Three-Phase AC machines

Resource 3

Three-phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

Aims
To understand the control gear requirements of a cage rotor induction motor starter

To understand the operation of various types of motor starters

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

Objectives

At the end of this lesson you should be able to:

To To To To To To be be be be be be able able able able able able to to to to to to

describe the control gear components of a DOL starter describe the operation of a DOL starter explain how a three-phase motor can be reversed describe the operation of a reversing DOL starter explain the starting problems with an induction motor describe the operation of a STAR-DELTA starter

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

Components of a DOL Starter

DOL = Direct On Line = Direct connection of stator phases to the 3 phase supply

FUSES

MCB

Designed to operate very quickly Protect against short circuit currents to earth or between phases

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

Components of a DOL Starter Isolator Isolator with integral fuses

Makes circuit dead allowing for maintenance Should be door interlocked and lockable for safety

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3 Contactor Coil terminals A1 & A2 Main pole terminals 1, 3&5

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

Auxiliary contact terminal 13

Coil

Coil

Main poles

Auxiliary contact

Main pole terminals 2, 4 & 6

Auxiliary contact terminal 14

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

Components of a DOL Starter

Contactor Coil terminals A1 & A2 Main pole terminals 1, 3&5 Auxiliary contact terminal 13

When coil is energised it becomes a magnet Coil Pole contacts closes Auxiliary contact also closes

Main pole terminals 2, 4 & 6

Auxiliary contact terminal 14

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3 Components of a DOL Starter Overload Unit (Thermal type) Main pole terminals 1, 3 & 5 Reset button

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

When motor overheats due to overload conditions, main poles latch open

N/C Auxiliary contacts 95 & 96

N/O Auxiliary contacts 97 & 98

Auxiliary contacts also latch open and when interlocked within control circuit prevents motor restarting by itself when cool.

Main pole terminals 2, 4 & 6

Red pushbutton can be used to reset

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

Components of a DOL Starter

Start and Stop pushbuttons Start button is green and flush mounted Stop button is red and protruding Emergency Stop button has a red mushroom head which latches in and must be turned to release

Contacts at the back of switches can be either N/O or N/C

N/O contact

N/C contact

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

DOL Starter
Power Schematic

3-phase supply

Fuses

Isolator

Contactor C1 Overload Unit OL1 Safety earth

Auxiliary contact (retainer) Auxiliary contact (interlock)

Induction Motor

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3 DOL Starter Control Circuit

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

Starting Press S2 C1 coil energises Contact C1 retains S2 can be released

Stopping
Press S1 breaks circuit C1 coil de-energises C1 retaining contact drops out

Faults
Overload causes OL1 to open C1 coil de-energises C1 retaining contact drops out

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3

3-phase supply

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

Fuses

Power Schematic
Isolator Forward Contacto r C2 Overload Unit OL2

Mechanical interlock Revers e Contact or C3

Phases swapped here by C3 Induction Motor

Safety earth

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3 Control Circuit

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

Reversing Starting - Forward DOL Starter Press S2

C2 coil energises Contact C2 retains S2 can be released Electrical interlock with C3

Starting - Reverse Press S3 C3 coil energises Contact C3 retains S3 can be released Electrical interlock with C2

Stopping

Faults

Press S1 breaks circuit C2 or C3 coil de-energises C2 or C3 retaining contact drops out

As for DOL

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3 High Starting Current

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

Induction Motor Starting Problems

Starting current = 7 x full load current

As speed increases, stator current reduces

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3 Solution:- Start off in STAR, then run in DELTA

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

Induction Motor Starting Problems

Motor current follows STAR curve. Change over to DELTA curve after motor reaches 80% of full synchronous speed

Change over can be done using a timer or centrifugal switch

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3 Solution:- Start off in STAR, then run in DELTA

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

Induction Motor Starting Problems

Motor torque follows STAR curve. Change over to DELTA curve after motor reaches 80% of full synchronous speed

Lower starting torque in STAR means that load must be checked to ensure it can be turned in STAR.

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3

MAIN Contactor C1

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

STAR-DELTA Starter Power Schematic U1

Overload Unit OL1

3-phase supply, fuses, isolator and motor earth not shown

STAR
W2

U2 V2

Mechanical interlock

W1

V1

Induction Motor

DELTA Contactor C3 DELTA Contactor connects U1 to W2 V1 to U2 W1 to V2

DELTA
W1

W2 U1

V2

U2 V1

STAR Contact or C2

STAR Contactor connects U2 to V2 to W2

Three-Phase AC Machines Resource 3

3 Phase Cage Rotor Starters and Control Gear

STAR-DELTA Starter
Control Circuit Starting Press S2 C1 coil energises Contact C1 retains S2 can be released Auxiliary contact C1 closes CR timer starts timing C2 coil energises - STAR CR timer finishes timing C2 coil de-energises C3 coil energises - DELTA Stopping & Faults As for DOL