ELECTRICAL MACHINES AND DRIVES UNITS III IMPORTANT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS UNIT III STARTING METHODS PART

ART A (2 MARKS)
1. Why starter is necessary for starting a DC Motor? According to the voltage equation of a DC motor, V = Eb + IaRa or Ia = V Eb Ra Eb = back emf = ZNP/60A At the time of starting the speed N is zero and hence the back emf is also zero. So, the armature current, Ia = V/Ra Since Ra is very low value resistance of the armature winding at standstill, the motor draws high current at the time of starting when the rated voltage is applied. This high starting current will cause damage to the armature windings. Hence to limit the starting current, a starter is used to start the DC motor. In a starter, the voltage is applied gradually in steps till the back emf is developed to oppose the applied voltage thereby reducing the line current to a safe value. 2. What are the protective devices used in DC Motor Starters? There are two types of protective devices used in DC Motor Starters (2 point, 3 point and 4 point starters). NVR No Volt Release (or NVC No Volt Coil) releases the starter handle when there is supply voltage to the motor is not available. OLR (Over Load Release) causes the short circuiting of the NVC in the event of over current or over load or when the motor current rises beyond the overload limit (normally 125% of the full load rated current). The short circuit of the No Volt Coil causes the starter handle to return back to OFF position due to deenergizing of the NVC. 3. What are the different methods of starting three phase induction motors? The different methods of starting three phase induction motors are using the following types of induction motor starters: (i) D.O.L Starter (Direct Online Starter) (ii) Star-Delta Starter (both manually operated and automatic) (iii) Auto Transformer Starter (iv) Stator Resistance starter (v) Rotor Resistance Starter (applicable for slip ring induction motors only) 4. What are the factors influencing the selection of starters? The following factors influence the selection of starters for motors: (i) Motor rated capacity in HP or KW (ii) The rated current or full load current in Amps (iii) Environmental conditions (iv) Size and space available in the location where the motor is to be installed. (v) The Standards (IEC, NEMA or Indian Standards) governing the motor starters.

5. What is NVR? What is its function in DC motor starters? NVR denotes No Volt Release. It consists of a coil which magnetizes a U shaped magnet when it is energized It is simple protective device available in DC motor starters. As long as the supply voltage is on healthy condition the current through the NVR coil produce enough magnetic force of attraction and retain the starter handle in ON position against spring force. When the supply voltage fails or becomes lower than a prescribed value then electromagnet may not have enough force to retain so handle will come back to OFF position due to spring force automatically. 6. What is a DOL starter? Where is it used? DOL starter is Direct On Line Starter used for starting induction motors (both 3 phase and single phase). DOL starters are used to start Induction motors of capacities up to 5 HP. For induction motors above 5 HP, other types of starters such as Star-Delta Starters, Autotransformer starters etc. are used. A DOL starter is used to start an induction motor by directly connecting the motor to the AC supply. Start and Stop push buttons are used for starting and stopping the motor. The DOL starter is usually provided with thermal overload protection. 7. Why does a 3 phase induction motor take high current at the time of starting? When 3 phase supply is given to the stator of an induction motor, magnetic field rotating in space at synchronous speed is produced. This magnetic field is cut by the rotor conductors, which are short circuited. This gives to induced current in them. Since rotor of an induction motor behaves as a short circuited secondary of a transformer whose primary is stator winding, heavy rotor current will require corresponding heavy stator balancing currents. Thus motor draws heavy current at starting. Normally the induction motor takes a current of about 5 to 7 times that of the full load current at the time of starting. 8. Why single phase induction motor is not self-starting? A single phase induction motor is not self-starting because there is no rotating magnetic field produced in the air gap as it does not have 2- or 3-phase windings in the stator. Instead it has only single phase winding. Hence the starting torque is zero. This is explained using the double field revolving theory, which proposes that a single phase sinusoidal flux is being resolved into two components in phase opposition with each other which in turn produce two torques (forward torque and backward torque) which oppose each other. Hence the resultant starting torque is zero. This explains why a single phase induction motor is not self-starting. However, it can be started using an auxiliary winding at the time of starting as a two phase motor and then run as a single phase motor when the auxiliary winding is cut off using a centrifugal switch.

9. Give some advantages and disadvantages of D.O.L starter.

Advantages: Highest starting torque Low cost Greatest simplicity Disadvantages: The inrush current of large motors may cause excessive voltage drop in the weak power system The torque may be limited to protect certain types of loads. Direct Online starter can be used only for motors up to 5 HP rating.

PART B (12 MARKS)

1. Draw a neat schematic diagram of a three point starter and explain its working.

Three-Point Starter This type of starter is widely used for starting shunt and compound motors. Schematic diagram

Three-point Starter The Figure shows the schematic diagram of a three-point starter for a shunt motor with protective devices. It is so called because it has three terminals L, Z and A. The starter consists of starting resistance divided into several sections and connected in series with the armature.

The tapping points of the starting resistance are brought out to a number of studs. The three terminals L, Z and A of the starter are connected respectively to the positive line terminal, shunt field terminal and armature terminal. The other terminals of the armature and shunt field windings are connected to the negative terminal of the supply. The no-volt release coil is connected in the shunt field circuit. One end of the handle is connected to the terminal L through the over-load release coil. The other end of the handle moves against a spiral spring and makes contact with each stud during starting operation, cutting out more and more starting resistance as it passes over each stud in clockwise direction.

Operation (i) To start with, the d.c. supply is switched on with handle in the OFF position. (ii) The handle is now moved clockwise to the first stud. As soon as it comes in contact with the first stud, the shunt field winding is directly connected across the supply, while the whole starting resistance is inserted in series with the armature circuit. (iii) As the handle is gradually moved over to the final stud, the starting resistance is cut out of the armature circuit in steps. The handle is now held magnetically by the no-volt release coil which is energized by shunt field current. (iv) If the supply voltage is suddenly interrupted or if the field excitation is accidentally cut, the no-volt release coil is demagnetized and the handle goes back to the OFF position under the pull of the spring. If no-volt release coil were not used, then in case of failure of supply, the handle would remain on the final stud. If then supply is restored, the motor will be directly connected across the supply, resulting in an excessive armature current. (v) If the motor is over-loaded (or a fault occurs), it will draw excessive current from the supply. This current will increase the ampere-turns of the over-load release coil and pull the armature C, thus short-circuiting the novolt release coil. The no-volt coil is demagnetized and the handle is pulled to the OFF position by the spring. Thus, the motor is automatically disconnected from the supply. 2. Draw a neat schematic diagram of a four point starter and explain its working.

Four-Point Starter
In a four-point starter, the no-volt release coil is connected directly across the supply line through a protective resistance R. Figure shows the schematic diagram of a 4-point starter for a shunt motor (over-load release coil omitted for clarity of the figure).

Four point Starter Now the no-volt release coil circuit is independent of the shunt field circuit. Therefore, proper speed control can be exercised without affecting the operation of no volt release coil. The only difference between a three-point starter and a four-point starter is the manner in which no-volt release coil is connected. However, the working of the two starters is the same. It may be noted that the three point starter also provides protection against an open field circuit. This protection is not provided by the four-point starter. Operation (similar to three point starter): (i) To start with, the d.c. supply is switched on with handle in the OFF position. (ii) The handle is now moved clockwise to the first stud. As soon as it comes in contact with the first stud, the shunt field winding is directly connected across the supply, while the whole starting resistance is inserted in series with the armature circuit. (iii) As the handle is gradually moved over to the final stud, the starting resistance is cut out of the armature circuit in steps. The handle is now held magnetically by the no-volt release coil which is energized by shunt field current. (iv) If the supply voltage is suddenly interrupted or if the field excitation is accidentally cut, the no-volt release coil is demagnetized and the handle goes back to the OFF position under the pull of the spring. If no-volt release coil were not used, then in case of failure of supply, the handle would remain on the final stud. If then supply is restored, the motor will be directly connected across the supply, resulting in an excessive armature current. (v) If the motor is over-loaded (or a fault occurs), it will draw excessive current from the supply. This current will increase the ampere-turns of the over-load release coil and pull the armature C, thus short-circuiting the novolt release coil. The no-volt coil is demagnetized and the handle is pulled to the OFF position by the spring. Thus, the motor is automatically disconnected from the supply.

3. Draw and explain the manual auto-transformer starter for three phase induction motor.

An auto-transformer, whose output is fed to the stator and input is from the supply (as shown in figure) is used to start the induction motor. The input voltage of IM is , which is the output voltage of the auto-transformer, the input voltage being Vs. The output voltage/input voltage ratio is x , the value of which lies between 0.0 and 1.0 Let be the starting current, when the motor is started using DOL starter, i.e applying rated input voltage. The input current of IM, which is the output current of auto-transformer, when this starter is used with input voltage as . The input current of auto-transformer, which is the starting current drawn from the supply, is,

obtained by equating input and output volt-amperes, neglecting losses and assuming nearly same power factor on both sides. As discussed earlier, the starting torque, being proportional to the square of the input current to IM in two cases, with and without auto-transformer (i.e. direct), is also reduced by , as the ratio of the two currents is same as that (ratio) of the voltages applied to the motor as shown earlier. So, the starting torque is reduced by the same ratio as that of the starting current. If the ratio is , both starting current and torque are %) 80 ( 8 . 0 = x %) 64 ( 64 . 0 ) 8 . 0 ( 2 2 = = x times the values of starting current and torque with DOL starting, which is nearly 2 times the values obtained using star-delta starter. So, the disadvantage is that starting current is increased, with the result that lower rated motor can now be started, as the current drawn from the supply is to be kept within limits, while the advantage is that the starting torque is now doubled, such that the motor can start against higher load torque. The star-delta starter can be considered equivalent to an autotransformer starter torque are times the values of starting current and torque with DOL starting, which is nearly 1.5 times the values obtained using star delta starter. 4. Explain with neat circuit diagram, the star-delta starter method of starting squirrel cage induction motor.

5. Draw and explain the push-button operated direct-on line starter for three phase induction motor.

DOL starter is a Direct On Line Starter used for starting induction motor by directly connecting it to the power supply. The wiring diagram of a DOL starter for a 3-phase induction motor is shown in the figure. In case of small capacity AC induction motors up to 5 HP, the starting current is not very high and such motors can withstand such starting current without any starter. Thus there is no need to reduce the applied voltage, to control the starting current. Such motors use a type of starter which is used to connect the stator directly to the supply lines without any reduction in voltage. Hence the starter is known as direct on line starter. Though this starter does not reduce the applied voltage, it is used because it protects the motor from various severe abnormal conditions like over loading, low voltage, single phasing etc. The NO contact is normally open and the NC contact is normally closed. At start the NO (or the Start push button) is pushed for fraction of a second due to which the coil gets energized and attracts the contactor. So the stator gets supply directly. The additional contact provided (also known as auxiliary contact) keeps the contactor in ON position. When the NC (Stop push button) is pressed, the coil circuit gets opened due to which the coil gets de-energized and motor gets switched OFF from the supply. Thermal overload relays, which consist of bimetallic strips, are provided in the supply lines to provide protection to the motor against overloads more than 125% of the rated current. These relays are opened due to high temperature caused by overloads, thus protecting the motor from overloads.