Open Transition and Closed Transition Star Delta (Wye

Delta) Starters for induction motors

lmphotonics.com /star_delta.htm

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Star / Delta Starters

Star/Delta starters are probably the most common reduced voltage starters in the 50Hz world. (Known as
Wye/Delta starters in the 60Hz world). They are used in an attempt to reduce the start current applied to the
motor during start as a means of reducing the disturbances and interference on the electrical supply.
In many, if not most, cases the star/delta starter does little to reduce problems, infact it commonly exacerbates
them.

Tradditionally in many supply regions, there has been a requirement to fit a reduced voltage starter on all
motors greater than 5HP (4KW). This regulation was introduced in order to reduce the start current, but
unfortunately, a solution was specified rather than a result.
The Star/Delta (or Wye/Delta) starter is one of the lowest cost electromechanical reduced voltage starters that
can be applied and this is why it has been so popular. The Star/Delta starter complied with the regulations, but
did not achieve the desired results.

The Star/Delta starter is manufactured from three contactors, a timer and a thermal overload. The contactors are
smaller than the single contactor used in a Direct On Line starter as they are controlling winding currents only. The
currents through the winding are 1/root 3 (58%) of the current in the line.
There are two contactors that are close during run, often referred to as the main contactor and the delta contactor.
These are AC3 rated at 58% of the current rating of the motor. The third contactor is the star contactor and that only
carries star current while the motor is connected in star. The current in star is one third of the current in delta, so this
contactor can be AC3 rated at one third of the motor rating.

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Operation

In operation, the Main Contactor (KM3) and the Star Contactor (KM1) are closed initially, and then after a period of
time, the star contactor is opened, and then the delta contactor (KM2) is closed. The control of the contactors is by
the timer (K1T) built into the starter. The Star and Delta are electrically interlocked and preferably mechanically
interlocked as well.
In effect, there are four states:

1. OFF State. All Contactors are open

2. Star State. The Main and the Star contactors are closed and the delta contacor is open. The motor is
connected in star and will produce one third of DOL torque at one third of DOL current.
3. Open State. The Main contactor is closed and the Delta and Star contactors are open. There is voltage on
one end of the motor windings, but the other end is open so no current can flow. The motor has a spinning
rotor and behaves like a generator.
4. Delta State. The Main and the Delta contactors are closed. The Star contactor is open. The motor is
connected to full line voltage and full power and torque are available.

This type of operation is called open transition switching because there is an open state between the star state and
the delta state.

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Open Transition Starters.

When a motor is driven by the supply, either at full speed or at part speed, there is a rotating magnetic field in the
stator. This field is rotating at line frequency. The flux from the stator field induces a curent in the rotor and this in
turn results in a rotor magnetic field.
When the motor is disconnected from the supply (open transition) there is a spinning rotor within the stator and the
rotor has a magnetic field. Due to the low impedance of the rotor circuit, the time constant is quite long and the
action of the spinning rotor field within the stator is that of a generator which generates voltage at a frequency
determined by the speed of the rotor. When the motor is reconnected to the supply, it is reclosing onto an
unsynchronised generator and this results in a very high current and torque transient. The magnitude of the transient
is dependent on the phase relationship between the generated voltage and the line voltage at the point of closure,
but typically can be much higher then DOL current and torque and can result in electrical and mechanical damage.

Closed Transition Star/Delta Starter.

There is a technique to reduce the magnitude of the switching transients. This requires the use of a fourth contactor
and a set of three resistors. The resistors must be sized such that considerable current is able to flow in the motor
windings while they are in circuit.
The auxiliary contactor and resistors are connected across the delta contactor. In operation, just before the star
contactor opens, the auxiliary contactor closes resulting in current flow via the resistors into the star connection.
Once the star contactor opens, current is able to flow round through the motor windings to the supply via the
resistors. These resistors are then shorted by the delta contactor. If the resistance of the resistors is too high, they
will not swamp the voltage generated by the motor and will serve no purpose.

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In effect, there are five states:

1. OFF State. All Contactors are open

2. Star State. The Main [KM3] and the Star [KM1] contactors are closed and the delta [KM2] contactor is open.
The motor is connected in star and will produce one third of DOL torque at one third of DOL current.
3. Star Transition State. The motor is connected in star and the resistors are connected across the delta
contactor via the aux [KM4] contactor.
4. Closed Transition State. The Main [KM3] contactor is closed and the Delta [KM2] and Star [KM1] contactors
are open. Current flows through the motor windings and the transition resistors via KM4.
5. Delta State. The Main and the Delta contactors are closed. The transition resistors are shorted out. The Star
contactor is open. The motor is connected to full line voltage and full power and torque are available.

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