Mostafa Ahmed Ibrahim

Abstract

Three-phase
asynchronous
induction
motors are the most commonly used type in
industry. Connected directly to the supply,
these motors have typical starting currents
of 5 to 8 x FLC. Often, starting currents need
to be reduced, and various forms of starter
have been developed to make this possible.
Previous

NEXT

STARTING OF CAGE-ROTOR INDUCTION MOTORS

Starting of cage-rotor induction motors may

be performed by:
1 - Direct connection to power grid
2 - Star-delta switch connection
3 - Low voltage auto-transformer
4 - Additional resistance (reactance) in the
stator
5 - Soft starting (through static variacs)
Previous

NEXT

Direct-on-line (DOL) starters

- The stator windings are connected directly

to the three phase mains supply.
- The peak Starting current is between 5 and
8 times normal full-load current.
- The peak starting torque is between 0.5 and
1.5 times the motors nominal operating
torque.

Previous

NEXT

Advantages of DOL starters :- Simplicity

- Low cost
- High starting torque

Previous

NEXT

Drawbacks of DOL starters

- The peak starting current would result in a
serious voltage drop on the supply system
- The equipment being driven cannot tolerate the
effects of very high peak torque loadings
- The safety or comfort of those using the
equipment may be compromised by sudden
starting as, for example, with escalators and lifts

Previous

NEXT

Star-delta starters

-On starting, the supply is first applied to the motor

with its stator windings star-connected.
- As the motor accelerates, its speed stabilizes when
its developed torque become equal to its load
torque. This usually happens at about 75% - 80% of
nominal speed.
-The star contactor is then de-energised, and the
delta contactor energised to deltaconnect the stator
windings
Previous

NEXT

Advantages of Star-delta starters :During star connection, the phase voltage Vs

becomes
Vs = VL / 3
so the phase current, for same slip, IsY, is reduced
3 times
Isy = ISd / 3

Previous

NEXT

Drawbacks of Star-delta starters

Tey/Ted = (Vsy/VL)^2 =1/3
-Star-delta starters are particularly suited to
machines which do not present a high load torque
at start-up, or which normally start off-load.
- Although the transient produced at the star-delta
transition is very brief, the current can be quite
large and, particularly for larger motors, some form
of current limiting may be necessary.
- This method can only be used with low-inertia
loads.
Previous

NEXT

Auto-transformer starters

- In auto-transformer starters, the motor is started

at reduced voltage which is supplied from an autotransformer.
-Values for peak starting current are 1.7 to 4 times
nominal full-load current and, for peak starting
torque, 0.5 to 0.85 times nominal operating torque.

Previous

NEXT

Advantages of Auto-transformer
starters :- The starting current and torque are reduced
as a function of the reduced starting and runup voltages (Usupply/Ustarting)2.
- Auto-transformer starting is particularly
used for large motors (above 100kW)

Previous

NEXT

Drawbacks of Auto-transformer starters

:-Expensive solution, largely because of the cost of
the autotransformer itself.
-These starters may also produce a current peak at
the instant when the motor is switched directly to
the supply.

Previous

NEXT

Primary resistance starters

- Starters of this type start the motor at reduced

voltage by connecting a resistance bank in series
with the motor windings.
- Once the motor has run up and its speed has
stabilised, the resistance bank is shorted out, and
the motor becomes direct-connected.
- Peak starting current will be around 4.5 times
nominal full-load current, and peak starting torque
willbe around 0.75 times nominal operating torque.
torque
Previous

NEXT

Advantages of Primary resistance

starters:Primary resistance starters are especially
suitable for applications, such as ventilator
fans, where the load torque increases with
speed.

Previous

NEXT

Drawbacks of Primary resistance

starters :A possible disadvantage is the high peak current
at the instant of starting, but this can be reduced
by increasing the resistor values, but this also
reduces starting torque.

Previous

NEXT

Electronic soft starters

This relatively recently introduced form of starter

is rapidly growing in popularity. Soft starters
operate by gradually increasing the voltage
applied to the motor, so as to produce steady,
smooth acceleration.
This technique eliminates sudden changes in
voltage which could produce peaks in both
starting current and torque
Previous

NEXT

Advantages of Electronic soft

starters :control of the acceleration and deceleration
ramps of the motor in such a way as to keep
within all required limits on current and
torque
mechanical protection for the machine
being driven, by eliminating sudden changes
in current and, therefore, torque - during
starting and stopping.
Previous

NEXT

Drawbacks of Electronic soft starters

:-Expensive solution
-Complex control

Previous

NEXT

CONCLUSIONS

The principle objective of all methods of motor

starting is to match the torque characteristics to
those of the mechanical load, while ensuring that
the peak current requirements do not exceed the
capacity of the supply. Many starting methods are
available, each of which has slightly different
characteristics.
Previous

NEXT