Three-Phase AC machines

Resource 3

Three-phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

Aims

• To understand the control gear requirements of a cage rotor induction motor starter

• To understand the operation of various types of motor starters

Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

Objectives
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
• To be able to describe the control gear components of a DOL starter
• To be able to describe the operation of a DOL starter
• To be able to explain how a three-phase motor can be reversed
• To be able to describe the operation of a reversing DOL starter
• To be able to explain the starting problems with an induction motor
 To be able to describe the operation of a STAR-DELTA starter
Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

Components of a DOL Starter

DOL = Direct On Line
= Direct connection of stator phases to the 3 phase supply

FUSES MCB

Designed to operate very quickly

Protect against short circuit currents to
earth or between phases
Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

Components of a DOL Starter

Isolator Isolator with integral fuses

Makes circuit dead allowing for maintenance

Should be door interlocked and lockable for safety
Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

Contactor Main pole

terminals 1,
Coil terminals A1 & A2 3&5 Auxiliary contact
terminal 13

Coil

Coil Auxiliary
Main poles
contact

Auxiliary contact
Main pole terminals 2, 4 & 6 terminal 14
Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

Components of a DOL Starter

Main pole
Contactor
terminals 1,
Coil terminals A1 & A2 3&5 Auxiliary contact
terminal 13

When coil is energised it becomes a

magnet
Coil
Pole contacts closes

Auxiliary contact also closes

Auxiliary contact
Main pole terminals 2, 4 & 6 terminal 14
Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

Components of a DOL Starter

Overload Unit (Thermal type) When motor overheats due to overload
conditions, main poles latch open
Main pole terminals 1, 3 & 5
Reset
button

N/C
Auxiliary
contacts
95 & 96 Auxiliary contacts also latch open and
N/O
when interlocked within control circuit
Auxiliary
prevents motor restarting by itself when
contacts
cool.
97 & 98

Red pushbutton can be used to reset

Main pole terminals 2, 4 & 6
Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

Components of a DOL Starter

Start and Stop pushbuttons
Start button is green and
flush mounted
Stop button is red and Emergency Stop button has a
protruding red mushroom head which
latches in and must be turned
to release

Contacts at the
back of
switches can
be either N/O
or N/C N/O contact N/C contact
Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

3-phase
supply
DOL Starter
Power Schematic Fuses

Isolator

Contactor Auxiliary
C1 contact
(retainer)
Overload Auxiliary
Unit contact
OL1 (interlock)

Safety earth
Induction
Motor
Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

DOL Starter

Control Circuit

Starting
•Press S2
•C1 coil energises
•Contact C1 retains
•S2 can be released

Stopping Faults
•Press S1 breaks circuit •Overload causes OL1 to open
•C1 coil de-energises •C1 coil de-energises
•C1 retaining contact •C1 retaining contact drops out
drops out
Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

3-phase
supply

Fuses
Mechanical
Power Schematic interlock

Isolator Revers
e
Forward Contact
Contacto or
r C3
C2

Overload
Phases
Unit
swapped
OL2
here by
C3
Induction
Safety earth
Motor
Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

Control Circuit
Reversing
Starting - Forward
DOL Starter
•Press S2
•C2 coil energises
•Contact C2 retains
•S2 can be released
•Electrical interlock with
C3

Starting - Reverse
•Press S3 Stopping Faults
•C3 coil energises •Press S1 breaks circuit •As for DOL
•Contact C3 retains •C2 or C3 coil de-energises
•S3 can be released •C2 or C3 retaining contact drops
•Electrical interlock with C2 out
Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

High Starting Current

Induction Motor Starting Problems

Starting current
= 7 x full load current

As speed increases,
stator current reduces
Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

Solution:- Start off in STAR, then run in DELTA

Induction Motor Starting Problems

Motor current follows STAR

curve. Change over to DELTA
curve after motor reaches 80%
of full synchronous speed

Change over can be done using a

timer or centrifugal switch
Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

Solution:- Start off in STAR, then run in DELTA

Induction Motor Starting Problems
Motor torque follows STAR
curve. Change over to DELTA
curve after motor reaches 80%
of full synchronous speed

Lower starting torque in STAR

means that load must be
checked to ensure it can be
turned in STAR.
Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

MAIN 3-phase supply,

STAR-DELTA Contactor C1 Overload fuses, isolator

Starter Unit OL1 and motor earth

not shown

Power Schematic

U1
STAR
Mechanical
interlock
W2 U2
V2
Induction DELTA
W1 V1 Contactor
Motor C3

DELTA
Contactor
connects
W2 U1 U1 to W2
DELTA V1 to U2
W1 to V2
STAR
W1 U2
V1
Contact STAR
V2 Contactor connects U2 to
or C2 V2 to W2
Three-Phase AC Machines
3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear
Resource 3

STAR-DELTA Starter
Control Circuit

Starting

•Press S2
•C1 coil energises
•Contact C1 retains
•S2 can be released
•Auxiliary contact C1 closes
•CR timer starts timing
•C2 coil energises - STAR
•CR timer finishes timing
•C2 coil de-energises
•C3 coil energises - DELTA

Stopping & Faults

•As for DOL