Application Notes P54x/EN AP/Ja4

MiCOM P543, P544, P545 & P546 (AP) 6-83

6. CURRENT TRANSFORMER REQUIREMENTS

6.1 Recommended CT classes (British and IEC)

Class X current transformers with a knee point voltage greater or equal than that calculated
can be used.
Class 5P protection CTs can be used, noting that the knee point voltage equivalent these
offer can be approximated from:
Vk = (VA x ALF)/In + (RCT x ALF x In)
Where:
VA = Voltampere burden rating
ALF = Accuracy limit factor
In = CT nominal secondary current

6.2 Current differential requirements

For accuracy, class X or class 5P current transformers (CTs) are strongly recommended.
The knee point voltage of the CTs should comply with the minimum requirements of the
formulae shown below.

Vk ≥ K. In (Rct + 2 RL)
Where:
Vk = Required IEC knee point voltage
AP
K = Dimensioning factor
In = CT nominal secondary current
Rct = CT resistance
RL = One-way lead impedance from CT to relay
K is a constant depending on:
If = Maximum value of through fault current for stability (multiple of In)
X/R = Primary system X/R ratio
K is determined as follows:
For relays set at Is1 = 20%, Is2 = 2 In, k1 = 30%, k2 = 150%:
K must be the highest of:

K ≥ 40 + (0.07 x (If x X/R))

Or

K ≥ 65

This is valid for (If x X/R) ≤ 1000

For higher (If x X/R) up to 1600:
K = 107
For relays set at Is1 = 20%, Is2 = 2 In, k1 = 30%, k2 = 100%:
K must be the highest of:

K ≥ 40 + (0.35 x (If x X/R))

 P54x/EN AP/Ja4 Application Notes

(AP) 6-84 MiCOM P543, P544, P545 & P546

Or

K ≥ 65

This is valid for (If x X/R) ≤ 600

For higher (If x X/R) up to 1600:
K = 256

6.3 Zone 1 reach point accuracy (RPA)

Vk ≥ KRPA x IF Z1 x (1+ X/R). (RCT + RL)

Where:
Vk = Required CT knee point voltage (volts)
KRPA = Fixed dimensioning factor = always 0.6
IF Z1 = Max. secondary phase fault current at Zone 1 reach point (A)
X/R = Primary system reactance/resistance ratio

RCT = CT secondary winding resistance (Ω)

RL = Single lead resistance from CT to relay (Ω)

6.4 Zone 1 close-up fault operation

AP An additional calculation must be performed for all cables, and any lines where the source
impedance ratio might be less than SIR = 2.

Vk ≥ Kmax x IF max x (RCT + RL)

Where:
Kmax = Fixed dimensioning factor = always 1.4
IF max = Max. secondary phase fault current (A).

Then, the highest of the two calculated knee points must be used. Note that it is not
necessary to repeat the calculation for earth faults, as the phase reach calculation (3ϕ) is the
worst-case for CT dimensioning.

6.5 Time delayed distance zones

When a time delayed distance zone is being used, there is no need to calculate the required
Vk separately. This is due to the employed time delay (usually more than 3 times the primary
time constant for a fault at the remote bus of the protected feeder), which overrides the
transient conditions. When it is insisted to do some calculations for the time delayed distance
zone, then we should use the following equation
Vk > If (RCT + RL)
Where If is the current for a fault at the remote bus of the protected feeder (in other words,
the through fault current for the current differential function)

6.6 Determining Vk for an IEEE “C" class CT

Where American/IEEE standards are used to specify CTs, the C class voltage rating can be
checked to determine the equivalent Vk (knee point voltage according to IEC). The
equivalence formula is:
Vk = [(C rating in volts) x 1.05] + [100 x RCT]
Application Notes P54x/EN AP/Ja4

MiCOM P543, P544, P545 & P546 (AP) 6-85

6.7 Worked example for CT requirements

The Power system and the line parameters (Line length: 100 km) as given in section 3.2 is
used here to calculate CT requirements.

6.7.1 Important notes to be considered

• Current differential – Both If and X/R are to be calculated for a through fault

• Distance Zone1 reach point case – Both If and X/R are to be calculated for a fault at
Zone1 reach point

• For calculating the CT requirements, the bus bar short time symmetrical fault rating shall
be considered as the bus fault level.

• When there are only indicative X/Rs available, then the circuit breaker’s dc breaking
capacity shall be used to arrive at the primary time constant (and hence the primary
system X/R). The derivation shall be obtained from the circuit breaker manufacturer;
practical primary time constants arrived in such a way vary between 50 ms (applicable
for 66 kV and 132 kV breakers) and 120 ms (applicable for 220 kV and 400 kV
breakers). 150 ms is a practical figure for generator circuit breakers.

6.7.2 System data

In the following example, the following parameters have been considered for the CT
calculations:
System voltage - 230 kV
System frequency - 50 Hz
AP
System grounding - solid
Single circuit operation between Green Valley and Blue River
CT ratio - 1200/1
Line length - 100 kms
Line positive sequence impedance Z1 = 0.089 + j 0.476 ohm / km
Bus fault level - 40 kA
Primary time constant = 120 ms

6.7.3 Calculation of Primary X/R

Primary X/R till the Green Valley bus = 2 * pi * f * primary time constant in s
= 2 * pi * 50 * 0.12
Primary X/R till the bus = 37.7

6.7.4 Calculation of Source Impedance Zs

Source Impedance Zs = 230 kV / (1.732 * 40 kA)
= 3.32 ohms
Source angle = tan-1 (X/R)
= tan-1 (37.7)
= 88.48 deg
Hence, Zs = 0.088 + j 3.317 ohms
 P54x/EN AP/Ja4 Application Notes

(AP) 6-86 MiCOM P543, P544, P545 & P546

6.7.5 Calculation of full line impedance (full 100 kms)

Z1 = 0.089 + j 0.476 ohm / km
ZL = 8.9 + j 47.6 ohms
ZL = 48.42 ohms with an angle 79.4 deg

6.7.6 Calculation of total impedance till remote bus bar

ZT = Zs + ZL = 8.988 + j 50.917 ohms
= 51.7 ohms with an angle of 80 deg

6.7.7 Calculation of through fault X/R

X/R thro = 50.917 / 8.988
= 5.66

6.7.8 Calculation of through fault If

If thro = 230kV / (1.732 * 51.7 )
= 2568.5 A primary
= 2.14 A (secondary)

6.7.9 Calculation of line impedance till Zone1 reach point (80kms)

AP Zzone1 = 0.8 * ZL = 7.12 + j 38.08 ohms
= 38.73 ohms with an angle of 79.4 deg

6.7.10 Calculation of total impedance till Zone1 reach point

ZTzone1 = Zs + Zzone1
= 7.208 + j 41.397 ohms
= 42.019 ohms with an angle of 80 deg

6.7.11 Calculation of X/R till Zone1 reach point

X/R zone1 = 41.397 / 7.208
= 5.74

6.7.12 Calculation of fault current till Zone1 reach point

If zone1 = 230 kV / (1.732 * 42.019)
= 3160.34 A (primary) = 2.63 A (secondary)
Application Notes P54x/EN AP/Ja4

MiCOM P543, P544, P545 & P546 (AP) 6-87

6.7.13 CT Vk for Current differential protection

If thro * X/R thro = 2.14 * 5.66
= 12.11
The appropriate equation for K and Vk to be is used from section 6.2
K > 40 + (0.07 * 12.11) OR K > 65
K > 40.8 OR K > 65
Hence K = 65

Vk ≥ K. In (Rct + 2 RL)
Vk > 65 (RCT + 2 RL)

6.7.14 CT Vk for distance Zone1 reach point

Vk ≥ KRPA x IF z1 x (1+ X/R). (RCT + RL) -- From section 6.3

Vk > 0.6 * 2.63 * (1+5.74) * (RCT+RL)
Vk > 10.65 (RCT + RL)

6.7.15 CT Vk for distance Zone1 close-up fault

SIR = Zs / Zzone1 = 3.32 / 38.73 is less than 2; so we need to do this Vk calculation
Close-up fault current = 40kA (primary) = 33.33 A (secondary) AP
Vk ≥ Kmax x IF max x (RCT + RL) -- From section 6.4
Vk > 1.4 * 33.33 * ( RCT + RL)
Vk > 46.67 (RCT + RL)

6.7.16 CT Vk for distance time delayed zones

Vk > If (RCT + RL) -- From section 6.5
Vk > If thro * (RCT + RL)
Vk > 2.14 (RCT + RL)

6.7.17 Vk to be considered
Using the above sections, the different Vk requirements are to be calculated for all the
functions that will be enabled, or that will be brought into operation. Then the highest Vk shall
be considered for the CT design.