Starting methods of Three phase induction motors

Induction motors if started by directly connecting to the supply draw 5-8 times higher the full
load current at starting. Even if the motor handles this large current, it creates a big voltage sag
in the line preventing other customers to receive the nominal voltage. Therefore measures have
to be taken to reduce the starting current to avoid the voltage sag. So the induction motors
require starting methods to reduce the current at starting. There are several starting methods
employed for starting induction motors.
Starting of cage induction motors:

1. DOL Starter
A DOL starter (or Direct On Line starter or across the line starter) is a method of starting of a
3 phase induction motor. In DOL Starter an induction motor is connected directly across its 3-
phase supply, and the DOL starter applies the full line voltage to the motor terminals. Despite
this direct connection, no harm is done to the motor. A DOL motor starter contains protection
devices, and in some cases, condition monitoring. A wiring diagram of a DOL starter is shown
below:

Since the DOL starter connects the motor directly to the main supply line, the motor draws a
very high inrush current compared to the full load current of the motor (up to 5-8 times higher).
The value of this large current decreases as the motor reaches its rated speed. A direct on line
starter can only be used if the high inrush current of the motor does not cause an excessive
voltage drop in the supply. So Direct on line starters are commonly used to start small motors,
especially 3 phase squirrel cage induction motors. Current/torque curves of DOL starter are
shown below.
DOL Starter Wiring Diagram
A direct online starter consits of two buttons, a GREEN button for starting and a RED for
stopping purpose of the motor. The DOL starter comprises of an MCCB or circuit breaker,
contactor and an overload relay for protection. These two buttons, i.e. Green and Red or start
and stop buttons control the contacts.
To start the motor, we close the contact by pushing Green Button, and the full line voltage
appears to the motor. A contactor can be of 3 poles or 4-poles. Above given contactor is of 4-
pole type. It contains three NO (normally open) contacts that connect the motor to supply lines,
and the fourth contact is “hold on contact” (auxiliary contact) which energizes the contactor
coil after the start button is released. If any fault occurs, the auxiliary coil gets de-energized,
and hence the starter disconnects the motor from supply mains.

A picture of a DOL starter ( Courtesy: Siemens)

DOL Starter Working Principle
The working principle of a DOL starter begins with the connection to the 3-phase main with
the motor. The control circuit is connected to any two phases and energized from them only.
When we press the start button, the current flows through contactor coil (magnetizing coil) and
control circuit also. The current energises the contactor coil and leads to close the contacts, and
hence 3-phase supply becomes available to the motor
If we press the stop button, the current through the contact becomes discontinued, hence supply
to the motor will not be available, and the similar thing will happen when the overload relay
operates. Since the supply of motor breaks, the machine will come to rest. The contactor coil
(Magnetizing Coil) gets supply even though we release start button because when we release
start button, it will get supply from the primary contacts as illustrated in the diagram of the
Direct Online Starter.
The advantages of a DOL starter include:

1. Simple and most economical starter.

2. More comfortable to design, operate and control.
3. Provides nearly full starting torque at starting.
4. Easy to understand and troubleshoot.
5. DOL starter connects the supply to the delta winding of the motor.

The disadvantages of a DOL starter include:

1. High starting current (5-8 times of full load current).

2. DOL Starter causes a significant dip in voltage, hence suitable only for small motors.
3. DOL Starter reduces the lifespan of the machine.
4. Mechanically tough.
5. Unnecessary high starting torque

Applications of DOL Starter

The applications of DOL starters are primarily motors where a high inrush current does not
cause excessive voltage drop in the supply circuit (or where this high voltage drop is
acceptable). Direct on line starters are commonly used to start small water pumps, conveyor
belts, fans, and compressors. In the case of an asynchronous motor (such as the 3-phase
squirrel-cage motor) the motor will draw a high starting current until it has run up to full speed.

2. Star Delta Starter

A star delta starter is the most commonly used method for the starting of a 3 phase induction
motor. In star delta starting an induction motor is connected in through a star
connection throughout the starting period. Then once the motor reaches the required speed, the
motor is connected in through a delta connection.
A star delta starter will start a motor with a star connected stator winding. When motor reaches
about 80% of its full load speed, it will begin to run in a delta connected stator winding.
A star delta starter is a type of reduced voltage starter. We use it to reduce the starting current
of the motor without using any external device or apparatus. This is a big advantage of a star
delta starter, as it typically has around 1/3 of the inrush current compared to a DOL starter.

The starter mainly consists of a TPDP switch which stands for Tripple Pole Double Throw
switch. This switch changes stator winding from star to delta. During starting condition stator
winding is connected in the form of a star.
The advantages of star delta starters include:

1. Inexpensive
2. No heat is produced, or tap changing device needs to be used, hence efficiency
increases.
3. Starting current reduced to 1/3 of direct online starting current.
4. Produce high torque per ampere of line current.

The disadvantages of star delta starters include:

1. Starting torque is reduced to 1/3 of full load torque.

2. A particular set of motors required.

Application of Star Delta Starter

As discussed in the above advantages and disadvantages, a star delta starter is most suited to
applications where the required starting current is low and where the line current draw must be
at a minimum value. The star delta starter is not suitable for applications where high starting
torque delivery is required. For these applications, a DOL starter should be used instead.

If the motor is too heavily loaded, there will not be enough torque to accelerate the motor upto
speed before switching over to the delta position. Example application for a star delta starter is
a Centrifugal compressor.

Current and torque profiles of Star-Delta starter

 3. Auto transformer Starter
An Auto transformer Starter is suitable for both star and delta connected motors. In this
method, the starting current is limited by using a three-phase auto transformer to reduce the
initial stator applied voltage. The figure below shows the motor with the Auto transformer
starter.

It is provided with a number of tappings. The starter is connected to one particular tapping to
obtain the most suitable starting voltage. A double throw switch is used to connect the auto
transformer in the circuit for starting. When the handle H of the switch in
the START position. The primary of the auto transformer is connected to the supply line, and
the motor is connected to the secondary of the auto transformer.

When the motor picks up the speed of about 80 percent of its rated value, the handle H is
quickly moved to the RUN position. Thus, the auto transformer is disconnected from the
circuit, and the motor is directly connected to the line and achieve its full rated voltage. The
handle is held in the RUN position by the under voltage relay.

If the supply voltage fails or falls below a certain value, the handle is released and returns to
the OFF position. Thermal overload relays provide the overload protection.

Advantages of Auto transformer starter:

1) The autotransformer starter limits significantly the inrush current.

2) It is used for large motors, in which start by direct connection to the network is not
possible. For large motors also the star-delta starter cannot be used, especially if they are
started with a significant load.

3) The most effective ratio of the autotransformer is between 65-80%.

4) Highest torque per ampere of supply current.

5) Motor current larger than supply current.

6) This method is suitable for long starting periods.
7) Adjustment of starting voltage by selection of proper tap on the autotransformer.

Disadvantages of Autotransformer starter:

1) The circuit is quite complex and involves relatively expensive autotransformer.

2) Due to the physical size of the whole device, it might not be possible to add this starter to
an existing machine if space is scarce.

3) Low power factor

Current and torque characteristics of Auto transformer for 3 tapping positions

 4. Soft Starter
Soft starter is a reduced voltage controller designed for starting standard 3 Phase induction
motors. The unit is solid state, using a microprocessor to control inverse parallel (back to back)
pairs of SCR's.
An SCR/thyrisor is a semiconductor device that latches
when triggered. Once triggered it allows current to flow in
one direction only and turns off at zero current.
The firing angle of the SCR's are controlled to achieve the
desired acceleration of the motor.

Soft Starters provide the following benefits:

1. Reduced stresses and wear on the mechanics of the system

2. Reduced starting currents
3. Minimize voltage dips on the supply
4. Lowered Peak demand charges
5. Eliminate belt slippage on fans
6. Smooth acceleration of motor / load

Soft Starter Torque Control Feature

The soft starter incorporates a closed loop torque control system to provide better control
over starting & stopping 3 phase induction motors. Conventional voltage ramp control
systems typically produce low torque at low speeds. When starting & stopping variable
torque loads (e.g Pumps) this can results in a very rapid acceleration or deceleration with a
non linear change in motor speed.

The soft starter overcomes these issues by regulating the torque in the motor to match the
load type during the acceleration & deceleration. This essentially allows a constant torque to
be produced in the motor. The continual monitoring of the motor characteristics during the
ramp also allows instantaneous adjustment of the starter output to allow for changes in load
conditions.

The soft starter control system provides smooth starting & stopping, allowing ramp profiling
to produce a linear acceleration and deceleration of the motor speed. There are many benefits
with variable torque loads such a pumps and fans by achieving a linear ramp profile and
greater control over deceleration. With pump applications this provides better control to
minimise water hammer problems.

For a delta connected motor with phase winding impedance z, direct on line current, 𝐼 DOL,
line voltage VL, motor starting current with soft starter, Isoft, percentage reduction of voltage
applied to the motor with soft starter, K :

𝑉
IDOL = √3 𝑍𝐿
Toque, T ∞ V2
𝑇𝐷𝑂𝐿 ∞ 𝑉𝐿2
𝑇𝑠𝑜𝑓𝑡 ∞ 𝐾 2 𝑉𝐿2

𝑇𝑠𝑜𝑓𝑡 = 𝐾 2 𝑇𝐷𝑂𝐿
𝐾𝑉𝐿
Isoft = √3 = KIDOL
𝑍

Torque Control Soft Starter's Benefits include:

1. A true linear acceleration of the load and motor for all load types.
2. Reduced peak inrush starting currents.
3. Reduced stresses and wear on the mechanics of the system
4. Ramp profiling to better match type of load such as variable torque loads. Better control
of pumps and fans, without rapid initial ramp but linear ramp.
5. Reduced heating in motor at low speeds.
6. No instability due to changing power factor. Closed loop system to monitor and react
to changing power factor.
7. Better control of deceleration through closed loop torque control system.

The soft starter also offers user access to ramp profiling parameters to fine tune the Torque
Control System to achieve more application specific performance requirements.

5. Stator resistance starter

Refer the other note (Page 3)
Starting of WRIM

Rotor resistance starter

Please refer the page 9 of the other note.

Wiring diagram of Rotor resistance starter:

Torque/Current Vs speed characteristics for difference rotor resistance

Applications of WRIMs:
 Fans
 Pumps
 Conveyors
 Crane systems
 Mill application
 Mixer

EE3030 Electrical Machines and Drives III

Dr. D.P. Chandima