Current Harmonics Measurement by Means of Current Transformers

This paper analyzes the accuracy of current transformers (CT) when excited with nonsinusoidal currents. It uses a nonlinear model that accounts for the minor hysteresis loop of the core. It was concluded that instrument transformers with accuracy class 0.6 or better provide reasonably accurate measurements of current harmonics magnitudes, however the phase angle error may lead to unacceptable errors when the current transformers are used to measure active powers. If such measurements are used to determine the power flow direction, i.e., if a load or consumer pollutes or is polluted, even high accuracy class CTs may yield unsatisfactory results.