DC Machines

Why Starters are required ?

Ok , so at the time of starting a DC Motor ,
the Back EMF developed (E=K*PHI*N) is
zero as it's speed is zero. So a very high
current flows (which is limited by
resistance only but resistance itself is very
low usually 1-2 ohms) through the
armature of the machine which can destroy
it completely.
So to protect the machine from such large
currents , starters which can be simple
resistors or the sophisticated 3 point or 4
point starters may be employed.

Image Source : Electrical4u

AC Machines
So When we are discussing AC machines I'll limit my discussion to Induction Motors be it squirrel cage or wound
rotor motor.
The three phase Induction motors have a starting torque and hence they are self starting in nature. However , we
should recall the similarities between a three phase machine and a transformer. The principal of operation for
both of them is same i.e. the mutual induction. In case of the IM , during starting, when the rotor is at rest, there
is maximum rate of change of flux or alternatively the induced EMF in secondary of a fictitious *rotating
transformer* is maximum and is E and corresponding to this induced voltage in the rotor , a large current flows
through the rotor.
Alternatively during starting , a very high current flows so as to set up a magnetic field. As the reluctance of air
is large due to a large air gap, a high *magnetizing* current is required to set up field in the air gap.
Such a large current apart from causing the fluctuations in line voltage can adversely affects the machine.
It becomes necessary to reduce the starting current so that the other devices connected to line can work properly.
Following are the common starting methods for IM :

Autotransformer Starters

By varying the turns of transformer , input supply can be varied. This reduces the the voltage to xV (where x is the
AT's turn ratio) and line current to x^2 times I.

Star Delta Starter

Well it is no brainer that in star the phase voltage is 1/sqrt(3)1/sqrt(3) times the line voltage. So by connecting
the stator winding in star the starting current is reduced. As the motor picks up the speed it is connected to delta

Motors below 1 Hp is directly connect without starter because their armature

resistance is very high and they have ability to afford the high current due to high
resistance. So the Armature winding safe from the high starting current.
But a large size of motors has a very low armature resistance. if connect this type
of motor direct to Supply (3-phase Supply) then the large current will destroy the
armature wading due to low resistance because motor is not running in this time.
Why motor is not running in this time when we connect motor to supply?
Obviously, because their is no Back E.M.F in the motor. the back E.M.F of the
motor is reach at full rate when motor is running at full speed.
So this is the answer that why we connect a starter with motor in series. Starter
in series with motor ( I.e. Resistance) is reduce the high starting current and
armature takes a low current and motor will be start. But this is not end of our
story. After starting the motor at low current, the starter resistance reduce by
turning a starter handle ( not in each case, in other system or case, this can be
automatically) so the armature will take high current and motor armature will be
rotate at full speed ( in other words, the speed of the motor will be increase).

For more Explanation see the example.

We know that the armature current can be finding by this formula,

Ia = V-Eb/Ra ,
( I=V/R, Ohm Law)
Where,
Ia =Armature current
V= Supply voltage
Eb= Back E.M.F
Ra = Armature resistance
Suppose
A 5 Hp (3.73killowatt) motor with 440 volts having armature resistance 0.25 ohm
resistance.
And the normal full load current is 50 amperes.
if we connect to direct to supply without starter the result will be.
So putting the values in equation
Ia= 440-0/0.25 = 1760 A
ahh! This high current will destroy armature winding because its 35.2 times high
with respect to normal full load current.
1760/50 = 35.2

So thats why we need to install a starter with a motor