Spannungspulen

Spannungspulen, also known as voltage transformers or potential transformers, are a type of instrument transformer designed to produce a voltage proportional to the system voltage they are connected to. They are used in electrical power systems for measurement and protection purposes. Unlike power transformers that transmit large amounts of energy, voltage transformers are primarily used to step down high voltages to a safe level for instrumentation like voltmeters, wattmeters, and protection relays.

The construction of a voltage transformer is similar to that of a small power transformer, typically consisting of a primary winding connected in parallel with the high-voltage line and a secondary winding from which the low voltage is derived. The primary winding has many turns of fine wire, while the secondary winding has fewer turns of thicker wire. The ratio of the number of turns in the primary to the secondary winding determines the voltage transformation ratio.

Key applications of Spannungspulen include metering the voltage of a power system, providing a low-voltage signal to protective relays to detect overvoltage or undervoltage conditions, and for synchronizing generators. They are crucial for the safe and efficient operation of electrical grids by allowing accurate monitoring and control of system voltages. The accuracy of a voltage transformer is critical, as errors in voltage measurement can lead to incorrect operation of protection devices and inaccurate billing for electricity consumption.