Chiller Induction

Motor Starter
Fundamentals

Learning Objectives
‹ Review Starter Definitions
‹ Introduce Starter Types
‹ Application Strengths & Limitations
‹ Unit-Mounted Starters
‹ Starter Installation
‹ Motor Protective Components
‹ Starter Options

2
 What is a Starter?
Electric
Supply

Starter Motor

Two Primary Starter

Purposes
‹ Startthe Motor
‹ Protect the Motor

4
 Full Load Amps (FLA)
‹ Motor current necessary to produce
rated power at rated speed
‹ (For chillers this is achieved at design
full load conditions)

Inrush Current
Electric
Inrush Current Motor Current
Supply

A Starter A
Motor

Other Building
Loads

Other Building
Loads

The current drawn between the starting

device and the electrical service. 6
 Across the Line
Starter
‹ Locked Rotor Amps (LRA):
Motor current draw necessary to start motor
rotation (the current at zero speed). LRA will
be approximately 6 to 7 times Full Load
Amps (FLA).

Inrush Current
Profile Comparison

8
 Across-the-Line Starter
Characteristics
‹ Lowest Cost
‹ Simple Construction
‹ Simple Control
‹ Popular for Medium & High Voltage
applications
z Inrush Current = 100%LRA = 7 X FLA

What’s wrong with a chiller

drawing 7 times its FLA?

10
 Match the Name on the left with the
definition on the right
(Individual Breakout Rooms)

‹ FLA ‹ 6 to 7 times FLA

‹ Current drawn between

‹ LRA the starter and the
incoming electrical
service

‹ Inrush Current ‹ Motor current

necessary to produce
rated power at rated
speed.
11

Two-Step Part
Winding Starter

12
 Two-Step Part Winding Starter
Inrush Current Profile

13

2-Step, Part-Winding
Starter Characteristics
‹ Requires Special Part-Winding Motors
‹ Popular for Fractional and Small HP
motors
z Inrush Current = 65%LRA = 4.55 X FLA

14
 Autotransformer
Starter

15

Autotransformer Starter
Inrush Current Profile

16
 Auto-transformer
Starter Characteristics
‹ Can use standard three lead motor
‹ Popular for Medium and High Voltage
Applications
z Inrush Amps = 65%LRA= 4.55 X FLA

17

Primary Reactor
Starter

18
 Primary Reactor Starter
Inrush Current Profile

19

Primary Reactor
Starter Characteristics
‹ Can use standard three lead motor
‹ Popular for Medium and High Voltage
Applications
z Inrush Amps = 65%LRA= 4.55 X FLA

20
 Wye – Delta Starter

21

Wye-Delta Closed Transition

Starter Characteristics

‹ Most Popular Starter for Low Voltage,

High Power (>100 HP) Applications
‹ Only available as a “free standing”
starter with York large tonnage chillers
‹ High Starting Torque and Low Inrush
Current
z Inrush Amps = 33%LRA = 2.31 X FLA

22
 Solid State Starter
Electric
Supply

Solid
State Motor
Starter

23

Solid State Starter

Inrush Current Profile

24
 Solid State Starter
‹RelativelyNew – Introduced by
York in 1976
‹Quickly Gaining Market Share
Solid State Starter

25

Solid State Starter

Characteristics
‹ Provides a soft, constant-current start
‹ Only currently available for low voltage
applications (< 600V)
‹ Cooled by condenser water
‹ Heat exchanger to isolate starter from
condenser loop
z Inrush = 45%LRA = 3.15 X FLA

26
 OptiSpeed Drive (VSD)
Electric
Supply

OptiSpeed
Drive Motor

(VSD)

27

Variable Speed Drive

Characteristics
‹ Provides a soft reduced current start
‹ Lowest inrush current of all current starter
types (as low as 10% of LRA)
‹ Increases Motor Power Factor to 0.95 or
higher with optional filter
‹ Only available in a unit mounted
configuration
‹ Only currently available for low voltage
applications (< 600V)
‹ Cooled by condenser water
‹ Heat exchanger to isolate condenser loop
from drive 28
 Inrush Current
Profile Comparison

29

Match Starter Type on left with Starter

characteristic on right (Only one
combination will be correct for all types)

‹ Y-Delta ‹ Produces a soft reduced

‹ Solid State
‹ OptiSpeed (VSD)
‹ Autotransformer
‹ 2-Step Part Winding
‹ Across the Line
current start
‹ Lowest inrush of all
electromechanical starter types
at 33% of LRA
‹ Popular for medium and high
voltage applications
‹ Lowest inrush of all starter
types (as low as 10% of LRA)
‹ Typically provided with multiple
taps which can be reconnected
in the field to provide different
starting voltages and inrush
currents
‹ Popular in small tonnage Dx
chillers

30
 Free Standing
Starter Installation

31

Free-Standing
Starter Installation
‹ Setstarter
‹ Power to starter
‹ Power from starter to chiller motor
‹ Power from starter to oil pump motor

32
 Free-Standing Starter
Installation (Continued)
‹ Control wiring from starter to
micropanel
‹ Wire from flow switch to control panel
‹ Cooling tower interlock or automation
system interlock

33

Unit Mounted Starter

Installation

34
 Unit Mounted Starter
Installation
‹ Power to starter
‹ Wire from flow switch to control panel
‹ Cooling tower interlock or automation
system interlock

35

Unit-Mounted Starter
Benefits
‹ Saves mechanical room space
‹ Reduced installation cost
‹ Reduced mechanical/electrical jobsite
coordination

36
 Who likes unit-
mounted starters?
‹ Owners: can pre-purchase with
reduced jobsite coordination problems
‹ Engineers: reduced time spent on bid
documents, reduced jobsite
coordination
‹ Electrical Contractor: easier installation

37

Motor Protective
Starter Components
‹ Under/Over-voltage relay
‹ Phase reversal and phase failure relay
‹ Incomplete starting sequence
protection
‹ Ground fault relay
‹ Combination Safety Devices

38
 Other Accessories
You May Need
‹ Combination starter (disconnect or
circuit breaker built into starter)
‹ Control Power Transformer
‹ Oil pump power supply

39

Other Accessories
You May Need
‹ Meters
z Ammeter
z Voltmeter
z Number of starts
z Elapsed time
z Wattmeter

40
 Key to Economical
Starter Pricing
‹ Take advantage of all features provided
in the standard controls and starter

41