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What Is A Star Delta Starter and How Does It Work

A star delta starter works by initially connecting the motor windings in a star configuration to reduce starting current and torque. Once the motor reaches 80% of rated speed, the windings are automatically switched to a delta configuration to provide full voltage, speed and torque. This allows large motors to start more smoothly compared to direct on-line starting, which can cause voltage disturbances due to high starting currents. Electronic soft-starters now replace manual or automatic star delta starters to provide smooth reduced-voltage starting of large motors.

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Arunkumar Gujeti
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7K views8 pages

What Is A Star Delta Starter and How Does It Work

A star delta starter works by initially connecting the motor windings in a star configuration to reduce starting current and torque. Once the motor reaches 80% of rated speed, the windings are automatically switched to a delta configuration to provide full voltage, speed and torque. This allows large motors to start more smoothly compared to direct on-line starting, which can cause voltage disturbances due to high starting currents. Electronic soft-starters now replace manual or automatic star delta starters to provide smooth reduced-voltage starting of large motors.

Uploaded by

Arunkumar Gujeti
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is a star delta starter and how does it

work?
The starting current of any heavy electric motor can be more than 4 times the normal load
current it draws when it has gained speed and has reached its normal running output power and
temperature.

So, if it were started simply when connected in DELTA, the starting current would be huge and -
just to be able to start the motor, not to run it normally - would require:

 large circuit breakers, big enough to allow the start-up surge current to pass without
immediately shutting it off. (But the breakers would then be much too big to be able to
protect the motor from over-current faults whilst it is running normally.)
 very thick 3-phase power service cables. (But the cable would then be much bigger than
is necessary whilst the motor is running normally.)
 very large coils and contacts on the relays or contactors used to control the motor. (But
they would then be much bigger than is necessary whilst the motor is running normally.)

One solution to this problem is to start the motor in STAR and then, when the motor has gained
sufficient speed, change its connections to DELTA to allow the motor to run at its full speed and
torque from then on. It's a bit like using the gears of an automobile.

Update: Electronic motor-control systems, which offer soft-starts in DELTA configuration, are
now replacing the use of manual or semi-automatic star-delta starters.

Technical explanation

When the windings of a 3-phase motor are connected in STAR:

 the voltage applied to each winding is reduced to only (1 /.'/'3) [1 divided by root three] of
the voltage applied to the winding when it is connected directly across two incoming
power service line phases in DELTA.
 the current per winding is reduced to only (1 /.'/'3) [1 divided by root three] of the normal
running current taken when it is connected in DELTA.

 so, because of the Power Law V [in volts] x I [in amps] = P [in watts],

the total output power when the motor is connected in STAR is:

PS = [VL x (1/.'/'3)] x [ID x (1/.'/'3 )] = PD x (1/3) [one third of the power in DELTA]

where:
VL is the line-to-line voltage of the incoming 3-phase power service
ID is the line current drawn in DELTA
PS is the total power the motor can produce when running in STAR
PD is the total power it can produce when running in DELTA.

 a further disadvantage when the motor is connected in STAR is that the total output
torque is only 1/3 of the total torque it can produce when running in DELTA.
How does a DOL three phase motor starter work
\

A DOL Starter means Direct On-Line starter. In this type of starting a 3-


phase motor, full voltage is applied to the motor through relays and
contactors. Its is the most common type of 3-phase motor starter used.

It has a "closing circuit" and an "opening circuit". The closing circuit is


for applying the supply to the motor and the opening - or "tripping" -
circuit protects the motor by cutting-off (or "tripping") power to the
motor from the supply lines if there is any overload condition, a single
phasing fault, etc.
What is the d/f between DOL & star delta
starter & automatic star delta starter?

A DOL starter connects the motor terminals


directly to the
power supply. Hence, the motor is subjected
to the full
voltage of the power supply. Consequently,
high starting
current flows through the motor. This type
of starting is
suitable for small motors below 5 hp (3.75
kW). Reduced-
voltage starters are employed with motors
above 5 hp.
Although DOL motor starters are available
for motors less
than 150 kW on 400 V and for motors less
than 1 MW on 6.6
kV. Supply reliability and reserve power
generation
dictates the use of reduced voltage or not

To reduce the starting current of an


induction motor the
voltage across the motor need to be
reduced. This can be
done by autotransformer starter, star-delta
starter or
resistor starter. Now-a-days VVVF drive
used extensively
for speed control serves this purpose also.

in dol starte the motor is directly fed


from the line and
in star delta starter ther motor is started
initially from
star and later during running from delta
 
In case of Star Delta starter the motor
intially will run
in star connection and when 80% of rated
speed picks, the
motor change over to delta connection. With
this star delta
connection we are able to reduce starting
current by 1/3 of
DOL starting current and starting torque
also.
 

http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/Bshivanand-
486113-electrical-starters/
Star-Delta Starter with circuit diagram
Introduction

Most large induction motors are started directly on line, but when very large motors are started
that way, they cause a disturbance of voltage on the supply lines due to large starting current
surges. To limit the starting current surge, large induction motors are started at reduced voltage
and then have full supply voltage reconnected when they run up to near rotated speed.

Two methods of reduced voltage starting are star delta starting and autotransformer stating.
Contactors perform the switching action in the starter to connect and disconnect the power
supply to the motor. If the current is above the rated current for the motor, the contactor will be
tripped automatically to disconnect the motor from the supply.

A three phase supply is given to the stator of the three phase induction motor, and this in turn
produces a magnetic field which revolves in space around the stator. As if the magnetic poles are
being rotated, the speed of the rotating magnetic field is given by

N = 120 f /P

Starting Principle

The high starting current will produce severe a voltage drop and will affect the operation of other
equipment. It is not desirable to start large motors direct on line (giving full voltage to the stator).
Normally with motors beyond 5 HP, starters are provided. For reduction in the starting current,
a lower voltage is applied to the stator, especially for the squirrel cage induction motors. Full
voltage is only applied when the motor picks up speed.

Starting methods of Induction motor include:

1. Direct –On– line (DOL) starters for less than 10 Kw motors.


2. Star–Delta starters for large motors. The stator winding is initially connected in a star
configuration and later on changed over to a Delta connection, when the motor reaches rated
speed.
3. Auto transformer.

1. Direct On Line Starter

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/mechanical/articles/74957.aspx#ixzz10SpBc5TE


1. It is simple and cheap starter for a 3-phase induction motor.
2. The contacts close against spring action.
3. This method is normally limited to smaller cage induction motors, because starting current can
be as high as eight times the full load current of the motor. Use of a double –cage rotor requires
lower staring current( approximately four times) and use of quick acting A.V.R enables motors of
75 Kw and above to be started direct on line.
4. An isolator is required to isolate the starter from the supply for maintenance.
5. Protection must be provided for the motor. Some of the safety protections are over-current
protection, under-voltage protection, short circuit protection, etc. Control circuit voltage is
sometimes stepped down through an autotransformer.

2. Star-Delta Starter

A three phase motor will give three times the power output when the stator windings are
connected in delta than if connected in star, but will take 1/3 of the current from the supply when
connected in star than when connected in delta. The starting torque developed in star is ½ that
when starting in delta.

1. A two-position switch (manual or automatic) is provided through a timing relay.


2. Starting in star reduces the starting current.
3. When the motor has accelerated up to speed and the current is reduced to its normal value, the
starter is moved to run position with the windings now connected in delta.
4. More complicated than the DOL starter, a motor with a star-delta starter may not produce
sufficient torque to start against full load, so output is reduced in the start position. The motors
are thus normally started under a light load condition.
5. Switching causes a transient current which may have peak values in excess of those with DOL.

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/mechanical/articles/74957.aspx#ixzz10SpOLgLz

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