Current and Voltage Instrument Transformers – Technical and Application Guide

Equivalent circuits

The specific performance characteristics of current and voltage instrument transformers are easily determined from the equivalent circuit. Figure 1 works well for most instrument transformers.

For current transformers, the value of the reactance X is determined in a special way so that it represents the leakage flux. The flux flows in the part of the core represented by the left-hand exciting branch of the equivalent circuit shown in Figure 1.

An additional winding (or windings) placed over the outer leg(s) of the core and connected back in parallel with the secondary winding, as shown in Figure 4, can keep the leakage flux out of the core. The leakage reactance is then effectively connected ahead of both exciting branches as shown in Figure 1.

Voltage transformers are designed so the through impedance (R_S, R, X_P, and X) is as low as possible, while current transformers are designed so the excitation impedance (Z_o and Z_i) is as high as possible.

Neither transformer is very good at performing the function of the other.

A. A typical transformer and its equivalent circuit

The leakage flux is shown entering the outer part of the core and is represented by reactance X. The reactance develops voltage applied to the exciting branch Zo, which represents the outer side of the core. The series impedance, R_P + R_S + j (X_P + X), is responsible for the loss of voltage in transformation.

The loss of current in transformation is due to current by-passed by the exciting branches, Z_o and Z_i. Current transformers are specially designed to keep these by-pass exciting impedances as high as possible.

B. A common construction of HV or EHV current transformer

Leakage flux enters the core even though the winding is uniformly wound over a ring core. The equivalent circuit is the same as for Figure A.

C. A construction used in HV or EHV current transformers

The parallel auxiliary winding effectively keeps the leakage flux out of the core so that the leakage reactance in the equivalent circuit is effectively ahead of the exciting branches. This simplifies the calculation of the current by-passed through Z_o and Z_i.

D. A typical bushing current transformer

This resembles the transformer in B but has only negligible leakage flux in the core because the return conductor is far away. This transformer still has a good deal of leakage reactance, but the leakage flux does not enter the core in significant amount.

The reactance is ahead of the by-pass branches Z_o and Z_i so that the performance as a current transformer can be easily calculated.