Unit Nine

AC Motors Automatic Starting, Braking and Reversing

The starting, stopping and reversing of the direction of rotation in the AC

motors are carried out automatically according to the following principles, which
were mentioned before:

1- Speed Principle

2- Time Principle

3- Current Principle

4- Displacement Principle

Direct Starting and Mechanical Braking of AC Motors

Principle of operation :

When the push button (ON) is pressed the contactor coil ((M) is activated, then
the stator windings are connected to the source as shown in figure (9-1-A), and
the contactor automatically feeds itself as in figure (9-1-B), so the motor is
started on the natural torque-speed characteristic until it operates at operating
steady-state point at load speed L and the load torque TL as shown in
Figure (9-1-C). When the push button (OFF) is pressed the contactor coil ((M)
deactivated and the motor is disconnected from the source and stops
mechanically. Dynamic characteristics of direct starting and mechanical braking
are shown in figure (9-1-D).

A) Power circuit B) Control circuit

1
 L L

t
TS .C
T 0
0 TL t1 t2 t3
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‫العمل‬

C) Torque-speed characteristic D) Dynamic characteristic

Figure (9-1) AC Motors direct starting and mechanical braking characteristics

Indirect Starting in One Step using Timer and mechanical braking of AC Motor

Figure (9-2) shows the electrical diagram of one- step indirect starting according
to the time principle and mechanical braking.

A) Power circuit B) Control circuit

Figure (9-2) Electrical diagram of one- step indirect starting using timer and
mechanical braking

Principle of operation :

When the push button (ON) is pressed, the coil of the contactor (M) activated,
and it feeds itself, then the stator windings are connected to the source as shown
in Figure (9-2).

The time relay (TR) starts counting first step time delay and the motor starts on
(I) characteristic as in figure(9-3-A) with the added resistance R 1add in the
stator circuit. When point (B) is reached, the time of (TR) has expired, so it

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closes its contact in the circuit of coil (M1), and then the resistance is shorted, so
the motor moves to point (C) on the natural characteristic, and settles at point
(D) with load speed L and load torque TL . The motor continues to operate
at this speed until we press the push button (OFF), then the stator is switched off
from the source and the motor stops mechanically.

Figure (9-3-B) shows the dynamic characteristic of the drive system.

D
L L
C
1 1
B
I N /C

A t
TL T 0 ts1 ts2
0 Tst1 T st
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A) Torque- speed characteristics B) Dynamic characteristics

Figure (9-3) AC motor characteristics of one- step indirect starting using timer
and mechanical braking

AC Motor Direct Starting and Dynamic Braking using Time Principle

Figure (9-4) shows the electrical diagram, static and dynamic characteristics of
direct starting and dynamic braking according time principle.

Principle of operation:

When the push button (ON) is pressed, the coil (M) is activated, and feeds itself,
and closes its contacts in the power circuit as shown in figure (9-4-A,B).

The stator windings are connected to the source, and (M) opens its contact in the
contactor coil circuit (S), so the motor starts on the natural characteristic as
shown in figure (9-4-C), and settles at point (A) with the speed of the load L
and the torque of the load TL . When the push button (OFF) is pressed, the
contactor coil (M) is deactivated and its contacts return to the normal position,
activating contactor coil (S) , and thus the stator windings are switched off from
the source and at the same time two stator windings are connected to the direct
current source by contactor (S) contacts and the relay (TR1) starts counting the
dynamic braking time. With two stator phases, a dynamic stopping torque is
formed and the motor is switched to work in the second quadrant from point
(A1) on the dynamic braking characteristic. The motor begins to decelerate until

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the speed reaches zero, and at this point the mechanical brake is applied. Figure
(9-4-D) shows the dynamic characteristics.

A) Power circuit B) Control circuit

,T
T st
A1 A
L
L

t
0 TL T st T 0 ts1 trun tstop
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C) Torque-speed characteristics D) Dynamic characteristics

Figure (9-4) Ac motor direct starting and dynamic braking according to time
principle

AC Motor Reversing (Plugging) Mode Braking using Speed Principle

Figure (9-5) shows the electrical diagram of the reversing (plugging) mode
braking using speed principle.

Working principle :

When the push button (OFF) is pressed, the contactor coil (F) will operate and
change the position of its contacts in the control and power circuits as shown in
Figure (9-5), thus the motor rotates in the forward direction until it reaches point
(A) with the speed of the load L and the torque of the load TL shown as in
Figure (9- 6).

In the circuit of contactor coil (B) opens the contactor contact (F) and closes the
contact of the centrifugal relay (CFR) ,so contactor (B) is deactivated.

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When the push button (OFF) is pressed the contactor (F) deactivated and
contactor (B) activated, the direction of rotation will be reversed directly by the
contactor (B) , the motor will switch to the second quadrant point (B) on the
dynamic braking characteristic as shown in figure (9-6-A) and the speed
decreases until the motor speed reaches a speed close to zero, then the relay
(CFR) disconnects its contact at point (C), because the centrifugal force at this
speed is insufficient to keep the contacts of the centrifugal switch closed, thus
ending electrical braking at point (C). The motor continues to brake
mechanically. Figure (9-6-B) shows dynamic characteristics.

A) Power circuit B) Control circuit

Figure (9-5) Electrical diagram of ac motor reversing mode braking using speed
principle

Figure (9-6) shows the static and dynamic characteristics of reversing (plugging)
mode braking using speed principle (centrifugal relay).

,T
B L A A B
L

TL
C t
TB 0 TL T st T 0

TB
TC

A) Static characteristics B) Dynamic characteristics

Figure (9-6) the static and dynamic characteristics of reversing mode braking
using speed principle

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AC Motor Star- Delta Starting using Time Principle

This method is used in three-phase ac motors that operate normally on delta

connected stator windings and are fed from a line voltage source (400 V).

The time principle or the velocity principle can be used in this operation.

Figure (9-7) shows the electrical diagram of ac motor star / delta starting
using time principle.
V1n , F1n
ON
OFF M

M
M

TR
M

TR

TR

A) Power circuit B) Control circuit

Figure (9-7) Electrical diagram of ac motor star / delta starting
using time principle

Principle of operation:
When the push button (ON) is pressed, the contactor coil (M) is activated, and it
changes the position of its contacts in the control and power circuits, and the
time delay ON relay coil (TR) is activated, and starts counting the
starting time. The stator windings are connected in star connection by
contactor, where the stator phase voltage is V ph 230V . The motor runs on
a connection torque-speed characteristic as shown in Figure (9-8).

At the end of the time delay timer (TR) time setting, it changes the status of its
contacts, so the contactor coil is disconnected and the contactor coil is
connected, thus the stator windings reconnected in from, and the voltage of
the stator phase becomes V ph 400V . Then the motor moves to the
connection torque-speed characteristic and runs on it until it reaches the load
speed L and the load torque TL as shown in figure (9-8).

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The maximum motor torque is proportional to the square of the stator phase
voltage as follows:

2
Tmax Vph

2
Tmax Vph
3
Tmax Vph

For successful starting it must be taken into account that the load torque is less
than the starting torque of the characteristic. Torque can be increased
when running on characteristic.

0 TL TS .c Tmax Tmax T
Figure (9-8) AC motor starting torque-speed characteristic

Three- Phase AC Slip Ring Motor Automatic Starting using Time Principle

Figure (9-9) shows the electrical diagram, static and dynamic characteristics of
three-phase ac slip-ring motor indirect starting in one step according to the time
principle.

The indirect starting is carried out in one step by adding resistances in the rotor
circuit as shown in Figure (9-9-A), and these resistances are disconnected by the
first step contactor (M1), after a period of time from the starting.

Principle of operation:

When push button (ON) is pressed, the contactor coil ((M) is activated as shown
in figure (9-9-B), so it closes its contacts in the control and power circuits, thus

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connecting the stator windings with the supply source . The time relay coil (TR)
is activated and starts counting an indirect starting time, the motor starts on
starting torque-speed characteristic at point (A) with added resistances in the
rotor circuit as shown in figure (9-9-C). Upon reaching point (B) the time of the
first step is over, so the time relay (TR) closes its contact in the contactor coil
(M1) circuit. In turn (M1) closes its contacts in the rotor circuit. Thus, the added
resistances are shorted, and the motor switched to natural characteristic and
accelerates until it reaches the load speed L and the load torque TL , and
remains at this point on the natural characteristic until we press the push button
(OFF), then the stator windings are disconnected from the supply source and the
motor stops mechanically. Figure (9-9-D) shows the dynamic characteristics.

The braking and reversing operations of a slip-ring induction motor use the
same circuits as described for a squirrel cage motor.

A) power circuit B) control circuit

D
L L
C 1
1
B
Radd 0

A t
0
TL
T st T 0 ts 1 ts 2
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C) Static characteristics D) Dynamic characteristics

Figure (9-9) Three- phase ac slip ring motor automatic starting using time
principle

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Synchronous Motor Manual Operation

Figure (9-10) shows the electrical diagram of synchronous motor manual

operation.

Principle of operation:
When the push button (ON1) is pressed, the contactor coil (M) is activated, then
closes its contacts in the control and power circuits, and self-feeds itself as shown
in figure (9-10-B). The stator windings are connected to the source as shown in
Figure (9-10-A), so the synchronous motor starts from point (A) As shown in
Figure (9-11) on the starting characteristic of the squirrel cage motor, and after a
short period of time, when the motor reaches the synchronizing speed and
synchronizing torque, which is sensed by the operator, the push button (ON2) is
pressed, so the field contactor coil (F) is activated, and it changes its contacts to
perform the self-feeding and connecting field windings to the direct current
source.
Thus the synchronous motor is entered into the synchronous motor
characteristic and the synchronous motor operates on this characteristic at
constant speed and at different loads. Pressing push button (OFF),motor stops
mechanically.

A) Power circuit B) Control circuit

Figure (9-10) The electrical diagram of synchronous motor manual operation

L const.
B
syn

Tsyn
A T
TS .c

Figure (9-11) Mechanical characteristics of a synchronous motor

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 Synchronous Motor Automatic Operation using Time Principle

Figure (9-12) shows the electrical diagram of synchronous motor operation

according to the time principle

Principle of operation:

When the push button (ON) is pressed, the contactor coil (M) is activated, then
closes its contacts in the control and power circuits, and self-feeds itself and
activates the coil of (TR) as shown in figure (9-12-B). The stator windings are
connected to the source as shown in Figure (9-12-A), so the synchronous motor
starts from point (A) As shown in Figure (9-11) on the starting characteristic of
the squirrel cage motor during the timer time setting , when the motor reaches
the synchronizing speed and synchronizing torque, the timer activates contactor
coil (F), and it changes its contacts for connecting the field windings to the direct
current source.

Thus the synchronous motor is entered into the synchronous motor

characteristic and the synchronous motor operates on this characteristic at
constant speed and at different loads. Pressing push button (OFF),motor stops
mechanically.

A) Power circuit B) Control circuit

Figure (9-12) The electrical diagram of synchronous motor operation according

to the time principle

Synchronous Motor Starting and Dynamic Braking using Timers

Figure (9-13) shows the electrical diagram of synchronous motor starting and
dynamic braking according to the time principle

Principle of operation:

The starting is carried out according to the principle of time, as we explained in

the previous paragraph.
The motor runs at steady-state operation on a synchronous motor characteristic
with load speed L and load torque TL .
To achieve the dynamic braking process, the stator windings must be
disconnected from the AC power source and star connected resistance R stop to

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be added with it as in figure (9-13-A). As well as keeping the field windings
connected to the direct current source.

A) Power circuit B) Control circuit

Figure (9-13) The electrical diagram of synchronous motor starting and dynamic
braking according to the time principle

This is performed as follows:

When push button (OFF) is pressed, the contactor (M) deactivated and its
contacts return to its normal position, then the stator windings are disconnected
from the AC source, then the contactor coil (S) is activated and closes its contact
in the control circuit, which leads to the continuity of feeding the contactor coil
(F) as in figure (9-13-B). Thus, the field windings remain connected to the direct
current source, and the contactor (S) closes its contacts in the power circuit, so
R stop is connected to the stator windings.

The dynamic braking process begins, when the motor moves to the dynamic
braking characteristic in the second quadrant as shown in Figure (9-14).
whereby (TR2) starts counting the dynamic braking time, The time of (TR2) has
expired, so the contactor coil (S) and then the contactor coil (F) lose the feed,
thus ending the dynamic braking process.

B L const.
syn

0 TL
A T
TS .c

Figure (9-14) Synchronous motor torque-speed characteristics

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Control circuit applications

Application 1:

Direct Starting and Dynamic Braking using TOF Timer

Figure (9-15) shows control circuit of direct starting and dynamic braking using
time delay OFF timer.

Principle of operation:

When (ON) is pressed, the contactor coil (M) is activated, then changes the
position of its contacts in the control circuit. The time relay coil (TR) is
activated, so it closes its contact in the contactor (S) circuit, but it does not work
because the contact (M) is open in circuit (S). When the push button (OFF) is
pressed, the contactor (M) deactivated, so it separates the feed from the time
relay (TR) and closes its contact in (S) circuit, but contact (TR) does not open
directly in the circuit (S), so the contactor (S) is activated and it works for a (TR)
time delay period. When the setting time ends, the contactor (S) deactivated.

ON
OFF M

M TR

M TR S

FIGURE (9-15) A direct start and dynamic stop circuit according to the
principle of time using (Time Delay OFF)

Application 2:

Automatic Indirect Starting in both Directions using Timers

Figure (9-16) shows automatic indirect starting in both directions using timers.

Principle of operation:

Two additional time relays are used in this circuit to perform the automatic
starting in both directions. Time delay ON timer (TR3) used to run in forward
direction during its time setting. When the (TR3) time setting expires it
disconnects the contactor (F) and connects the contactor (B) so that the contactor

12
(B) feeds itself. Time delay ON timer (TR4) used to run in backward direction
during its time setting. When the (TR4) time setting expires it disconnects the
contactor (B) and connects the contactor (F) so that the contactor (F) feeds itself.

ON B F
OFF TR3

F
TR3
TR4

F
TR1
B

TR1
RR

RR TR2

TR2
M1

B F TR4
B
TR3
TR4

Figure (9-16) Automatic indirect starting in both directions using timers

Application 3:

Star-Delta Starting using Speed Principle

For this purpose, we use a centrifugal relay, and its contacts are connected in the
control circuit instead of the contacts of the time relay, as shown in Figure (9-17).

Principle of operation :

When the push button (ON) is pressed, the contactor coil (M) is activated, and
it changes the position of its contacts in the control circuit, and the motor starts
to operate on characteristic.

The contacts of the centrifugal relay (1-2) are closed. The speed begins to
increase, and when it reaches the necessary value to switch from star connection
to delta connection, so the centrifugal force becomes greater than the tension of

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the spring, the contact (1-2) of centrifugal relay opens, the contactor coil
deactivated and the contact (1-3) of centrifugal relay closes, so the contactor coil
activated. Then the motors operates on characteristic.

OFF ON
M

2
CFR
1
3

Figure (9-17) Star-delta starting using speed principle

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