The rated accuracy limiting factor is the ratio of the rated accuracy limit primary current to the rated primary current. For example, the 5P10 transformer accuracy limit factor is 10. This means that the current transformer will measure with less than 5% error when the primary current is not bigger than 10 times the rated nominal current. However, 10 for this transformer is a rated accuracy limit factor. In practical applications, the design engineer should calculate the real accuracy limit factor, which will depend on the transformer installation conditions.
To add the current transformer in EA-PSM, a user should first draw the single line diagram and add a current transformer on the line, where he wants to connect the element.
Double click on the current transformer to open a window, where users can specify its parameters.
Some of the parameters needed for ALF calculation EA-PSM will take automatically from the load flows and short circuits calculation results, therefore, the user should make sure that these calculations are done, and all network parameters are specified correctly.
Here a user should specify the “CT type” and “Coefficient” of the current transformer.
Wire loop length should be calculated according to the CT connection type (4- or 6- wire connection). The difference between 4 and 6 wire schemes is depicted below.
For example, if the distance between the current transformer and relay is 5 meters, then in the case of 6 wire connection wire loop length should be taken as 2 x 5 = 10 m and only 1,2 x 5 = 6 m for 4 wire connection. Other parameters that software need to calculate the resistance of the wire is “Wire cross-section” and “Wire material”. The user should specify this data to represent the real installation conditions of the transformer.
“PN” is the nominal power of the transformer and “Internal resistance” is the internal resistance of the transformer. These parameters should be taken from the transformer specifications. IED load is the internal resistance of the connected relays.
We need to select current transformer for 10kV feeder. Short circuit current is 6897 A. Nominal current from load flows calculation is 345 A. According to nominal current, we will first try 600/1 ratio current transformer.
The recommended minimal accuracy limiting factor can be calculated from the formula:
Here In is current transformer nominal current, Is is short circuit current and over – dimensioning factor. Most commonly KTF is used 1,2 – 2. For example, in our case with KTF = 2, Frmin=23.
To select the right rating of the current transformer, we will have to iterate for the solution by guessing the nominal ALF. Other information we are going to need for this calculation: wire length 20 m, cross-section area 5 mm2, wire material is copper, Sn=5 VA, Rct=11 Ohm, Rload = 0,5 Ohm.
First, we will try with a 5P10 current transformer.
Fr is the actual accuracy limiting factor. Usually, the actual accuracy limiting factor is higher than nominal ALF as CT is normally – burdened. However, from the results we see, that Fr < Frmin therefore, we should take CT with bigger nominal ALF.
In the second iteration, we will take the 5P20 rating and assume that other parameters are the same.
Now Fr > Frmin, therefore, 5P20 is good for our application.
The main drawback of this method is that users do not know what KTF value to take and what value is sufficient. For example, breaker tripping time is a critical factor in selecting KTF as faster fault disconnection time will not allow CT to saturate. For this reason, it is recommended to use EA-PSM current transformer sizing function, which uses a more advanced CT sizing method. Formulae for KTF is provided below:
Where parameters are as follow:
Xtj – short circuit reactance;
Rtj – short circuit resistance;
w – angular frequency equal to 314 rad/s in 50 Hz networks;
Ts – CT secondary time constant that depends on magnetizing and leakage inductance as well as secondary loop resistance. In EA-PSM we assume Ts = 1s;
Tp – short circuit DC component-time constant;
t – is time to saturation. In EA-PSM we assume that t = 0,035 s for most relays this time is enough to determine the short circuit current.
From here it is also clear that 
, therefore it is not recommended to assume KTF value without knowing network data.
In the analyzed case:
Before each new release of EA-PSM Electric, validation cases are prepared, thus ensuring new features are working properly. At this validation case, arc flash scenarios for three-phase medium voltage and low voltage systems according to the IEEE 1584-2018 standard are analysed.
Scheme link element is dedicated to dividing the scheme into logical blocks thus reducing graphics lag and allowing to calculate equivalents
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