STAR-DELTA STARTER

Farhan Ahmad
Design Engineer ( Lv & Mv Switchgear)

Table of Contents
1. STAR – DELTA Starter:
2. Star-delta starter Components:
a. 1. Contactors:
b. 2. Overload relay:
c. 3. Timer:
d. 4. The fuse unit:
e. 5. MCB:
f. 6. Push-button Start (NO):
g. 7. Push button Stop (NC):
h.
3. Features of the Star-Delta starter:
4. Advantages of a Star-Delta starter:
5. Disadvantages of a Star delta starter:
6. Application of a Star delta starter:
7. Some Useful Questions:
a. 1. What is the purpose of the star-delta starter?
b. 2. How many HP employ star-delta starter?
STAR – DELTA STARTER:
The Star-Delta starter is the most basic starting method for minimising the inrush
starting current of an induction motor. For typical operation, the starter can be
utilised with all squirrel-cage induction motors that are delta-connected.

The decrease of the high motor current reduces the motor’s starting torque. Star-
delta starting is thus particularly ideal for drives that are not loaded until after
starting. The starting time is longer than with direct starting, which is noticeable
when driving higher inertial loads.
To limit starting current, a reduced voltage starter is required to start a large motor.
The star delta starter is a lower voltage starter that applies 1/√3 voltage during the
starting process.

STAR-DELTA STARTER COMPONENTS:

The following are the primary components of a wye-delta starter:

1. Contactors:
A contactor is a high-current-rated heavy-duty relay used to power the induction
motor. Contactors have current ratings ranging from 10A to several hundred amps.
  The primary contactor
 Delta contactor
 Star contactor
The main contactor & delta contactor are AC3 type and rated at 58% of the motor’s
current rating. During the operation of the induction motor, these contactors are
closed.

A star contactor, on the other side, only carries star current when the motor is turned
on. Because the starting current is 1/3 the rated current, the star contactor can be of
the AC3 type and 33% of the full load current rating.

Because these contactors only control winding current, which is 33% of the full load
current in the star delta starter, the three contractors used in the star delta starter are
smaller than the single contactor used in the DOL starter.

2. Overload relay:
As with induction motors, the majority of winding failures are caused by
overloading, operating on an unbalanced voltage supply, and single phasing owing
to phase loss, which can lead to excessive heating and motor winding insulation
degradation.
To prevent windings against overloading and short circuiting in the internal winding,
overload protection is required. As a result, the 3-pole thermal overload relay
prevents all of these circumstances.

3. Timer:
The timer in the wye-delta starter’s fundamental function is to switch the contactor
from star to delta when the motor reaches almost 80% of full load speed.
4. The fuse unit:
Three fuses are connected in series with the motor circuit to protect it against
external overcurrent and short circuit faults. In addition, one fuse is used to protect
the wye-delta starter’s control circuit.

5. MCB:
A circuit breaker is an electrical switch that operates automatically to protect an
electrical circuit from harm caused by excess current from an overload/short circuit.
Its primary function is to interrupt current flow when a problem is identified. In
addition a fuse, which can only be used once before needing to be replaced, a circuit
breaker can be reset to resume regular operation.

In the star delta starter motor circuit, an MCB is utilised to protect the motor from
short circuit circumstances and to prevent motor winding damage.

6. Push-button Start (NO):

This is an open (NO) type push button that is used to start the motor.

7. Push button Stop (NC):

This is an NC type push button for stopping the motor.

STAR-DELTA STARTER CIRCUIT DIAGRAM AND WORKING

PRINCIPLE:
The diagram illustrates the connection of a three-phase induction motor with a star-
delta starter. The star-delta starter is a common type of starter that is widely used to
start squirrel cage induction motors. It is used to start a squirrel cage induction
motor that is meant to function normally on a stator winding that is delta linked.
STAR DELTA CONNECTION
The stator windings are connected in star when the switch S is in the START
position. When the motor reaches 80% of its rated speed, the changeover switch S is
thrown to the RUN position, connecting the stator windings in delta.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM OF STAR DELTA STARTER

The line current generated by the motor at starting is decreased to one-third of the
starting current with the windings linked in delta by connecting the stator windings
first in star and then in delta. When the stator windings are connected in a star at the
start, each phase receives a voltage equal to 𝑉𝐿/√3, where VL is the line voltage.

Because an induction motor’s torque is exactly proportional to the square of the

applied voltage, the star-delta starter reduces the starting torque by one-third when
compared to direct-delta starting.
Stator windings are connected in a star connection, and when speed hits 80%, it flips
from star to delta using a triple pole double throw (TPDT) switch.

Thus, when starting, the current in the motor’s winding is decreased to one-third of
its rated value, and the starting torque is reduced to 33%.

ADVANTAGES OF A STAR-DELTA STARTER:

 It is less expensive than other low-voltage induction motor starting methods.
 The torque and current characteristics of the star delta starter perform better
than any other starting methods.
 The starting current is one-third that of the direct online (DOL) starting
current.
 There is no need for a tap changing device to be used.
 It generates a lot of torque per ampere of line current.
 The star delta starter’s design and operation are simple and efficient.

DISADVANTAGES OF A STAR DELTA STARTER:

 Star delta starters are only useful for motors with six motor terminals.
 For Delta connections, the supply voltage should be the same as the rated
motor voltage.
  Because the starting current is lowered to approximately 1/3 of the nominal
current, the starting torque is also reduced to 1/3.
 From the starter to the motor, two sets of cables are required.
 If the motor is overloaded, there will not be adequate torque to accelerate
the motor to the appropriate speed before switching to the delta position.

APPLICATION OF A STAR DELTA STARTER:

 For low to medium voltage and low torque squirrel cage induction motors,
the star delta staring method is commonly preferred (SCIM).
 Centrifugal compressors also use star-delta starters.
 It is suitable for application where the starting current is low and the line
current drown is low.
 It can be utilised in industries such as textiles, food and beverage, sugar
plants, paper and printing, cold storage etc.

SOME USEFUL QUESTIONS:

1. What is the purpose of the star-delta starter?

The Star/Delta starter is probably the reduced voltage starter that is used the most
frequently. They are employed as a technique of reducing the disturbances &
interference on the electrical supply in an attempt to reduce the start current that is
applied to the motor during the starting process.

2. How many HP employ star-delta starter?

A Star Delta starter is utilised so that the starting current drawn by the motor can be
reduced. In most cases, it is utilised in associated with induction motors that have
more than 5 horsepower (HP).

3. Where is the star-delta starter employed?

The most frequent method for starting a three-phase induction motor is with a star
delta starter. During the starting period of star delta starting, an induction motor is
connected in via a star connection. Once the motor has reached the desired speed, it
is linked in through a delta connection.

4. What are the advantages of using a star-delta starter with an induction motor?

The main advantage of employing a star delta starter is that it reduces current during
motor starting.

 The beginning current is reduced to 3-4 times that of direct online starting.
 As a result, the starting current is reduced, and the voltage drops during
motor starting in systems are reduced.

5.Which is higher, the Star or the Delta connection?

Due to a 1/√3 of the voltage, the motor speed is slow with a star connection.
Because each phase receives the total of the line voltage in a delta-connection, motor
speed is high. The phase voltage can be as low as one-third of the line voltage in star
connection. The phase voltage equals the line voltage in delta connection.