Soft-starting electric motors

The purpose like at all starting methods is to limit high

starting current
(e.g. DSD 141 main drive motor is rated at 135 amps but draws 310 amps under
star/delta starting => factor: 2.3)

Measurements – by manufacturers of soft starting devices

and Kaeser - made on rotary screw compressors proofed that
soft starters do not bring the desired advantages of further
reduction.

Reason: High breakaway and run-up torque of compressors.

Measurements on a 160 kW rotary screw compressor showed:

Star/delta run-up current: 650A
Soft-start current: 750A
Advantages: - lower mechanical stress at run-up
- no switchover peak from star to delta (approx. 1.2 x rated current)
 KAESER Kompressoren / www.kaeser.com / Page 1 IPM 2007
Soft-starting electric motors

DIRECT-ON-LINE
Screw compressor: Current consumption
during start up till full load

SOFT STARTER

STAR / DELTA

Time
 KAESER Kompressoren / www.kaeser.com / Page 2 IPM 2007
Soft-starting electric motors

Principle of soft-starting device:

Current supply to motor only as much as needed.
Screw compressors: Run-up torque approx. 1/3 of
nominal load torque.
Star/delta starter: Motor output power approx. 1/3
of nominal power
optimum starting device
Soft starter needs to supply min. same power like
at star/delta starting, and have internal losses like
frequency inverters
even higher starting
current possible than star/delta starting
 KAESER Kompressoren / www.kaeser.com / Page 3 IPM 2007
Soft-starting electric motors

Additionally:
Soft starters can only reduce the current by
reduction of output voltage; this will degrade the
magnetic field of the motor (dependant from
internal winding resistance), which can be
compensated via higher amps and a higher
voltage again.
At EPACT motors with reinforced copper windings
the internal resistance is lower

higher starting current necessary.

 KAESER Kompressoren / www.kaeser.com / Page 4 IPM 2007

Soft-starting electric motors

Reliability of soft-starters: Like at SFC units.

In case of breakdown, sourcing and mounting as
well as initial operation will be definitely easier
with contactors.
Regarding market price, costs for a soft- starter
and a star-delta contactor combination are quite
the same, but due to much higher quantities we
get a purchase price advantage.
There is no technical reason to implement a
soft-starter within a KAESER screw lubricated
compressor.
 KAESER Kompressoren / www.kaeser.com / Page 5 IPM 2007