Function Soft starter for high inertia load

A soft starter can be used to start a high inertia load provided that the motor is capable of starting
that load, but a soft starter does not directly control the acceleration of the motor as the inverter.

A solid state soft starter is a reduced voltage starter and does not alter the frequency of the
voltage applied to the motor. During start, the acceleration field is at line frequency and the
torque is a function of the full voltage starting torque curve of the motor and the current reduction
caused by the soft starter. The torque is reduced by the current reduction squared.

For a high torque start, the start current must be high, I have started many motors with a starting
current as high as 450 - 500% of rated current.

The minimum start current is determined by the minimum start torque of the load and the motor
current and torque/speed curves.

The best way to start a high inertia load is to set the starter up for a current limit only. There is
nothing gained from a current ramp on a high inertia load.

The acceleration time is determined by the start torque (controlled by the start current) and the
load inertia.

Try to start with the current limit set at 400% and see how long it takes to start. You can shorten
the start time by increasing the start current and lengthen the start time by reducing the start
current.

During start, there is high slip power loss in the rotor. The total rotor loss is basically equal to the
full speed kinetic energy of the load. It is important that the rotor ha sufficient thermal mass to
start the load inertia.

With the soft starter, set parameter 1 to equal the rated current of the motor, parameter 2 to
400%, parameter 3 to 400% and parameter 4 to 1. If the acceleration is too slow, increase 2 to
450% and try again.

We have started many high inertia rock crushers and chippers using soft starters with start times
as long as 45 seconds.

If the requirement is truly to control the ramping time to full speed a RVSS (Reduced Voltage Soft
Starter) is not the way to go. You will need a inverter which has capacity to control velocity over
time. Having that knowledge tells you that if you continue on with a RVSS you want to have the
starting current within that area to minimize the possibility of the motor sitting in a stall condition
under current.
Once at that point of initial rotation you can set up the ramp time to 15 seconds, however it must
be realized that you cannot control the velocity during this ramp period. Once at full speed the
soft starter should have a bypass mechanism to shunt it to line power. The function of the soft
starter is to minimize inrush current to the motor and shock loading to the mechanical parts of the
system by ramping the current / voltage to the motor.
Function For a high torque start time by as 45 seconds.
start, the start increasing the
Soft starter current must be start current and If the requirement
for high high, I have lengthen the start is truly to control
inertia load started many time by reducing the ramping time
motors with a the start current. to full speed a
A soft starter can starting current as RVSS (Reduced
be used to start a high as 450 - During start, there Voltage Soft
high inertia load 500% of rated is high slip power Starter) is not the
provided that the current. loss in the rotor. way to go. You
motor is capable The total rotor will need a
of starting that The minimum loss is basically inverter which has
load, but a soft start current is equal to the full capacity to control
starter does not determined by the speed kinetic velocity over time.
directly control the minimum start energy of the Having that
acceleration of the torque of the load load. It is knowledge tells
motor as the and the motor important that the you that if you
inverter. current and rotor ha sufficient continue on with a
torque/speed thermal mass to RVSS you want to
A solid state soft curves. start the load have the starting
starter is a inertia. current within that
reduced voltage The best way to area to minimize
starter and does start a high inertia With the soft the possibility of
not alter the load is to set the starter, set the motor sitting in
frequency of the starter up for a parameter 1 to a stall condition
voltage applied to current limit only. equal the rated under current.
the motor. During There is nothing current of the
start, the gained from a motor, parameter Once at that point
acceleration field current ramp on a 2 to 400%, of initial rotation
is at line high inertia load. parameter 3 to you can set up the
frequency and the 400% and ramp time to 15
torque is a The acceleration parameter 4 to 1. seconds, however
function of the full time is determined If the acceleration it must be realized
voltage starting by the start torque is too slow, that you cannot
torque curve of (controlled by the increase 2 to control the
the motor and the start current) and 450% and try velocity during
current reduction the load inertia. again. this ramp period.
caused by the soft Once at full speed
starter. The Try to start with We have started the soft starter
torque is reduced the current limit many high inertia should have a
by the current set at 400% and rock crushers and bypass
reduction see how long it chippers using mechanism to
squared. takes to start. You soft starters with shunt it to line
can shorten the start times as long power. The
function of the soft
starter is to
minimize inrush
current to the
motor and shock
loading to the
mechanical parts
of the system by
ramping the
current / voltage
to the motor.