EPMA Liquid Resistance

Starters for Slip-ring

motors. 200 to 20 000 kW.

The EPMA starter has been specifically designed

by AOIP for controlled starting and speed control
of large slip ring motors in arduous applications
such as:

Crushing
Milling
Conveyors
Pumps
Ventilation

In a variety of industries such as mines, quarries,

cement plants, water treatment and associated
Industries.

CSE-Uniserve Pty Limited has adapted this basic

design under license to AOIP to suit the harsh
conditions typical of Australian mining
installations. The starter tanks are manufactured
here in Australia from stainless steel to AS 1554,
and customized to suit outdoor installation, with
minimal maintenance requirements.

All Unistarter units are manufactured in Australia

and in conformance with Australian Standards.

The EPMA rotor starter is used to This type of starter is designed to

control the starting of a slip ring
(wound rotor induction) motor. The
starting current is generally limited to
a maximum of 250% Full Load
Current. Optimal starting torque for
each application is selected by the
choice of the initial value of
resistance. The principle of the liquid
starter is that of a secondary
resistance starter, where by the rotor
resistance is reduced to a minimum
during the starting period.
provide the optimum starting
characteristic, which results in
smooth progressive acceleration
to full load speed. It can also be
used for speed variation and
torque control. Plug braking can
also be implemented with this
system. The variation in the
resistance is achieved by
displacement of the electrodes in
the electrolyte. At the end of the
acceleration, the electrodes are
shorted out.

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Description
EPMA starter
An EPMA unit comprises:
The electrolytic resistance contained
within a tank complete with electrodes
of a size rated for the specific kW
rating. A separate H.V enclosure
houses the Shorting contactor, and a n
L.V enclosure contains the control
system (control panel).
Tank......................................
The tank is manufactured with 304L
stainless steel from 2 to 5 mm. The
tanks include lifting points suitable for
hoist to facilitate loading, unloading
and positioning. Tank capacity and
dimensions are deter-mined by the
motor rating. (See characteristics). The
tank is filled through a access point in
the side cover, and emptied through
valves situated at the base of the unit.
The tanks Ingress Protection rating is
IP 54
Electrolyte.............................
Various concentrations of sodium
carbon-ate are normally employed. A
float switch monitors electrolyte level
and thermostats control the electrolyte
temperature. An RTD per tank with a 4-
20 mA output can be fitted to monitor
the tank temperature.
Electrode Assemblies...............
A set consists of three fixed and three
moving electrodes. Polypropylene
containers “buckets” shroud the fixed
electrodes to provide adequate
isolation between phases. The
electrodes consist of con-centric
cylinders, which mesh with each other
in the fully lowered (minimum
resistance) position. The electrodes
are manufacture cast bronze. The fixed
electrodes, located inside the insulating
containers, are fed from an tinned
insulated copper bar. Since this bar
does not pass through the tank wall,
there is no danger of electrolyte
leakage. Current density of the
electrodes is extremely low, typically 1
amp / cm ² resulting in extremely long
electrode life
Electrode control system.........
The moving electrodes travel
vertically inside the insulating
container, guided by a nylon rod.
Two solid brass rods, fixed to a
transversal carrier, support the
assembly. This carrier is common to
all three electrodes and constitutes
the neutral point (start point).
Displacement of the electrodes is
effect-ed by a motor driven worm
screw assembly. This is normally
controlled by either an electrode
drive motor, which is operated by a
VVVF. A hand wheel is also provided
for emergency manual operation.
Starting times are adjustable from 8
to 150 seconds.
Control and interlocking Limit
switches are incorporated to control
the electrode travel, and to energize
the shorting contactor. This contactor
is used to short circuit the residual
resistance at the end of the motor
start-up time.
The electrode drive motor is
operated by a VVVF drive. The drive
includes overload protection, which
prevents the overload of the motor in
the case of a drive mechanism
obstruction. An electrical “ready to
start” interlock prevents a restart
before the electrodes return to the
initial maximum resistance position.
If a power failure occurs during
starting, the electrodes return
automatically to the top (start)
position when the supply is restored,
so that a new start is possible.
Control panels........................
The control gear is housed in two
separate enclosures. The shorting
contactor, complete with the rotor
terminations is housed in the H.V
enclosure. A separate panel is
provided for the L.V controls. The
H.V enclosure is normally included
with the starter, but for higher
ratings, it may be supplied in a
separate control panel.
The control panel can be fabricated
out of mild steel to minimize costs, or
it can be supplied in a 316 Stainless
Steel enclosure.
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EPMA DUO starter...............
For starting machines of large
powers, or to reduce mechanical
stress, it may some-times be
preferable to use two motors which
total the rated power rather than a
single one. (Such as a dual drive
mill) A dual EPMA starter is then
used, to ensure synchronized
acceleration of both motors.
The EPMA DUO comprises two
electrolyte tanks. The resistance
values are equalized between the
two tanks as they use common
electrolyte, which is circulated
between each tank. The electrode
drive assemblies are mechanically
coupled via a cardin shaft, so as to
ensure complete synchronization of
the movement of the two electrode
assemblies.
A single four or six pole shorting
contactor is used to short circuit the
residual resistances of each tank at
the end of the motor run up time
Heat exchanger starter.............
The EPMA starter is designed
suitable for operating a slip ring
(wound rotor) motor at variable
speed. The starter is normally
equipped with a heat exchanger for
these applications. This can either be
of the water-cooled type, (adequate
supplies of cooling water must be
available on site), or an air blast
cooler can be used.
Maintenance........................
The starters typically require little
more than a basic inspection every
three months, and a major inspection
once a year. The electrolyte solution
has an anti evaporation oil which
prevents the loss of electrolyte.
SPECIFICATIONS
A range of models are used for the
control of various motor ratings for
single and dual EPMA drives. The
adjoining table provides a guide to
rating the various models of EPMA
starters. Many factors, such as the
run up time, starts per hour, starting
torque, operating temperature and a
range of other factors effect the
selection of the starter.
EPMA starters equipped with heat
exchangers may be used with motors
whose powers exceed those shown on
the table. These are determined by the
size of the heat exchanger. Maximum
rotor voltage between slip rings: 3 500 V.
Standard starting times : 20, 30, 40, 60,
80 and 130 seconds. These are preset
during manufacture. The electrolyte level
is monitored by float switch.
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The temperature of the electrolyte is
controlled by thermostats.
Refer Below
(1) Maximum rating for 1 start/hour
or three consecutive starts from cold
ST: starting torque -FLT: full load
torque -The electrolyte is cooled by
natural convection
Electrical Engineering Excellence
Quotation:

The following information is necessary
so that we may provide an EPMA
starter customised to your application.
General operating conditions ...........
• ambient temperature
• maximum and minimum
temperatures
• relative humidity
• height above sea level
• location
For the motor(s)..........................
• power
• speed (rpm)
• stator voltage
• rotor voltage
• rotor current For starter with heat exchanger........
• starting torque • temperature of cooling water
• percentage slip for permanent
For the driven machine.................... slip
• type • speed variation and duty cycle
• coupling method
• speed (rpm) Options.......................................
• speed control for electrode drive
• moment of inertia
• special paint
• number of consecutive starts
• cable entries
• setting up and installation
requirements • anti-freeze control
• anti-condensation heaters
For the starter control gear...........
• protection IP 54 or 55
• supply voltage
• control voltage

CSE-Uniserve Pty Limited was If you require a simple method of

established in 1978 in Sydney, secondary starting, the most
Australia as a distributor of quality advanced in Slip Energy Recovery
electrical engineering equipment system s, or Dual or single drive
to the mining, process variable speed control; Uniserve can
engineering, power generation, engineer a package to suit all of
transmission, distribution and your requirements.
manufacturing industries. We
have a strong international CSE- Uniserve, with over 25 years of
business with clients on all experience, can offer the best
continents supported by offices in solution for your slip ring motor
Victoria, Western Australia, system. Should you require further
Queensland, New Zealand, and information, please do not hesitate
Canada. to contact us.

Sydney: +61 2 8853 4200.

Melbourne: +61 3 9245 1700.
Brisbane: +61 7 3861 7777.
Perth: +61 8 6380 0900.
Auckland: +64 9 262 3290.

More information on CSE-Uniserve can

be found at: www.cse-uniserve.com.au.

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