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Normally centrifugal pumps do not have an especially high moment of inertia. It is usually located in the range of app. 20-50% of the moment of inertia of the driving electric motor. Therefore, pump drives can be started with a relatively short start time of 5-15 seconds. The torque speed curves of nearly all centrifugal pumps have a quadratic shape (counter torque). The pump should be started with closed discharge valve, which reduces the power consumption of the pump during the start. The counter torque of the pump will be minmized which results in a further reduction of the start current. Start currents (I_a/I_n) during the start of centrifugal pumps are ususally in the range of app. 1,5-3 times of the motor start current at direct on line (I_DOL/I_n). 

Therefore the power consumption of the pump is 30 % of its maximum power consumption, if the pump is started with a closed discharge valve. (flow rate Q=0). In the following torque chart the torque speed curve of the pump has its usual quadratic shape. It ends (speed n/n_n = 1) at a torque requirement of 30 % (this corresponds to the power consumption of the pump).

Start calculation

Torque

The starter starts the motor with reduced voltage, 61 % of the rated voltage, in this example (U_s/U_n = 0,61). The torque speed curve of the motor will be reduced by the factor T_s/T_DOL = (U_s/U_n × F)².
T_s/T_DOL = (0,61 × 0,91)² = 0,31 (F is a factor dependent on the motor). The torque of the motor must always be higher than the counter torque. The start voltage U_s/U_n has been determined accordingly. The difference between the reduced motor torque T_s and the counter torque is the acceleration torque T_a.

Start time

The start time t_s is calculated from the acceleration torque T_a and the total moment of inertia J = J_M + J_L = 80 + 50 kgm² = 120 kgm².

Current

The motor current is I_Mot = U_s/U_n × I_DOL × F = 0,61 × 5 × 0,91 = 2,8 × I_n

Mains start current:

A transformer has the same power at primary and secondary, which leads to the fact that the products of current and voltage are the same.

U_n × I_s = U_s/U_n × I_mot => I_s = U_s/U_n × I_Mot / U_n

I_s= 0,61 × 2,8 = 1,7 × I_n

The mains start current is therefore much lower than the motor start current.

For other start methods (electronic soft starter, starting reactor etc.) the following is valid: The mains current equals the motor current:
I_s = I_Mot = 2,8 × I_n

For that reason these starting methods create a higher mains voltage drop.

Pumps exist in a variety of different designs and types. For the most common ones (centrifugal and piston pump) we have prepared detailled information for the start procedure. Needless to say, our starter can also be used for further pump types. We will gladly provide you with an offer and technical support.

• typical start calculation

The moment of inertia of a turbo compressor normally ranges between 2 to 6 times the moment of inertia of the driving motor. Most of the compressor drives start with a starting time between app. 20 to 50 seconds. The torque speed curves (counter torque) of nearly all turbo compressors have a quadratic shape. They can be started with reduced load by regulating vanes and/or blades. By this a lower counter torque is reached which can further reduce the start current. Normal start currents for turbo compressors (I_a/I_n) are in the range of app. 1,5 - 2,5 times the motor rated current (I_n). Below you will find a characteristic example for a calculation. When starting a turbo compressor one has to observe that the critical speed will be run through fast enough to avoid mechanical vibration problems.

Torque

The starter starts the motor with reduced voltage, 57 % of the rated voltage, in this example (U_s/U_n = 0,57). The torque speed curve of the motor will be reduced by the factor T_s/T_DOL = (U_s/U_n × F)².
T_s/T_DOL = (0,57 × 0,91)² = 0,27 (F is a factor depending on the motor). The torque of the motor must always be higher than the counter torque. The start voltage U_s/U_n has been determined accordingly. The difference between the reduced motor torque T_s and the counter torque is the acceleration torque T_a.

Start time

The start time t_s is calculated from the acceleration torque T_a and the total moment of inertia J = J_M + J_L = 80 + 300 kgm² = 380 kgm².

Current

The motor current is I_Mot = U_s/U_n × I_DOL × F = 0,57 × 5 × 0,91 = 2,6 × I_n

Mains start current:

A transformer has the same power at primary and secondary, which leads to the fact that the products of current and voltage are the same.

U_n × I_s = U_s/U_n × I_mot => I_s = U_s/U_n × I_Mot / U_n

I_s= 0,57 × 2,6 = 1,5 × I_n

The mains start current is therefore much lower than the motor start current.

For other start methods (electronic soft starter, starting reactor etc.) the following is valid: The mains current equals the motor current:
I_s = I_Mot = 2,6 × I_n

For that reason these starting methods create a higher mains voltage drop.

Amongst others screw compressors are applied as refrigeration compressors for air condition (chiller). The moment of inertia of a screw compressor is significantly lower that the moment of inertia of the driving motor. Most of the screw compressors will start with start times between app. 10 to 20 seconds. They can be started with reduced load. This results in a lower counter torque which can further reduce the start current. Normal start currents for screw compressors (I_a/I_n) range from app. 1 -3 times the motor rated current (I_n). Below you will find a characteristic example for a calculation.

Torque

The starter starts the motor with reduced voltage, 63 % of the rated voltage, in this example (U_s/U_n = 0,63). The torque speed curve of the motor will be reduced by the factor T_s/T_DOL = (U_s/U_n × F)².
T_s/T_DOL = (0,63 × 0,91)² = 0,33 (F is a factor depending on the motor). The torque of the motor must always be higher than the counter torque. The start voltage U_s/U_n has been determined accordingly. The difference between the reduced motor torque T_s and the counter torque is the acceleration torque T_a.

Start time

The start time t_s is calculated from the acceleration torque T_a and the total moment of inertia J = J_M + J_L = 45 + 8 kgm² = 53 kgm².

Current

The motor current is I_Mot = U_s/U_n × I_DOL × F = 0,63 × 5 × 0,91 = 2,9 × I_n

Mains start current:

A transformer has the same power at primary and secondary, which leads to the fact that the products of current and voltage are the same.

U_n × I_s = U_s/U_n × I_mot => I_s = U_s/U_n × I_Mot / U_n

I_s= 0,63 × 2,9 = 1,8 × I_n

The mains start current is therefore much lower than the motor start current.

For other start methods (electronic soft starter, starting reactor etc.) the following is valid: The mains current equals the motor current:
I_s = I_Mot = 2,9 × I_n

For that reason these starting methods create a higher mains voltage drop.

Compressors exist in a variety of different designs and types. For the most common ones (turbo, screw and piston) we have prepared detailled information for the start procedure. Needless to say, our starter can also be used for further compressor types. We will gladly provide you with an offer and technical support.

• typical start calculation

Bow and stern thrusters ususally have low moments of inertia; they are normally slightly smaller than the moment of inertia of the driving motors. Therefore most thrusters start with a relatively short start time. Their average start times range from app. 5 to 10 seconds. The torque speed curves of nearly all thrusters have a quadratic shape. Many thrusters can be started with reduced load by adjusting the pitch control to zero pitch. This results in a very low counter torque of the thruster therewith extensively reducing the start current. The normal start currents of thrusters (I_a/I_n) are in the range of app. 1 - 2 times the motor rated current (I_n). Below you will find a characteristic example for a calculation.
 

Torque

The starter starts the motor with reduced voltage, 50% of the rated voltage, in this example (U_s/U_n =0,5). The torque speed curve of the motor will be reduced by the factor T_s/T_DOL = (U_s/U_n × F)2.
T_s/T_DOL = (0,5 × 0,9)² = 0,2 (F is a factor depending on the motor). The torque of the motor must always be higher than the counter torque. The start voltage U_s/U_n has been determined accordingly. The difference between the reduced motor torque T_s and the counter torque is the acceleration torque T_a.

Start time

The start time t_s is calculated from the acceleration torque T_a and the total moment of inertia J = J_M + J_L = 150 + 70 kgm² = 220 kgm².

Current

The motor current is I_Mot = U_s/U_n × I_DOL × F = 0,5 × 5 × 0,9 = 2,25 × I_n

Mains start current:

A transformer has the same power at primary and secondary, which leads to the fact that the products of current and voltage are the same.

U_n × I_s = U_s/U_n × I_mot => I_s = U_s/U_n × I_Mot / U_n

I_s= 0,5 × 2,25 = 1,1 × I_n

The mains start current is therefore much lower than the motor start current.

For other start methods (electronic soft starter, starting reactor etc.) the following is valid: The mains current equals the motor current:
I_s = I_Mot = 2,25 × I_n

For that reason these starting methods create a higher mains voltage drop.

The main propulsion of a vessel normally has a low moment of inertia; in general, it is lower than the moment of inertia of the driving motor. Therefore most main propulsions start with a short start time. Usual start times range between app. 5 to 10 seconds. The torque speed curves of nearly all vessel propulsions have a quadratic shape (counter torque). Only main propultion systems, which can minimize the counter torque by pitch control, gain an effective reduction of the start current when using a starter. In case that pitch control is possible, normal start currents for main propulsions (I_a/I_n) are in the range of app. 1-2 times the motor rated current(I_n). Below you will find a characteristic example for a calculation.

Torque

The starter starts the motor with reduced voltage, 50 % of the rated voltage, in this example (U_s/U_n = 0,5). The torque speed curve of the motor will be reduced by the factor T_s/T_DOL = (U_s/U_n × F)².
T_s/T_DOL = (0,5 × 0,9)² = 0,2 (F is a factor depending on the motor). The torque of the motor must always be higher than the counter torque. The start voltage U_s/U_n has been determined accordingly. The difference between the reduced motor torque T_s and the counter torque is the acceleration torque T_a.

Start time

The start time t_s is calculated from the acceleration torque T_a and the total moment of inertia J = J_M + J_L = 300 + 140 kgm² = 440 kgm².

Current

The motor current is I_Mot = U_s/U_n × I_DOL × F = 0,5 × 5 × 0,9 = 2,25 × I_n

Mains start current:

A transformer has the same power at primary and secondary, which leads to the fact that the products of current and voltage are the same.

U_n × I_s = U_s/U_n × I_mot => I_s = U_s/U_n × I_Mot / U_n

I_s= 0,5 × 2,25 = 1,1 × I_n

The mains start current is therefore much lower than the motor start current.

For other start methods (electronic soft starter, starting reactor etc.) the following is valid: The mains current equals the motor current:
I_s = I_Mot = 2,25 × I_n

For that reason these starting methods create a higher mains voltage drop.

Machines driven by electric motors exist in a variety of different designs and types. For the most common ones we have prepared detailled information for the start procedure. Needless to say, our starter can also be used for further types of machines. We will gladly provide you with an offer and technical support.

• typical start calculation
• all machines