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IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT, VOL. 50, NO. 2, APRIL 2001

Simple Absolute Method for Current Transformer Calibration

Andrew C. Corney
AbstractA simple mains-frequency current transformer ratio build-up scheme has been developed which enables calibration by absolute means of ratios from 5 A:5 A to 500 A:5 A with uncertainties of 0.03 parts in 106 and 0.05 rad. The build-up is based on series-parallel interchange of primary windings of two-stage transformers with magnetically shielded second stages. Index TermsCalibration, current ratio, current transformer, mains-frequency, two-stage current transformer.

I. INTRODUCTION HE power bridge which maintains the New Zealand standard of mains-frequency power [1] uses a set of precision shunts for currents up to 6 A. A two-stage current transformer has been constructed to extend the current range to meet calibration requirements for industry energy standards which typically require calibration at currents up to 100 A. The Measurement Standards Laboratory (MSL) has previously maintained a standard of mains-frequency current ratio based on single-stage transformers calibrated at another national metrology institute, but these were not sufficiently accurate to calibrate the two-stage transformer. A new current ratio build-up scheme has been developed which meets the requirements of the MSL power standard and which also provides for calibration of the old transformers. Even though a well designed two-stage current transformer with a magnetically screened second stage is unlikely to have errors exceeding a few parts in 10 , calibration is necessary to establish traceability. Current ratio build-up schemes which have been described previously for current transformers [2] require several auxiliary transformers, and for current comparators [3] require two current sources and two or three comparators. A simpler current comparator based method makes assumptions which have a high probability of being correct, but are not strictly testable [4]. The build-up scheme described here provides traceable calibration for most standard ratios from 5:5 to 500:5 using just two transformers and one current source. II. BUILD-UP PRINCIPLE The build-up method is based on the observation that it is possible to change the configuration of a multisection primary winding of a current transformer from series to parallel, or from series to series-parallel, without changing the magnetic coupling impedances between any of the windings in the transformer. This approach was used by Arnold [5] who constructed a singleManuscript received May 14, 2000; revised November 3, 2000. The author is with the Measurement Standards Laboratory of New Zealand, Industrial Research Limited, Lower Hutt, New Zealand. Publisher Item Identifier S 0018-9456(01)02981-3.

stage transformer with a multiple-conductor rope winding primary. While the magnetic coupling impedance remains the same on changing from series to parallel, errors caused by dielectric currents do not, and high capacitance between the rope conductors introduces errors which are difficult to evaluate. The capacitance between winding sections can be reduced by winding each section to occupy its own sector of the toroidal core. In a single-stage transformer, distributing the primary sections causes the magnetic coupling impedances between each section and the secondary to vary considerably. While these coupling impedances are unchanged by series-to-parallel interchange, the magnetic ratio error for the windings in parallel is the same as the magnetic error for the windings in series only if the currents in each paralleled section are equal. In a single stage transformer a high degree of current equality is required to offset the large coupling inequality, but in a two-stage current transformer a magnetic screen can greatly reduce coupling inequality. III. METHOD Two two-stage transformers (500 A turns) and (600 A turns) are used in the build-up of ratios from 5:5 to 500:5. All transformer cores are toroidal, tape-wound of 0.025 mm thick super-mumetal, 125 mm outside diameter, 80 mm inside diameter, and 43 mm high. Each transformer auxiliary secondary has a magnetic screen fabricated from 1 mm thick mumetal, and there are twin electrostatic screens between the main secondary and the inner primary. The main cores have auxiliary windings to enable the main core to be short-circuited to aid leakage impedance measurements. The number of secondary turns are and 120 for , kept small to minimize capacitive 100 for has three primaries, the innermost of errors. Transformer which may be connected in series, series-parallel, or parallel to give ratios of 5:5, 10:5, and 20:5. The middle primary gives ratios of 25:5, 50:5, and 100:5 while the outer primary provides has two primaries, ratios of 100:5 and 500:5. Transformer the inner giving ratios of 20:5 and 100:5, and the outer giving ratios of 100:5 and 200:5. Ratios are selected using heavy unplated copper straps. The build-up starts with self-calibration of the 5:5 ratio of , is then changed from series to par[2]. The inner primary of allel, and used to calibrate the 20:5 ratio of as shown in Fig. 1. Next, the inner primary of is changed from series to parallel, giving a known 100:5 ratio which is used to calibrate the middle primary of connected in parallel. The 100:5 ratio (middle priis then used to calibrate the outer primary of in mary) of series connection (100:5). Finally, the outer primary of in series connection (100:5) is used to calibrate the outer primary of

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Fig. 1. Comparing two-stage current transformers.

where primary current leaving the unmarked primary terminal; secondary current entering the unmarked secondary terminal, with the unmarked terminals at earth potential; and numbers of primary and secondary turns. and are vector quantities. Note that The equivalent circuit of a two-stage transformer with separated main secondary and auxiliary secondary burdens given in Fig. 2 follows that given by Betts [6], who has shown that the error of a two-stage transformer due to magnetic effects (neglecting second and higher order terms) is (2) where mutual coupling impedances between windings on the same core; transformation ratio; and magnetizing impedances of the auxiliary and main secondaries; and leakage impedances; and burden impedances. sections, and let the Suppose the primary is divided into sections of the primutual impedance between each of the such that mary and the auxiliary secondary be . Let the primary current through , and when the primary sections each section in series be are connected in parallel, let the currents in each section be . Let the differences in mutual impedance between each primary section with respect to the first primary sec, such that tion, referred to , be and

Fig. 2. Equivalent circuit for calculating the magnetic error of a two-stage transformer.

in series connection (100:5). Once the corrections and uncertainties associated with the winding configuration changes have been calculated, all ratios from 5:5 to 500:5 are calibrated. The current transformer comparison circuit used for primary currents up to 100 A, Fig. 1, uses a DSP lock-in amplifier to measure the voltage across the difference current resistor carrying the error current. A DVM measures the voltage across the 0.2 shunt, giving the secondary current of the standard transformer. Because the DSP lock-in amplifier has a differential input with high common mode rejection, and because of the low frequency and low impedances, twisted-pair wiring was found to be satisfactory provided a special current-combining junction (indicated by heavier lines) was used to minimize inductive coupling to the lock-in amplifier input leads. The Wagner circuit, which requires an in-phase balance only, uses an inductive voltage divider to bring the unmarked primary terminals to earth potential. The Wagner has a small but noticeable effect at lower current ratios, but no measurable effect at higher ratios. An ac potentiometer test set was used [5] for test currents above 100 A which were supplied directly from the mains via a transformer. IV. BUILD-UP CORRECTIONS The ratio error is defined as (1)

(3)

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The build-up correction to be applied to any parallel ratio to account for the series-to-parallel magnetic error is then given by the expression

(4) etc.) beThe inequalities of magnetic coupling ( tween the primary sections and the magnetically shielded auxiliary secondary are measured by selecting a primary section and connecting each other section in turn in series-opposition. The variation in the ratio of the current in the auxiliary secondary to the primary current is a then measure of the coupling variation between each pair of primary sections. The terms etc., giving the inequality of parallel current sharing, are calculated from the primary section leakage impedances (see Section V). The capacitive errors of the two-stage current transformers can be analyzed using methods developed for current comparators [3]. The auxiliary secondary need not be considered because the winding voltages are negligibly small, so the equivalent circuit is simplified, Fig. 3. The capacitive error is given by
Fig. 3. Equivalent circuit for calculating the capacitive error or a two-stage transformer.

V. MEASUREMENTS The parameters needed for the magnetic series-to-parallel build-up correction (4) are the primary section mutual coupling inequalities, and the primary section leakage impedance inequalities. For each primary winding, a section was selected ,) and as the reference section (having mutual impedance primary current was passed through the reference section and in series-opposition through each other section in turn. The are then mutual impedance differences relative to

(5) The leakage impedances and and the winding-to-screen admittances are assumed to be evenly distributed over their respective windings. Capacitive errors associated with the secondaries are included in the 5:5 ratio calibration which is the starting point for the build-up, and are of no further concern in the build-up as they are unaffected by the configuration of the primaries. Similarly, capacitance distributed between turns of a winding causes errors which are unaffected by series to parallel interchange. However, capacitance between a primary winding and its associated screen does cause an error which depends on winding configuration. If the capacitive error when the primary with K sections con, and in parallel is , both the primary nected in series is and secondary screens being earthed, then the build-up correction to any parallel ratio to account for the capacitive error in going from series to parallel is

(6) is the lumped admittance from the centre of the priwhere mary (in series) to the primary screen. The choice was made to leave unused primary windings floating during all measurements, rather than being earthed. The resulting increase in the has negligible effect because the series-paruncertainty in allel capacitive error correction is very small.

where are the short-circuit auxiliary secondary currents in each case. The primary section currents for the parallel connection, relative to the , are calculated from the relative series primary current primary section leakage impedances. The section leakage impedances were compared by passing a current through the primary in series, and comparing the section voltages after subtracting the reflected voltage from the secondary external and internal burdens. The relative uncertainty in the capacitive series-to-parallel build-up correction from uneven capacitance distribution is estimated to be 0.2, but since the correction is very small, the large uncertainty is acceptable. The series-to-parallel build-up corrections determined for each primary are all less than 0.005 parts in 10 and 0.005 rad except for the phase correction to the inner primary of which is 0.034 rad. If it were possible to measure all the terms in (2) and (5), the transformer errors could be calculated from measurements of the transformer parameters. However it is not possible to measure the mutual impedance difference term in (2), and the admittances and are difficult to determine. Never-the-less, transformer errors calculated from (2) and and (5), using the assumption that , give error predictions that provide a valuable check on the integrity of the ratio build-up. The transformer parameters used to calculate the errors are the leakage and magnetizing impedances of the secondaries, and the winding-to-screen and . admittances The magnetizing impedances of the main and auxiliary secondaries of transformer were measured by applying a known voltage to each secondary in turn and measuring the resulting current. The leakage impedance of each secondary was determined using the open circuit method [5], by measuring the difference between the voltage applied to the secondary and the

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TABLE I MEASURED ERRORS AND THEIR UNCERTAINTIES FOR KEY RATIOS, DETERMINED BY THE BUILD-UP SCHEME, ARE GIVEN IN COLUMNS 2 TO 5. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MEASURED AND CALCULATED ERRORS ARE GIVEN IN COLUMNS 6 AND 7. THE TEST FREQUENCY IS 53 Hz, THE MAIN SECONDARY BURDENS 5.0 VA, AND THE AUXILIARY SECONDARY BURDENS 0.0 VA

TABLE II
OF THE SIGNIFICANT FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE 20:5 RATIO OF T , AT 20 A PRIMARY CURRENT AND

SUMMARY

53 Hz

core, and for which may be significant. Table II shows the significant contributions to the uncertainties in the at a primary curratio and phase errors for the 20/5 ratio of at 53 Hz. At the higher rent of 20 A when calibrated against test currents, dominant uncertainties are the self-calibration of , and the stability of the transformers over several months. At the lower test currents measurement noise becomes important. When operating at the 50 Hz mains frequency, the measurement noise increased by a factor of three. VII. CONCLUSION open-circuit voltage appearing at the inner primary (in series connection). When measuring the main secondary, the auxiliary secondary was short-circuited, and when measuring the auxiliary secondary, the auxiliary winding on the main core only was short-circuited. A similar method was used for the 20:5 ratio of , except that the voltage across the secondary under test was scaled by 0.25 using an inductive voltage divider for comparison with the open circuit voltage of the inner primary (in series connection). Measurements were made over a range of voltages, and polynomial fits made of the magnetizing impedances versus voltage. The leakage impedances were independent of the applied voltage. VI. RESULTS The build-up was carried out at 53 Hz with the auxiliary secondaries burdened with circuit leads only. The series-to-parallel corrections applied in the build-up were calculated from (4) and (6). Table I gives the errors and uncertainties for key transformer ratios as measured using the build-up scheme, and also gives the difference between the errors determined by the build-up measurements, and the errors predicted from (2) and and . (5) assuming that Agreement between the measured and predicted errors is excelwhich is the most dislent, except for the outer primary of tant of all the primary windings from the magnetically shielded REFERENCES
[1] A. C. Corney, A traceable mains-frequency power standard, IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., vol. 48, pp. 418421, Apr. 1999. [2] P. J. Betts, W. K. Clothier, and H. A. Smith, Method for the absolute calibration of current transformers, Proc. Inst. Elect. Eng. A, vol. 129, pp. 322327, 1982. [3] W. J. M. Moore and P. N. Miljanic, The Current Comparator. London, U.K.: Peter Peregrinus, Ltd., 1988. [4] A. Braun, A new method for the calibration of a national current ratio standard, IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., vol. 29, pp. 482484, Dec. 1980. [5] A. H. M. Arnold, Current transformer testing, J. Inst. Elect. Eng., vol. 74, pp. 424444, 1934. [6] P. J. Betts, Two-stage current transformers in differential calibration circuits, Proc. Inst. Elect. Eng. A, vol. 130, pp. 324328, 1983.

A current transformer ratio scale has been established to high accuracy by absolute but simple means, involving just two twostage transformers. The excellent agreement between the measured and predicted transformer errors gives confidence in the build-up calibration. Most standard ratios from 5:5 to 500:5 are available. Uncertainties for the 100:5 ratio at 100 A are 0.032 parts in 10 and 0.045 rad. The current range of the MSL power standard has been extended to 100 A with no significant increase in uncertainty, and the old current transformer testing apparatus has been brought back into calibration, extending traceability to high currents by means of a window-type current transformer which has been calibrated against the 500:5 ratio.