than half of a
minute.

When the tool starts, it first shows this

Please read the text! Then press Enter or click OK and the tool is ready for use.

 Copyright 2011 ABB Oy, Distribution Automation, Vaasa, FINLAND 2 (15)

 Quick guide for CTsaturationDemo.exe

2 Using the tool

In the upper part of the tool, you can set CT data and other parameters for simulation. There
are also button for saving the simulated CT secondary waveform to a Comtrade file etc.

The lower part of the window shows

- Fault current in primary (blue curve)
- Simulated CT secondary current (red curve)
- CT magnetic flux, black line shows zero-line, red lines shows saturation limits

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 Quick guide for CTsaturationDemo.exe

2.1 CT data - parameters

The simulation can be based on

- “Simplified CT” model, where the CT magnetizing curve is assumed to be linear up to
the saturation point. At the saturation point it is assumed that CT saturates
completely, i.e. curve becomes flat.
- Predefined real CT data by selecting CT from the pop-up list. The actual burden of the
CT (Rm) can be given. The “CT actual ALF” is then calculated, but ALF cannot be
changed. The CT data is taken from old ABB CTs manufactured in Vaasa.
- Own CT data by giving CT parameters with the “Specify a CT” button

When simplified CT is selected, the CT rated primary and secondary currents can be given
together with the CT actual accuracy limit factor (ALF, also known as Fa)

When predefined CT is selected, the actual burden

of the CT (Rm) can be given. The tool calculate the
actual ALF

When own CT is specified, all CT

parameters can be given. Note that ratio
of primary and secondary current must be
equal to ratio of number of secondary and
primary turns of the CT. When this is true,
the CT parameters can be “Activated”.
When this is not true, the corresponding
parameters are shown with red
background.

 Copyright 2011 ABB Oy, Distribution Automation, Vaasa, FINLAND 4 (15)

 Quick guide for CTsaturationDemo.exe

2.2 Fault data + remanence – parameters

The fault current is given in primary amps.

In real world, depending on at which point of the sinus-wave the fault occurs there can be
DC component. This can be given with the DC component slider. Worst case situation is
100%. The DC decays with time-constant of fault circuit L/R which can also be set.

Example: fault circuit DC time-constant has X/R=8.8, f=50Hz

𝑋⁄
𝑅
𝜏= = 0.028𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝜔

When a fault current is broke with the Circuit Breaker, the current tends to break at sinus-
wave zero-crossing. But at this point CT magnetic flux has highest value. Because of this some
flux will remain in the CT after CB opening. This flux is known as remanence. This can be set
in the tool as per cent of the maximum (saturation point) flux. Often remanence is not
considered (=0%). In practice, it is assumed to be 40% or less.

Note: if the primary current has been loaded from the Comtrade file, only the CT remanence
can be set and the Fault current shows “Comtrade file” with green background. Entering a
number for the fault current puts simulation back to normal (i.e. ends using comtrade data).

 Copyright 2011 ABB Oy, Distribution Automation, Vaasa, FINLAND 5 (15)

 Quick guide for CTsaturationDemo.exe

2.3 Plotting parameters

Sample frequency is recommended to be at least 2000 Hz (i.e. 2000 samples per second), but
especially when studying CT heavy saturation, higher value like 30 000 Hz give more accurate
output.

The currents plot can be selected to be scaled in primary or in secondary. CT secondary

current is also show, but primary current can be selected on/off.

Tool can also show the CT magnetic flux (but without any numeric value) this is handy when
studying effect of DC component.

Measuring modes
- DFT = calculated fundamental frequency component value
- TrueRMS = RMS value (includes DC-component)
- Peak-to-Peak = current value using peak-to-peak measuring principle

2.3.1 Plotting to external window(s)

Currents can be plot to an external window, where

it can be saved to a picture file, for example

Angle displacement error window shows how DFT

calculate phase angle changes because of CT
saturation. This can be used when considering the
effect of CT saturation in the directional
overcurrent protection.

 Copyright 2011 ABB Oy, Distribution Automation, Vaasa, FINLAND 6 (15)

 Quick guide for CTsaturationDemo.exe

External window has some nice tools in the toolbar, for example
- zoom
- data cursors
o Select Data Cursors from the toolbar, then point with mouse to any point in the
curve(s) and mouse left-click. This adds datatip with values from X and Y axis
o right mouse-click to create more data cursors, or removing them

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 Quick guide for CTsaturationDemo.exe

2.4 Saving simulated CT secondary current

When “Save Comtrade” button is pressed, another window will appear.

The current injection device (like Omicron) might not be able to give out high current values,
but with the “Max current” parameter can be used to limit max current values. In practice it
means cutting the current.

When “Create COMTRADE files” is pressed the program asks for filename. The tool will then
create .DAT and .CFG files.

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 Quick guide for CTsaturationDemo.exe

2.5 Loading disturbance files

Clicking the “Load Comtrade” button opens new window which can be used to load data
from the disturbance file to be used as primary current for the CT simulation.

1. Click “Select file” and select comtrade file to be used

2. Select from the “Channel” pop-up which channel in the file you want to use. Tool
will draw the channel contect in the screen

You can now load data to the CT simuation with the “Load and simulate” button.

 Copyright 2011 ABB Oy, Distribution Automation, Vaasa, FINLAND 9 (15)

 Quick guide for CTsaturationDemo.exe

It is also possible to select only part of the data by clicking the “Set X-range” button. Next
you must show starting point and click mouse, then show the end point and click mouse
again. The tool will then take data from that part only

Note: when the primary current has been loaded from the Comtrade file, only the CT
remanence can be set and the Fault current shows “Comtrade file” with green background.
Entering a number for the fault current puts simulation back to normal (i.e. ends using
comtrade data).

 Copyright 2011 ABB Oy, Distribution Automation, Vaasa, FINLAND 10 (15)

 Quick guide for CTsaturationDemo.exe

3 Case study
Motor feeder is protected against short-circuit with a non-directional overcurrent protection
function set for 5.0kA 0.050 sec. CT is 400/5A having actual ALF = 26. The incoming feeder
has non-directional overcurrent relay set for 7.3kA 0.25 sec. Assume 2-phase fault, DC time-
constant 0.06 sec, 50Hz network, no CT remanence.
- Will CT saturate at 5kA fault current, will it delay relay operation?
- Will CT saturate at 7.3kA fault current, will it delay relay operation and how much?
- Assume maximum fault current 40kA, will relay operate correctly?

The actual ALF tells that CT will saturate at 26 x 400A = 10.4kA in case there is no DC
component. But DC component will cause CT to saturate at much lower fault current level.
At 5kA fault level, we can see that the CT saturates before the positive side peak values is
reached, which means that relay will not see current value correctly. Only after about 0.1
sec, as the DC component decays, the CT recovers enough and we can expect relay to pick-
up. Expected relay operation time at 5kA is therefore 0.1 + 0.05 = 0.15 sec

Note the Y-scale is in primary as kiloApms (kA).

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 Quick guide for CTsaturationDemo.exe

At 7.3kA we can see from the peak-to-peak estimation, that at begin of the fault, relay (set
for 5kA) will pick-up, but at about 0.025 sec it will reset because of the CT saturation. Relay
will pick-up again at about 0.045 sec. We can expect relay to operate at 0.045 + 0.05 = 0.09
sec.

Assuming the CT in the incoming do not saturate, its relay will operate at 0.25 sec. We have
0.25 sec - 0.09 sec = 0.16 sec in between, which must cover: relay operation time tolerances,
breaker opening time, retardation time in the relay of incoming feeder and some safety
margin.

 Copyright 2011 ABB Oy, Distribution Automation, Vaasa, FINLAND 12 (15)

 Quick guide for CTsaturationDemo.exe

At 40kA, the peak-to-peak estimation indicates that relay will see current correctly, but we
must also check protection relay performance of detecting short peaks of the saturated CT
secondary current. In this case the width of the peak seems to be about 3 ms or more, which
generally is enough for a non-directional overcurrent relay.

 Copyright 2011 ABB Oy, Distribution Automation, Vaasa, FINLAND 13 (15)

 Quick guide for CTsaturationDemo.exe

4 Notes
This tool is not accurate.

- When using “Simplified CT”, CT magnetizing curve is assumed to be linear up to the

saturation point. At the saturation point it is assumed that CT saturates completely,
i.e. curve becomes flat.

- Using the predefined CTs give more accurate results. The simulation is based on the
CT data received ABB CT manufacturing (before CT manufacturing was transferred
from Vaasa)

- Peak-to-peak calculation is simplified and has no filtering. It also assumes that relay
can see the peak values. In reality if the width of the peak is too narrow, relay might
not see peak value correctly

- Peak-to-peak, RMS and DFT are calculated over 1 fundamental cycle without any
further smoothing/filtering. Actual IED can use for wider calculation window and/or
smoothing/filtering.

 Copyright 2011 ABB Oy, Distribution Automation, Vaasa, FINLAND 14 (15)

Quick guide for CTsaturationDemo.exe

5 Testing with real relay – some ideas/hints

- The tool gives out (in Comtrade format) only 1 phase. Thus only 1 and 2-phase short-
circuits can be simulated with a real relay (In a 2-phase short-circuit, the two phases
are equal but have opposite direction).
- The simulation is not accurate, which means that if this tool is used for testing the
relay performance, some errors must be accepted. When testing the CT + relay
performance for example with 12.5kA fault current, it is therefore advisable to higher
value, like 15kA instead. This gives some safety margin.
- Especially when testing relay performance with saturated CT waveforms, the “Sample
rate” parameter in the tool is important. Also it must be noted that it is not enough
to test something only once. Tests should be repeated at least about 50 times for
ensuring that operation is correct every time.
- It is also advisable to use relay disturbance recording for capturing the actual
waveform used in tests. This can reveal possible mistakes in scaling or weak
performance of the current injection device.

 Copyright 2011 ABB Oy, Distribution Automation, Vaasa, FINLAND 15 (15)