Core Balance Current Transformer or CBCT is a ring type current transformer through center of

which a three core cable or three single core cables of three phase system passes. This type of
current transformer is normally used for earth fault protection for low and medium voltage
system. A typical Core balance Current Transformer is shown in figure below.

Secondary of CBCT is connected to Earth Fault Relay. During normal operating condition as the
vector sum of three phase current i.e. (Īa + Īb + Īc =0) is zero therefore no residual current in
the primary will be present. Here residual current means zero sequence current. Therefore there
will not be any flux developed in the CBCT core and hence no current in the secondary circuit of
CBCT.

Working Principle of CBCT:

Let Īa, Īb and Īc be the three line currents and Φa, Φb and Φc be corresponding
components of magnetic flux in the core. Assuming that the CT is operating in the linear
region (Read B-H Curve to get idea of linearity), magnetic flux because of individual
phase current will be directly proportional to the phase current and hence we can write
as below,

Φa = kIa

Φb = kIb

Φc = kIc

Core Balance Current Transformer

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Core Balance Current Transformer or CBCT is a ring type current transformer through
center of which a three core cable or three single core cables of three phase system
passes. This type of current transformer is normally used for earth fault protection for
low and medium voltage system. A typical Core balance Current Transformer is shown
in figure below.

Secondary of CBCT is connected to Earth Fault Relay. During normal operating

condition as the vector sum of three phase current i.e. (Īa + Īb + Īc =0) is zero therefore
no residual current in the primary will be present. Here residual current means zero
sequence current. Therefore there will not be any flux developed in the CBCT core and
hence no current in the secondary circuit of CBCT.

Working Principle of CBCT:

Let Īa, Īb and Īc be the three line currents and Φa, Φb and Φc be corresponding
components of magnetic flux in the core. Assuming that the CT is operating in the linear
region (Read B-H Curve to get idea of linearity), magnetic flux because of individual
phase current will be directly proportional to the phase current and hence we can write
as below,

Φa = kIa

Φb = kIb

Φc = kIc

where k is constant of proportionality. Mind here that same constant of proportionality is

used as all the three phase current are producing magnetic flux in the same core i.e.
magnetic material.
Thus the resultant magnetic flux in the CBCT core,

Φr = k(Īa + Īb + Īc) …………………..(1)

But we know from theory of symmetrical components,

Īa + Īb + Īc = 3Ī0 = Īn

where, Io is zero sequence current and In is neutral current. Hence we can write as

Φr = kĪn …………………………(2)

Now let us consider two cases:

Case1: During normal condition

Īa + Īb + Īc = 0

Hence from equation (1),

Net resultant flux in the CBCT Core, Φr = 0 which means no secondary current and
therefore the Earth Fault Relay won’t operate.

Case2: During earth fault, three phase current passing through the center of Core
Balance Current Transformer will not be balanced rather a zero sequence current will
flow. For example for single line ground fault,

If = 3Ia0 = In

Thus from equation (2),

Net magnetic flux in the CBCT core, Φr will have some finite value which in turn will
induce current in the secondary circuit due to which earth fault relay will operate.
Because of this reason, a Core Balance Current Transformer or CBCT is also called
Zero Sequence Current Transformer.

Advantage of Core Balance Current Transformer:

The advantage of using CBCT for earth fault protectionis that only one CT core is used
instead of three core as in conventional system where the secondary winding of three
cores are connected residually. Thus the magnetizing current required for the
production of a particular secondary current is reduced by one third which is a great
advantage as the sensitivity of protection is increased.

Also, the number of secondary turn does not need to be related to the cable rated
current because no secondary current flows under normal operating condition as the
currents are balanced. This allows the number of secondary turns to be chosen to
optimize the effective primary pick-up current.

Core Balance Current Transformer is normally mounted over a cable at a point close to
the cable gland of the Switchgear. In case cables are already laid in a Switchgear,
physically split core, which is also known as Slip-over type CT, are used.

Principle of CBCT for Earth fault Protection:

In absence of an earth fault in the load or the supply cable, the current in the secondary of Core
Balance Current Transformer is negligible. Under balanced load and without earth fault,

Ie= (Ir+ Iy+ Ib) =0

However during an earth fault on load side of zero sequence CT,

Ie= (Ir+ Iy+ Ib) =3 I0

Where I0 is the zero sequence component.

The relay connected on secondary side of CBCT (Zero Sequence CT) senses this current and
thus it will operate.