Electronic Instrument Transformers

for Integrated Substation Systems

M. Saitoh, T. Kimura, Y. Minami, N. Yamanaka, S. Maruyama,
T. Nakajima, M. Kosakada, Member, IEEE,
information with the processing capabilities of digital
electronics. The designs of ECTs and EVTs are based on IEC
60044-8 and IEC 60044-7 respectively, and take into account
the harshest environmental conditions of temperature,
vibrations, and electromagnetic compatibility. On the other
hand the designs of the digital output interfaces of the digital
electronics are based on IEC 61850-9. The ECTs and EVTs
link up with protection relay units, Bay Control Units (BCUs),
Control and Monitoring Units (CMUs) mounted on primary
equipment instead in the local control cubicle, via the process
level LAN. The sensed current and voltage information are
transmitted to them as optical digital signals. By doing this, the
primary equipment and substation system wiring can be
simplified due to the extensive use of optical fibers for
communication of current and voltage information, operating
commands, state condition of primary equipment, and so on.
Index Terms-Electronic CTs, Electronic VTs, Process BUS, This also lead to important savings in civil engineering at the
Rogowski coil, Capacitive Voltage divider, Sensing Unit, Merging time of installation. In addition, the compactness and
Unit.
economics of the substation facilities are improved, which is
always an advantage.
I. INTRODUCTION
This paper discusses the electronic instrument transformers,
Being encouraged by recent progress in information which are applied for digitized substation systems integrated
technology and requirements of the competitive power market, with primary equipment. The optimum system configuration
it is proposed to make a substation information-terminal in and the reliability of the electronic instrument transformers are
which precise and sophisticated data from substation primary described. The results of performance that can be achieved by
equipment can be acquired. These data are needed not only for the electronic instrument transformers are evaluated.
operational, engineering, maintenance staff in the operation
center but also for sales, marketing, quality engineering, and
11. GENERAL
CONFIGURATION OF ELECTRONIC
C T S AND VTS
management people at remote places. Digital information
technology assures realization of this scheme. Current and A. The System Configuration of Electronic CTs and VTs
voltage information in the main high-voltage circuits are one
Fig. 1 shows an example of the system configuration of
of the most important information dealt with substation system, electronic CTs and VTs. The ECT is based on the principle of
so the digitizing procedure of instrument transformers is a Rogowski coil by taking into account of saturation free
indispensable to integrate primary equipment to digitized characteristics and economical efficiency. As for the voltage
integrated substation system, that is to make a substation detection sensor of EVT, a capacitive voltage divider of high
information-terminal.
reliability and simple insulated construction was applied.
Today, electronic current transformers (ECTs) and
Sensing Units (SUS) are arranged near the Rogowski coil
electronic voltage transformers (EVTs) have achieved high and the capacitive voltage divider on each bay, respectively,
performances with a very small size
In addition their and one Merging Unit (MU) is provided. Each SU is
digital output complies with the most stringent requirement of connected to the MU by optical fiber, and the MU is
the digitized integrated substation system. The ECTs and connected to the process bus by optical fiber. In order to
EVTs play a sensing and digitizing role for current and voltage secure high reliability, all Rogowski coils, SUS, MUS, and
process bus are duplicated, except for the capacitive voltage
M. Saitoh, T. Kimura, Y. Minami, N. Yarnanaka, S. Maruyarna, T.
divider. The ECT and EVT are designed based on IEC 60044Nakajima, and M. Kosakada are with Toshiba Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
8 and IEC 60044-7, respectively.
(e-mail: minoru5.saito@toshiba.co.jp).

Abstract-In order to integrate primary equipment to digitized

integrated substation systems, the digitizing procedure of
instrument transformers is indispensable.
Electronic current transformers (ECTs) and electronic voltage
transformers (Ems)have achieved high performance with a very
small size. The ECTs and EVTs play a sensing and digitizing role
for current and voltage information offered by Rogowski coils
and capacitive voltage dividers respectively with the processing
capabilities of digital electronics, and link up with protection
relays and bay control units via process level LAN. The sensed
current and voltage signals are transmitted as digital signals.
This paper discusses the system construction of the electronic
instrument transformers, which are applied for digitized
substation systems integrated with primary equipment. The
results of performance that can be achieved by the electronic
instrument transformersare evaluated.

0-7803-7525-4/02/$17.00 02002 IEEE.

459

Fig. 2 The View of Printed Circuit Board Type Rogowski Coil.

Time
Synchronization
Signal

D. SU,MU, and Process Bus

The analogue voltage signals from the Rogowski coil and
Bus
Process
the divided voltage
are converted into digital
signals
at
- signals
each SU, synchronized by a time synchronization signal from
the MU, and transmitted to the MU. The MU adds time stamps
to the sampled digital signals from each SU, and merges them
to
combined serial current and voltage data, and transmits this
Fig. 1 The System Configuration of Electronic CTs and VTs.
data to a protection relay unit and bay control unit via the
B. Rogowski Coil
process bus.
A known problem regarding Rogowski coils without an iron
The time-synchronization function of the MU utilizes the
core is the large ratio error that results from manufacturing timing signal from a sampling master, for instance it may
difficulties, such as lack of uniformity for coil pitch or coil generate the sampling signal based on the standard signal of
cross section, and changes in the operating temperature the Global Positioning System (GPS). The time signal is
conditions. In order to solve this problem, the authors shared within the substation.
developed the Rogowski coil by making coils in the form of
The process bus connects the MU for ECTs and EVTs,
patterns on printed circuit board. By applying the protection relay units, BCUs and CMUs. The process bus uses
manufacturing technology of the printed circuit board it the standard communication protocol of IEC 61850-9 for
became possible to manufacture the Rogowski coil with a interoperability. In the digitized integrated substation, primary
uniform and highly precise winding pitch. As a result, a very equipment and substation system are connected by process
small and high accuracy Rogowski coil is achieved, such as the level LAN, for almost all the information in the substation,
printed circuit board type Rogowski coil shown in Fig. 2. As such as sampled digital values of the currents and the voltages,
the energized part of ECTs utilizing Rogowski coils are very operating commands, state condition of primary equipment.
small, it is possible to integrate them directly not only on a The digital interface of the MU and the transmitted data frame
dead tank type circuit breaker or gas insulated switchgear is designed based on IEC 61850-9, so it is suitable to apply
(CIS) but also on a live tank type circuit breaker or air ECTs and EVTs to the digitized integrated substation.
insulated switchgear (AIS). By doing this it is possible to limit
the number of insulators and the architecture of the substation.
111. I-AIS w m ELECTRONIC
CTs

C. Capacitive Voltage Divider

The high-voltage side capacitor of the capacitive voltage
divider is formed with the primary electrode at the high
voltage conductor and the middle electrode floating. The
dielectric is the gas used in switchgear: pure SF6. Using a
capacitive voltage divider, the risk of the ferroresonance
phenomena can be restricted. CIS size can be reduced
drastically by adopting the developed Rogowski coil and
capacitive voltage divider instead of conventional CTs and
VTs.

I-AIS [41 is Toshibas new concept high voltage switchgear.

The switchgear is an integration of live tank type gas circuit
breaker, live tank type disconnector, earthing switch and
electronic CT, so called Integrated Air Insulated switchgear (1AIS). The I-AISwith ECT is described here.
A. Configuration of I-AIS with Electronic CTs
Fig. 3 shows the system configuration of 245kV I-AIS with
Electronic CT.The Rogowski coil and SU are mounted at top
of the circuit breaker charged to a high-voltage. Power to
supply the SU with a high-voltage potential is transmitted as
laser light from a Laser Diode Unit (LDU) at ground potential.
The SU at high-voltage potential and the MU at ground
460

potential are connected by high-voltage optical sensor link that

is optical fiber cable with insulator, so the Rogowski coil and
the SU is insulated completely against the MU at ground
potential. The analogue signal from the Rogowski coil is
converted into 16bit optic digital signal at the SU, and is
transmitted to MU through the optical fiber insulator.
The specification of Electronic CT for 245kV I-AIS is
shown in Table 1.

B. Experimental Results
1 ) Linearity of Current Measurements
The linearity of current measurements of the ECT applying
a printed circuit board type Rogowski coil with SU is shown in
Fig. 4. The ratio error at 200 % In and 1 % In (In = 3150 A)
are 0.02 % and 0.68 % respectively. The ECT satisfies fully
the accuracy limit of IEC Class 0.5.
The ratio error of the printed circuit board type Rogowski
coil alone is less than 2 0.1 % under the primary current
between 1 % In and 200 % In (not shown).
1.5
1

-5

For Protection :OlCF H

0.5

B
$

.Standard

I F O ~Protection : IEC Class 5~

I IEC60044-8

-0.5
-1

-1.5
0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

5000

6000

7000

Primary Current [A]

100

B
-

g
-0

g
e

80
60
40

20

0
-20

-40

-60
-80
-100
0

1000

2000

3000

4000

Primary Cumnt [A]

Fig. 4 The Linearity of Current Measurementsof Electronic CT.

2) Temperature Characteristics
The temperature characteristic of the ECT applying the
printed circuit board type Rogowski coil with SU is shown in
Fig. 5 . Under an operating temperature range between -40 "C
and +60 "C, the ratio error drift of the ECT is less than +0.1 %
and the drift of phase displacement is less than d 0 min
without temperature compensation.
The temperature characteristic of the printed circuit board
type Rogowski coil alone is less than 2 0.05 % of the ratio
error and less than f 2 min of the phase displacement under an
operating temperature range between -40 "C and +60 "C (not
shown) when the burden (pure resistance), normally mean of
the input impedance of SU, is suitably chosen. In the case of IAIS the input impedance of the SU was set to 1.25 kQ.

(a) I-AISwith Electronic CT.

@) Merging Unit (Left) and Laser Diode Unit (Right) at ground potential.
Fig. 3 The System Configurationof 245kV I-AISwith Electronic CT"

46 1

60
40

20

3
c

0
-20

-40

.E

-60
-80

a. -100
-120

-1 40
-60

-40

-20

20

40

60

80

\ I

t
0

v
40

20

Temperature [c]

60

EO

100

Time [ms]
60

3
4

40

20

0
-20

2 -40
-60

-80
-100

-30

-60

-40

-20

20

40

60

80

-140
0

Temperature [c]

20

40

60

80

100

Time [ms]

Fig. 5 The Temperature Characteristicof Electronic m.

3) Transient Response
For protection purposes the transient response of the ECT at
the time of fault current is important. Fig. 6 shows the ECT
secondary output waveform (digital signal waveform) (lower)
and primary current waveform measured with a shunt (upper)
which were recorded in a 50 kA short circuit current breaking
test with 52 % DC component. The Rogowski coil is linear, so
that no saturation occurs even when a large current of several
lOkA with DC component is measured.
Another problem concerning conventional C T s is the low
frequency characteristic, which can be defined as a
transmission time constant. In contrast to conventional CTs,
where the DC transmission performance is a characteristic
which can not be adjusted, the ECT allows the time constant to
be adjusted according to the specifications of the customer.
This is done in the digital processing of the MU.
IV. ELECIRONIC VTS M)R

+ +

++ ++

-120
I

+ +

Fig. 6 The ECT Secondary Output Waveform (Lower) and Primary Current
Waveform measured with a Shunt (Upper) which were Recorded in a 50 kA
Short Circuit Current Breaking Test.

The analogue signal from the capacitive voltage divider is

converted into 16bit digital signal at the SU,and is transmitted
to the MU that is the common unit with the ECT which merges
the sampled signals of ECTs and EVTs to combined serial
data.
The specification of the Electronic VT for 245kV AIS is
shown in Table 2.

AIS

A. Configuration of Electronic VTs for AIS

Fig. 7 shows Electronic V T for 245kV AIS. The reduced
size and weight compared to a conventional oil-filled VT
allows placement in a compact substation. A capacitive
voltage divider with an SF6 gas capacitor as the high-voltage
side capacitor and a mica capacitor as the voltage divider
capacitor is constructed in the lower tank on ground potential.
The SU is arranged near the lower tank and the power to
supply the SU is DC llOV. The SU is connected to the MU by
optical fiber.

Fig. 7 The Electronic V T for 245kV AIS.

462

+60 "C, the error drift of the capacitive voltage divider is less
than 0.1 % without temperature compensation.
Rated Primarv Voltaee
Rated Frequency
Rated Secondary Output
(16bit Digital Output)

Sampling Rate
Accuracy Class
Standard

I 245 / \13 kV

0.5

5OHzl6oHz
For measuring : 2D41 H
(Decimal :11585)
For Protection : 2D41 H
(Decimal : 11585)
2.4 lrHz for 50Hz
2.88 kHz for 60Hz
For measuring :IEC Class 0.5
For Protection : IEC Class 3P
IEC60044-7

0.4

0.3
0.2
0.1

g o

.;-0.1
a

-0.2

-0.3
-0.4

............ J . . . . . . . . . . . . .
-4

L......l....

-0.5

B. Experimental Results
1) Linearity of Voltage Measurements
The linearity of Voltage Measurements of the capacitive
voltage divider for EVT is shown in Fig. 8. The ratio error of
the capacitive voltage divider is less than 2 0.1 % under the
primary voltage between 2 % Vn and 150 % Vn (Vn = 245h/3
kV). It is suggested that the EVT with the SU and the
capacitive voltage divider satisfy fully the accuracy limit of
IEC Class 0.5.

-20

-10

10
20
30
Temperature ["c]

40

50

60

Fig. 9 The Temperature Characteristicof Capacitive Voltage Divider for

Electronic VT.

V. INTEGRATED GIS mE L E ~ O N CTs

I C AND VTs
Fig. 10 shows the system configuration of the GIS with
electronic C T s and VTs for the digitized integrated substation.
The SUS are attached close to the printed circuit board type
Rogowski coils and the capacitive voltage dividers
respectively. The MU is mounted on the primary apparatus in
the GIS application as part of the Process Control Unit (PCU)
which is an integrated unit of protection relay unit (PU),
control unit (CU) and MU. The PU, CU, MU, and CMU
(instead of local control cubicle) are interfaced with each other
via the process bus, and the station bus links these components
to the station control unit (SCU). Information on the station
bus is transmitted to the remote office through the remote
terminal unit (RTU)or the gateway (GW).

,'

Control Room
-U

20

60
80
100
120
Primary Voltage [%Vn] : 100%Vn = 245 / $3
40

140

160

3An

-.g

zoo

Equipment Yard

160
120

1;' 80

-8
-

40
0

9 -40

$ -80

!g-120
-160
-200

-__
0

20

100
120
Primary Voltage [%Vn] : 100%Vn = 245 / $3

40

60

80

I
.-

140

160

Fig. 8 The finearity of Voltage Measurementsof Capacitive Voltage Divider

for Electronic VT.

2) Temperature Characteristics
The temperature characteristic of Voltage Measurements of
the capacitive voltage divider for EVT is shown in Fig. 9.
Under the operating temperature range between -20 "C and
463

P C U Process Control Una

CU: Control unit
PU: Protectionunit
MU: Merging unit
SU: Sensing unil
ECT: Electronics Current transformer
EVT: ElectronicsVoltage transformer
CMU: Controland moniloringunit

BP:Bus protectionunit
SCU: Stalin umtrol unit
HMI: Human interface
RTU: Remote terminal unit
G W Gateway
Bui"-in

Fig. 10 The System Configuration of the GIS with Electronic CTs and VTs
for the Digitized Integrated Substation.

Almost all the information in the digitized integrated

substation, such as current and voltage information, is
transmitted as digitized data via the process bus and station
bus, so that easy data acquisition of such digitized data is
possible not only for operational, engineering, maintenance
staff in operation center but also for sales, marketing, quality
engineering, and management people at remote places.
VI. CONCLUSIONS
Electronic instrument transformers, which are applied to
digitized substation systems integrated with primary equipment,
were developed. The system has following features.
(1) The ECT is based on the principle of a Rogowski coil of
printed circuit board type, and the EVT applies a capacitor
voltage divider principle.
(2) The analogue voltage signals from the Rogowski coil
and the divided voltage signals are converted into digital
signals at each SU, and the MU merges sampled digital
signals to combined serial data, and transmits it to a
protection and control unit via the process bus.
(3) Almost all the information in the digitized integrated
substation, such as current and voltage information, is
transmitted as digitized data, so that people from various
places should be able to access the required information.
(4)The configuration and the experimental results of ECTs
and EVTs, which are applied for I-AIS, AIS, GIS in
digitized integrated substation, were presented. The linearity
of current and voltage measurement, temperature
characteristic, transient response showed good performance.
(5) The electronic CTs and VTs on primary equipment can
be connected with protection and control unit via process
bus using standardized protocol instead of a huge number of
wire cables. Therefore civil work for the cable pit, and wire
connection and check work will be greatly reduced.
VII. REFERENCES
(11 A. Kaczkowski et al, Combined sensors for current and voltage are ready
for applications in GIS, CIGRE 1998 session 12-106
(21 J. P. Dupraz et al, The integration of electronic a s and VTs in power
switchgear : challenges and choices, CIGRE 2000 session 12/23/34/-01
(31 R. Gross, et ai, Substation control and protection system for novel
sensors, CIGRE 2000 session 12/23/34/-03
[4] A. Kobayashi, et al, 252kV New-Concept Integrated Air-InsulatedSwitchgear, The Beijing International Conference Power Transmission
and Distribution Technology 2001, p.743

VIII. BIOGRAPHIES
Minoru Saitoh received his B.S.and M.S. degree in electrical engineering
from Science University of Tokyo in 1992 and 1994 respectively. In 1994, he
joined Toshiba Corporation. Since then, he has been engaged in the
development and design of Non-conventional CTs and VTs, and control,
monitoring and diagnostic system of gas-insulated switchgear. MI. Saito is a
member of IEE of Japan and a member of the Japan Society of Applied
Physics.
Tatsuya Kimura received his B.S. and M.S. degree in electrical engineering
from Doshisha University in 1990 and 1992 respectively. In 1992, he joined
Toshiba Corporation. Since then, he has been engaged in the research and
development of communication system and sensing system. MI. Kimura is a
member of IEICE of Japan.
Yyii Minami received his B.S degree in control engineering from Kyushu
Institute of Technology in 1991. In 1991, he joined Toshiba Corporation.
Since then, he has been engaged in the development of diagnostic technology
of electronic device, the development and design of power protection relay.
Mr. Minami is a member of IEE of Japan.
Naoyoshi Yamanaka received his B.S degree in electrical engineering from
Hiroshima Institute of Technology in 1990. In 1990, he joined Toshiba
Corporation. Since then, he has been engaged in the development and design
of power protection relay.
Shiro Maruyama received his B.S. and M.S. degree in electrical and
electronics engineering from Nagoya University in 1980 and 1982
respectively. In 1982, he joined Toshiba Corporation. Since then, he has been
engaged in the development and design of high-voltage gas-insulated
substations and their monitoring and diagnostic system. MI. Maruyama is a
member of DEE of Japan.
Takashi Nakajima received his B.S. and M.S. degree in electrical
engineering from Yamagata University in 1976 and 1978 respectively. In
1978, he joined Toshiba Corporation. Since then, he has been engaged in the
development and design of high-voltage gas-insulated substations (GIS) and
their monitoring and diagnostic systems. Mr. Nakajima is a member of E E of
Japan.
Masayuki Kosakada (M1991) received his B.S. degree in electrical
engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1986. In 1986, he joined Toshiba
Corporation. Since then, he has been engaged in system engineering of
substation equipment such as gas-insulated switchgear, circuit breaker,
transformer and substation system. MI. Kosakada is a member of IEEE and
IEE of Japan.

464