Motor Starting:

Impacts and Guidelines

Motor Starting: Direct-on-line

Induction motors draw very high starting currents during

acceleration to the rated speed:
Typically 5-9 times the full-load
current.
The starting current is mainly
inductive.
The rate at which the inrush current
decays depends on the inertia and
torque-speed profile of the load.
In a large motor, the rotor inertia is remarkably high and
adds to the load inertia.
Motor Starting: Direct-on-line

Voltage dip, if the feeder circuit

is weak;
High acceleration period may
complicate coordination of the
protective elements;
Standalone supplies (e.g. diesel-
gensets) may not be able to handle
high inrush currents;
Mechanical loads may not be able to withstand the sudden
torques and stresses caused by direct-on-line starting (i.e.
when full-voltage is applied).
Motor Starting: Direct-on-line

One method to synchronize wind

generators with the grid is to
start them as induction motors:
Starting large generators may
impose the undesirable effects
associated with motor starting on
the grid.
Motor Starting, Voltage Dip (Sag) and Flicker

High currents during the starting period can cause excessive

voltage drop across the series
Starting instant
impedances of the feeder
circuit.
As a result, some buses
may experience voltage
sag (dip) over the period
of starting (V<0.95pu).
Acceleration Period
This type of voltage variation is Acceleration Period
categorized as Dynamic
Voltage Fluctuations.
Motor Starting, Voltage Dip (Sag) and Flicker

Dynamic voltage fluctuations caused by frequent starting of

motors (such as large hoist mechanisms, Wind Turbines,
etc.) may affect the luminous intensity of light sources.

Flicke
r
Example:

Low-voltage squirrel-cage motor start:

Brook Crompton W NEMA Series (W-DF585Z-J)
460V, 60Hz, 350hp, 385A, 4-pole
Example:

Direct-on-line starting: CB1 closed

Mechanical load: Constant-torque, 1 p.u.
Example:

Direct-on-line starting: CB1 closed

Motor V and I
Speed Bus3 voltage (460V)
2.0k 0.50
1.5k
Speed (rpm)

1.0k
0.5k
0.0

(kV)
Mechanical Torque Electric torque
5.0

-0.50
Torque (pu)

Motor phase currents

-2.0 4.0

0.50
Bus3 voltage (460V) 2.0
0.40 0.0

(kA)
0.30
-2.0
(kV)

0.20
0.10
0.00 -4.0
Bus4 voltage (600V)
0.70 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00 5.50 6.00 ...
0.60
...
...
(kV)

0.50

0.40
Bus2 voltage (11kV)
12.0
11.0
10.0
9.0
(kV)

8.0
7.0
6.0
3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00 5.50 6.00 ...
...
...
Starting Techniques

Reducing the applied voltage

Disadvantage: Starting torque reduction
Torque is affected proportional to the square of the voltage.

Increasing the motor impedance during starting

For squirrel-cage motors, this is equivalent to voltage
reduction.
In wound-rotor motors, however, this can be carried out by
adding external resistance to the rotor circuit  Starting
torque increases.

Power electronic adjustable-speed drive (ASD)

Starting Techniques: Reduced Voltage

Star-Delta Starting R S T
Mostly applied to squirrel-cage motors
All 6 terminals of the stator windings must
be available in the motor terminal box.
The stator voltage
is reduced by 58%. Star Delta

The torque is U1 V1 W1

reduced to 1/3.
Typically, the U2 V2 W2

delta contactor is
closed when the
motor hits 0.7-0.8 x nrated.
Starting Techniques: Altering Motor Impedance

Star-Delta Starting
At the instant of transition from star to
delta, the motor temporarily absorbs a
large current, which may cause voltage
dip. Delta
(D.O.L.) Delta
T I (D.O.L.)

Transition Transition

Tn In

Star
ω ω
Star
Starting Techniques: Reduced Voltage

R S T
Autotransformer Starting
Reduced voltage is applied through
an autotransformer.
Like other reduced-voltage
methods, starting torque is
reduced.
The autotransformer is
disconnected after the acceleration
period.
M
3~
Starting Techniques: Reduced Voltage

Soft starter
Reduced voltage is applied through R S T
controlled ac chopper.
Provides improved controllability
during starting.
The voltage is ramped up by
controlling of the solid-state
switches.
The switches are controlled such that
the current is limited to 3-5p.u.
M
The solid-state switches are bypassed 3~
after the motor reaches the rated
speed  avoid switching losses
Starting Techniques: Altering Motor Impedance
R S T

Series reactor
The reactor is connected in series
with the stator windings.
The starting current is limited by
increasing the motor impedance.
The torque is reduced, due to the
voltage drop across the reactor.
The reactor has to sustain the starting
M
current. 3~
The reactor is bypassed after the
acceleration period is over.
Starting Techniques: Altering Motor Impedance

Parallel capacitor R S T
A large capacitor bank provides much
of the high reactive power demand of
the motor during acceleration
 Voltage support
The capacitors are disconnected when
acceleration is complete; otherwise,
excessive over-voltage will occur.
M
Provides high starting torque, since 3~
full voltage is applied to the motor.
Disadvantage: high cost, particularly
for big machines.
Starting Techniques: Altering Motor Impedance

Increasing the rotor resistance

Applied to wound-rotor (slip-ring) R S T
motors.
The rotor resistor(s) is (are) bypassed
as the motor accelerates.
Starting current is reduced.
Starting torque is increased.
However, the projected M
speed reduces by raising 3~
the rotor resistance.
Disadvantage: resistive loss Two-step
during acceleration. resistive start
Starting Techniques: Adjustable-Speed Drive
(ASD)

Adjustable-speed drives for ac motors, control

the frequency and voltage of the motor to
adjust its speed.
The motor can be started by ramping up its
speed reference, up to the nominal speed.
Techniques such as Vector Control method
enable ASDs to provide the maximum torque
of the motor over the entire range of speed
control, while limiting the current.
Starting Techniques: Adjustable-Speed Drive
(ASD)

Adjustable-speed drives for ac motors, control

the frequency and voltage of the motor to
adjust its speed.

AC Supply Structure:
Starting Techniques: Adjustable-Speed Drive
(ASD)

Adjustable-speed drives for ac motors, control

the frequency and voltage of the motor to
adjust its speed.
Disadvantages:
High cost: Not recommended when speed
adjustment is not needed.
Harmonics are injected into the motor. Special
motors are required (e.g. with forced ventilation,
bigger frame sizes, higher insulation levels, …).
ASDs are nonlinear loads and draw non-sinusoidal
currents from the grid.
References
MH PQ Specifications

T. Albers et al., ‘Techniques in Motor Starting’, Pulp and Paper Industry Technical
Conference Record, 2005, June 30-23, 2005, pps: 43 – 57.

23