EE2072

Electrical Machines & Drives II

ASSIGNMENT 1
Starting Methods Of Three Phase
Induction Motors

Name

: M.W.M.Jayaruwan

Index no

: 120241H

I.

Direct online starter

In this method a switching circuit is used to directly contact the 3 phase stator winding and power
supply lines. To connect the two sides contactor is used. This contactor may be manually controlled
in low current applications and electromagnetically controlled in high current applications. And there
is a protective relay to protect the motor from over current and to stop sudden voltage drops on
supply sides in such a situation. This relay may be a thermal operated or electromagnetically
operated.

Motor

Because the full supply voltage is supplied in this method the highest starting current flows. This
may be 6 to 8 time of the rated current. Due to this high current there will be voltage drops in supply
side. To avoid this method is used normally for the motors with ratings under 5kW. Also starting
torque is high in this method.

Air gap power

r
Pg =3 I 2
s
2
1

Pg
Also T = s
Where
T Pg

is a constant
- (2)

From equation (1) and (2)

- (1)

r2
T 3 I
s
2
1

I 21
s

I1 I s

Because
I 2s
T
s

At start s=1
T start I 2start

- (3)

Let sf is the slip at full load

Tf

I 2f
sf

- (4)

From (3)/(4)
2
T start
I
= start s f
Tf
If

( )

-(5)

Lets consider an example, At start

I start =5 I f

and sf=0.04

T st art 5 I f 2
=
0.04
Tf
If

( )

T start=T f
Although starting current is five times the full load current starting torque is just equal to the full
load torque.
Motor Current

Torque

Starting
Torque

1
Speed
Ns

Current/Speed Characteristics

Ns

Torque/Speed Characteristics

Advantages

Simplicity
Low Cost
High starting torque

Disadvantages

High Starting currents would results serious voltage drops in supply system.
High starting torque may damage the loads.

Applications

Small motors below 5kW

Spee
d

II.

Star Delta Starter

This type of starter can be used only when access to the both end of the all three stator winding, are
possible, and they are rated to withstand full supply voltage when delta connected. In start of the
motor three windings are star connected. There for Vs/3 voltage is applied to the windings where V s
is the supply voltage. As the rotor accelerates and when the developed torque is equal to the load
torque windings are changed into delta connection. Now full supply voltage is fed to each winding.
This mechanism is achieved by using a system shown in the following figure.

At start star connection switch is closed and the delta connection switch is opened. When motor
gained the required torque star connection switch is opened and delta connection switch is closed.
But when switching between these two modes sudden switching arcs may occur. So when designing
the overload protection system this scenario should be concerned. Star Delta starting method is
suitable for the application where starting load is not high.
At star starting

V s=

VL

There for

I star =

VL
3 Z

When change into delta connection

V s=V L
There for
I delta=

VL
Z

From above equation (5)

2
T start
I
= start s f
Tf
If

( )

Here
I start=I star =

I f =I delta =

VL
3 Z

VL
Z

Applying to equation (5)

VL
T start
3Z
=
Tf
If

( )
2

sf

T st art 1 I sc
=
sf
Tf
3 If

( )

Starting torque is reduced to one third of the torque that can be obtained by delta connection
VL
I start 3 Z
=
If
VL
Z
I start 1
=
If
3
The starting line current is reduced to one-third as compared to starting with the winding delta
connected.

Curre
nt

Torque

6
Current in delta
connection

Torque in delta
connection
1.5

2
Current in star
connection
0.7 Ns
Current/Speed Characteristics
5

Advantages

Low cost

0.5
Spee
d

Torque in star
connection
Load
Torque
0.75

Ns

Torque/Speed Characteristics

Spee
d

Operation is simple
It draws 2 times starting current of the full current

Disadvantages

III.

Starting voltage cannot be varied

High currents can be drawn in transition period
Low starting torque
It required two set of cables from the stator of the motor

Auto Transformer Starter

In this method reduced voltage is supplied at start and full voltage is supplied to the motor when
motor picks up sufficient speed. At the instant of starting, the switch is thrown to start position. This
puts the autotransformer in the circuit and thus reduced voltage is applied to the circuit.
Consequently, starting current is limited to safe value. When the motor attains about 80% of normal
speed, the switch is thrown to run position. This takes out the autotransformer from the circuit and
puts the motor to full line voltage.

Lets consider star connected stator

When transformer is not in the circuit full supply voltage is connected across the stator windings.
Supply voltage,
V=

VL
3

Supply current is,

I sc=

VL
3 Z

When transformer is connected to the circuit and transformation ration K is used,

Supply voltage to the stator windings,
V =K

VL

There for supply current,

I start =K

VL

3 Z

I start =K I sc
Here K is a fraction. There for we can see that starting current has reduced.

Applying these relationships to equation (5)

T start
K I sc 2
=
sf
Tf
If

( )

Torque

Current

T start
I 2
=K 2 sc s f
Tf
If

( )

Torque without autotransformer

Current without auto transformer

Current at 2nd tap position

Torque at 2nd tap position

6
Torque at 1st tap position
Load Torque
4

Speed
0.75

Ns

2.5
Current at 1st tap
position
Speed
0.5

0.7
5

Ns

Current/Speed Characteristics

Torque/Speed Characteristics

Advantages

Low starting current

Low power loss
Less radiated heat

Disadvantages

More expensive
Bulkier in construction

Applications

IV.

Use for large motors above 100kW

Power Electronics Starter

This is a latest and convenient method to start induction motors. This is also called soft starter.
Thyristor is device which is same as a transistor but can operated with AC power. When we supply a
start pulse for the Gate pin of the Thyristor it starts to conduct current and stops when the alternating
voltage crosses the zero voltage point. So we can supply power for the motor for a desired time
period of the AC power cycle.
V

We can adjust the time t or firing angle shown in the graph and vary the supply voltage.

In
soft
starting
only the supply voltage is changed.

frequency is not changed and

Acceleration an deceleration can be controlled with supply voltage. This feature reduces the damages
to loads. Applications which are like conveyor belts are required this feature.
Torque

Curren
t
Current at DOL

Torque at
full voltage

Torque at
soft start

Current at Soft
starter

Current/Speed Characteristics

Spee
d

0.75

Ns

Torque/Speed Characteristics

Spee
d

Advantages

Since soft starters are generally controlled and monitored by a microprocessor, a soft starter
can add many features and protections easily.(eg: choice of starting time, power monitoring)
Smooth acceleration without torque transients
Lower start currents
Precise control of the current.
Variable starting torque
Less maintenance

Disadvantages
Produces Harmonics
Speed regulation is not possible
Acceleration an deceleration time more depend on the load
Applications

Conveyors
Mixtures
Compressors

V.

Vacuum pumps
Escalators

Rotor Resistance Starter

Wound rotor type motors can use this type of starters. External resistances are connected to the rotor
maximum resistance in rotor circuit. Then gradually resistor banks are short circuited. When motor
gain the nominal speed all resistor banks are short circuited.

R
2

R
1

In this method starting torque is about twice the nominal torque. There for this method is suitable for
high loads at starts and starting current should be low.
Lets consider the single phase equivalent circuit of a 3 phase induction motor,

Now lets take the Thervenians equivalent circuit for the left side of the xm.

r2
Pg =3 I
s
2
1

Pg =3

V 2e
r '2 2
(r e + ) +( xe + x '2)2
s

r 2
s

Also,
Pm=3 I 21 r 2

(1s)
s

There for,
Pm=P g (1s)

T=

Pm
r

T=

P g (1s)
s (1s)

T=

Pg
s

3
T=
s

Ve
'

(r e +

r2
) +( xe + x '2)2
s

r2
s

To obtain maximum torque, according to maximum power transfer theorem

r2
2
' 2
= r e +( x e + x 2)
s

For motoring mode

S TM =

r2
2
e

' 2
2

r +(x + x )
e

V 2e r 2e +(x e + x '2 )2
3
T M=
s (r + r 2 +(x + x' )2)2 +( x + x ' )2
e
e
e
2
e
2
From above equation we can see that the maximum torque does not depend on the rotor resistance.
We can obtain Torque Vs Slip characteristic curve from above equations and from that we can obtain
the Torque Vs Speed characteristic curve.
Lets consider rotor resistance starter with two resistor banks.
T
R2

R1

No rotor resistance

Speed

Here R2 > R1
We can see that with the rotor resistance starting torque increasing.
From Thervenins equivalent circuit,
I1 =

Ve

'

( re+

r2
) +( x e + x '2)2
s

I 1 I supply
When r2 is high supply current is low and when r 2 is low supply current is high. In rotor resistance
starter method rotor resistance is high at start. Because if that starting current is low.

Current

Torque

Torque with some resistors

6
Current with no
resistors

Tm
Torque with no resistors

4
Current with some
resistors

Torque with all resistors

1.
5 Current with all
resistors
0.7
5

N
s

Spee
d

Current/Speed Characteristics

Advantages

Good starting current and torque performance

Adjustable settings
No break in Motor Supply during starting

Disadvantages

Expensive
Slip ring motor required
Resistance bank required

Speed
0.75

Ns

Torque/Speed Characteristics