SOFT MOTOR STARTING

Contents
METHODS
Introduction
Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)
Types of Variable Frequency Drive
Working Principle
Components of VFD
 Soft Starter
soft starter
Is the voltage reduction technique. It uses the
semiconductor switches like TRIAC to control the
voltage as well as the starting current supplied to the
induction motor.
A phase-controlled TRIAC is used to provide variable
voltage.
The voltage is varied by varying the conduction
angle or firing angle of the TRIAC.
The conduction angle is kept at minimum to provide
reduced voltage. The voltage is increased gradually
by increasing the conduction angle. At maximum
conduction angle, the full line voltage is applied to
the induction motor & it runs at rated speed.
Soft Starter ………
 It provides a gradual and smooth increase in the
starting voltage, current as well as the torque.
Thus there is no mechanical jerk and provide a
smooth operation that increases the life span of
the machine.
Advantages of Soft
Starter
 It provides better control over starting current &
voltage
 It offers smooth acceleration, thus no jerks.
 It reduces the power surges in the system.
 Extends the life span of the system
 Provide better efficiency & lack the need for
maintenance
 Its size is small
Disadvantages of Soft
Starter
 It is relatively expensive
 There is energy dissipation in the form of heat
 VARIABLE
FREQUENCY DRIVE

(VFD)
A VFD is a power converter that uses
electronic circuits to convert a fixed
frequency and fixed voltage into a variable
frequency and variable voltage.
 A VFD or variable frequency drive is an electronic
device used to control an AC induction motor or
synchronous motor.
 A VFD controls the torque, speed, and direction of
the motor, smoothly starting and accelerating the
motor to the desired speed at a controlled
acceleration rate.
 Deceleration is also controlled, and braking is
available as an option.
Variable frequency
drive…….
VFDs allow to use a single motor for a variety of
processes and conditions that may require
different speeds.
Other names for a VFD include:
 Adjustable speed drive
 Adjustable frequency drive
 Variable-voltage/variable frequency drive
 AC drive
 Microdrive
 Inverter
 Variable speed drive
 TYPES VFD
 There are three common types of VFDs;
i. Current source inversion (CSI VFDs)
ii. Voltage source inversion (VSI VFDs)
iii. Pulse-width modulation (PWM VFDs)

Current source inversion (CSI) is used in signal

processing and industrial power applications.
CSI VFDs are the only type that has regenerative
power capability. In other words, they can
absorb power flow back from the motor into the
power supply.
CSI VFDs give a very clean current waveform but
require large, expensive inductors in their
construction and cause cogging (pulsating
movement during rotation) below 6 Hz.
 TYPES VFD…….
 Voltage source inversion (VSI) drives have poor
power factor, can cause motor cogging below 6
Hz, and are non-regenerative.
 N.B:CSI and VSI drives have not been widely
used.

 Pulse-width modulation (PWM) VFDs are most

commonly used in industry because of;
 excellent input power factor due to fixed
DC bus voltage
 no motor cogging,
 higher efficiencies, and
 lower cost.
 TYPES VFD…….
 PMW VFD uses a series of voltage pulses
of different lengths to simulate a
sinusoidal wave
 The pulses are timed so that the time
average integral of the drive yields a
perfect sinusoid
TYPES VFD…….

 Frequency is directly related to the motor’s speed

(RPMs). In other words, the faster the frequency,
the faster the RPMs go.
 If an application does not require an electric
motor to run at full speed, the VFD can be used to
ramp down the frequency and voltage to meet the
requirements of the electric motor’s load.
 As the application’s motor speed requirements
change, the VFD can simply turn up or down the
motor speed to meet the speed requirement.
 Operation of Variable
frequency drive…….
 The AC from the supply line is converted into DC
using rectifiers. The pure DC is converted into AC
with adjustable frequency & voltage using pulse
width modulation technique through power
transistor like IGBTs.
 Operation of Variable
frequency drive…….
 The first stage of a Variable Frequency AC Drive, or VFD, is
the Converter.
 The converter is comprised of six diodes. They allow current
to flow in only one direction; the direction shown by the
arrow in the diode symbol.
 For example, whenever A-phase voltage (voltage is similar to
pressure in plumbing systems) is more positive than B or C
phase voltages, then that diode will open and allow current
to flow.
 When B-phase becomes more positive than A-phase, then
the B-phase diode will open and the A-phase diode will close.
 The same is true for the 3 diodes on the negative side of the
bus. Thus, we get six current “pulses” as each diode opens
and closes. This is called a “six-pulse VFD”, which is the
standard configuration for current Variable Frequency Drives.

Operation of Variable
frequency drive…….
 A variable frequency drive takes in fixed AC voltage
and frequency into a rectifier bridge to convert the
voltage to DC, uses a capacitor bank and inductors to
filter the DC, then inverts the DC voltage back to AC
and sends it out to the motor at the frequency desired.
 A microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP)
communicates with the PLC and user (via an HMI or
keypad), oversees motor operation and checks for
faults.
 Control circuitry coordinates the switching of power
devices to activate the power components in the right
sequence. The motor speed varies by changing the
voltage and frequency supplied by the output devices.
 Basic VFDs maintain motor torque by keeping the
volts-to-frequency ratio constant. Advanced units use
more intelligent and adaptive algorithms to improve
motor performance.
Sections of VFD
Sections of VFD
 Sections of VFD

 A VFD drive system could be divided into three

subsystems:
 An AC motor, most often a three-phase induction
motor but sometimes a single-phase or synchronous
motor.
 A main drive controller using a solid-state power
electronics conversion system containing the rectifier
bridge converter, a DC link or filter, and a switching
or inverter section.
 A monitoring and control interface, providing the
operator or PLC a way to start and stop the motor,
adjust the speed, change direction, etc. This interface
also provides information about the operation of the
motor, health of the drive, etc. Communication with a
PLC may be accomplished through a number of serial
communications protocols or may be through “old
school” relay inputs and output combined with 4-
20mA or 0-10V analog signals.
 Sections of VFD…….

 The first section of the VFD is called the rectifier

section or converter. This section consists of a
three-phase bridge rectifier.
 The filter section of the VFD uses capacitors and
an inductor to filter the voltage and current.
 The capacitors have a pre-charge circuit that
allows the capacitors to reach full charge slowly
so that they are not damaged.
 The capacitors are connected in parallel with the
DC bus,
 The inductor is connected in series with the
negative DC bus wire.
 Sections of VFD…….

 The second section of the VFD is called the DC

intermediate section and it contains the filter
components.
 The third block of the VFD is called the inverter
section because this is where the DC voltage is
turned back into three-phase AC voltage.
 The output section of the VFD converts the DC
voltage back to three-phase voltage. This section
uses pulse-width modulation (PWM) techniques to
switches three pairs of transistors on and off up to
12 times during each half-wave to produce a
three phase output.
 Sections of VFD……..

 The base VFD board provides the PWM signals for

all of the transistors. The VFD contains a
microprocessor that accepts the command signal
& determines the correct frequency and voltage
for the output transistors.
Components of VFD

 The major components of the VFD include the;

 rectifier,
 Dc bus and filter,
 Inverter
 Control unit
Components of VFD
1. The Rectifier
The input AC supply is connected tothe Rectifier
section of the VFD.
 It is a full-wave rectifier that converts the AC power
into unfiltered DC.
Components of VFD
2.The DC Bus and Filter
This intermediate section is used for filtering and
storing the DC power that is retrieved by the
inverter. Its main function of filters is to remove the
ripples from the pulsating DC output of the rectifier.
It is mainly made of capacitors to filter the ripples
from the pulsating DC and also store it. It may
include an inductor as well depending on the type of
ripples.
 Components of VFD
3.The Inverter

This is the inverter or switching section that converts the steady DC

into alternating AC with adjustable frequency.

It is made of power transistors or IGBTs. They switch rapidly to

provide alternating voltage at the output. Its switching
frequency determines the output AC frequency.
Whereas, the switching rate of IGBTs is controlled through the
control unit.
Components of VFD
4. The Control Unit
This section is the controlling unit responsible for
controlling the switching operation, output frequency,
output power. It is integrated with the user interface
and sensors to acquire the necessary data. It also
monitors fault conditions.
The control unit consists of an embedded
microprocessor programmed for controlling the
rectifier and inverter section. It can react in
microseconds in case of any fault conditions. The
feedback data from the speed sensor is used to
monitor the speed as well as adjust it accordingly to
the need.
Advantages of Variable
Frequency Drive
 It provides a better and smooth acceleration for
large motor
 It offers full speed control with smooth
acceleration & deceleration.
 It increases the life span due to the absence of
electrical & mechanical stress
 It offers forward & reverse operation of a motor
Disadvantages of
Variable Frequency
Drive
It is relatively expensive unless speed control is
necessary
 There is heat dissipation
 VFDs create harmonics in the electric lines which
can affect electronic equipment & power factor.
When to Use a Variable
Frequency Drive
There are many reasons to select a system with a
variable frequency drive.
To precisely control the speed of a manufacturing
process.
To provide a smooth start and careful acceleration
to operating speed.
To create energy savings, especially in applications
where a load’s torque and power vary in a non-linear
way. Variable torque fans & pumps are good
candidates for savings.
To make process and quality improvements in your
application’s acceleration, flow, monitoring, speed,
temperature, tension, torque, and pressure.
Torun a motor in specialized patterns to minimize
mechanical and electrical stress.
SELECTION OF VFD

 To select the appropriate VFD for the proper

application we need to evaluate or consider the
following things.
 1. Horsepower of the motor
 2. The cost
 3. The operating environment of the VFD and
motors
 4. Single phase or three phase
 5. Single VFD with single motor or single VFD with
multiple motors
 6. Additional control features requirements
THE END