Technical information

Motor start-up
The purpose of the starter is to: Alternative starting methods
The characteristics of common starting methods for
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Ensure that motors start reliably. electrical machines:
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Limit starting stresses of a mechanical, electrical and
thermal nature. ■
Direct-on-line start-up:
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Regulate speed, torque and power to the desired values. Direct-on-line start-up is a reasonable and fast star-
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Protect against overloading. ting method. It is simple and robust, but gives high cur-
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Prevent accidental start-up. rents in the supply conductors. It is not unusual to have
an effective start-up current value that is 5 to 8 times
the current at full load. Another disadvantage is that a
The choice of starting method is dependent on: voltage drop can occur in the transfer link to the mo-
tor, so other equipment may be supplied with a reduced
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Motor type voltage. In the case of a hard start-up the current could
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Load characteristic be high and long-lasting, resulting in thermal stresses on
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Stresses on the system both the system and the motor. This limits the size of
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Operating conditions motor which can be started on the system. This method
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Mechanical stresses has a low power factor, high mechanical stresses and no
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Maintenance regulation possibilities.
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Weight/volume
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Price ■
Star-delta start-up
A common starting method. It is based in principle on
the stator windings on the electrical machine being star-
Autotransformer start-up ted in star connection (Y) and switched to delta (D)
This method is often used for starting up large motor
when the rotor has gained speed. The advantage of this
loads. The autotransformer has a main winding designed
method is that the current in the supply conductors is
for the rated voltage with a terminal which is connected
only a third of the current for direct-on-line start-up,
to the motor. Noratel supplies both single and three-
and this gives a "soft" start-up. The disadvantages of this
phase transformers.
starting method are a pre-set starting torque (1/3), long
starting time and transients caused by switching from Y
The combination of large electric motors and relatively
to D.
low generator power is very common in some ship
systems. A direct-on-line start-up in such cases would ■
Changing rotor resistance:
lead to a voltage drop which would exceed the require-
A controlled converter is used in the rotor circuit to
ments of the classification society and regulations. When
change the rotor resistance and so limit the starting
it comes to dimensioning starting transformers there
current. This method is only suitable for wound-rotor in-
are two important parameters which work against each
duction motors. It can also be used for speed regulation.
other to some extent.
This method is expensive and gives increased heat loss.
1. The smallest possible reduction in generator voltage
at start-up of the motor(s). This is achieved by the ■
Soft starter:
lowest possible voltage at the terminal for the motor.
A voltage regulator - gives, as the name suggests, a "soft
2. The voltage at the terminal for the motor must not
start". The disadvantages of this starting method include
be so low that the motor’s torque curve is not reached.
harmonic influences and a restricted starting current.
Normally the terminals are between 50% and 80% of
system voltage. ■
Changing the number of poles:
This method can only be used for special motors and in
The great advantages of starting transformers are
a limited speed interval.
great freedom of choice with regard to voltage and a
small number of components, i.e. few fault sources. The ■
Frequency converter:
disadvantages are size and weight. (Since autostar-
This method has good regulation possibilities and
ter transformers have large voltage drops, this has to
converters are available in different versions in a wide
be compensated for. Otherwise there is a risk that the
power range. There are two main types: with and with-
motor will not start satisfactorily.)
out intermediate circuit.

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Autotransformer start-up
At start-up contactor "K3" should be connected first.
Then contactor "K2" should be connected. The trans-
former with then work with a reduced operating
voltage to the motor. At the right speed contactor "K3"
will then open and part of the transformer winding will
be in series, something which gives a certain reactor
effect and a soft continuation of the start-up without
voltage spikes. Contactor "K1" close and the motor
being supplied with operating voltage. Finally contactor
"K2" should open.

Three-phase autotransformer for motor start-up from Noratel. It

is equipped with, among other things, thermistors for monitoring and
disconnection in the event of a fault. The transformer can be supplied
with a large number of tappings/adjustments for several stages if desi-
red. Small overall dimensions versus high motor powers.

Schematic diagram of autotransformer

start-up.The starting transformer is normally
connected for what is known as closed circuit
transition autotransformer starting.

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