All about Current Transformer(CT) and Potential Transformer(PT)

All about Current Transformer(CT) and Potential Transformer(PT)

                                 Current Transformer(CT) and Potential Transformer(PT) are very useful and essential instrument transformers. In this post, we are going to learn What is CT, What is PT, what are the uses of CT and PT, symbols of CT and PT and also many important things about CT and PT especially why secondary of CT should not be open circuited.

Why we need the Current Transformer(CT) and Potential Transformer(PT)?

                    Actually, when we want to measure high voltage and high current there is a problem that we need voltmeter and ammeter having a very high rating. But very high rating voltmeter and ammeter not available or it is very difficult to make the very high rating ammeter and voltmeter. So, to overcome this problem we must be used the Potential transformer(PT) and Current transformer(CT).

On the other hand, Relays which are used for protection purpose also have low current and voltage rating. So for the operation of relays, we used the Current transformer and the potential transformer.

What is the Current Transformer(CT)?

                    You already know that CT means current transformer. The current transformer is an instrument transformer which is used to measure high current. It is a Step up transformer. As it is a step up transformer, it has less secondary current than its primary current. 

Some of the current transformers have very few turns in its primary winding and it is connected to the supply and load for measurement of current. 

             Some of the current transformers have no primary winding only have secondary winding. this types of current transformers use conductor whose current is to be measured as the primary winding. See the below figure for better understand.

             As you see in the above figure when a current flowing through the conductor it creates magnetic flux and it cuts the secondary winding an EMF is induced in the secondary winding. When an ammeter is connected to its secondary winding a current flowing through the ammeter and it shows the reading. The current ratio depends upon the no of the turns ratio. As it decreases current we can use a low rating ammeter for measurement high current.

Read also:

• Working of a Simple transformer.
• Why Transformer cannot work on DC?
• Use Step Down Transformer in different ways.
• How EMF is Induced? Types of Induced EMF.

What is the Potential Transformer(PT)?

                Potential Transformer is a Step-down transformer. It is connected in parallel with the supply whose voltage is to be measured. It has more turns in its primary winding than its secondary winding in a specific ratio. It steps down the voltage from the high voltage to low voltage. So we can connect a low rating voltmeter to its secondary and can measure high voltage. The potential transformer is also known as a voltage transformer.

Symbol of Current Transformer(CT) and Potential Transformer(PT):

Why Secondary of Current Transformer(CT) should not be open circuit?

              As the Current Transformer is connected in series with the supply and load so its primary current depends upon the load current. Its primary current does not depend on the secondary current. In a power transformer primary current depends on the secondary current but in case of CT secondary current depends on the primary current when it short-circuited. 

                     

               At normal condition, the flux of the primary winding which is produced by the primary current is opposed by the flux of the secondary which is produced by the secondary current. So there is a very low emf will be induced in the secondary winding. But when the secondary of the CT is open circuited there is no current flowing through the secondary winding and also no flux will be produced. But primary current which is very large amount is the same as the previous condition. So a huge amount of flux will be produced as there is no opposition flux and it will cut the secondary winding. As secondary winding has a large number of turns, it will produce a large voltage across the secondary winding which is very dangerous.

Connection of Current transformer(CT) and Potential Transformer(PT):

Click on the image to view the original.

             

Read also:

• What is Inductor? Explanation.
• How to Step Up 12V DC to 240V DC?
• How Three phase motor run on single phase supply in the Train?
• what is Electrical Choke? Explanation.

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