Description
In the case where there is no need for constant regulation of technology parameters, the use of a soft starter can significantly save material costs during the purchase and fit the equipment into cramped conditions compared to the use of a frequency converter. Using a soft starter, the client can organize all the necessary protection and blocking of the electric motor in one cabinet, saving on the purchase of an equipment control cabinet.
There are three main types of soft starters:
1. Soft starters based on thyristors allow you to limit the starting current of an electric motor by limiting the voltage supplied to the electric motor. The current is limited to such a value that the developed torque of the electric motor is higher than the required load torque.
By controlling the timing of the thyristor gate, we can control the amount of energy passing through the thyristor.
Advantages of the soft starter: Reducing the voltage drop in electrical networks, minimizing inrush currents, eliminating current surges, optimizing cable connections.
2. The most modern soft starters based on IGBT transistors can fully control the voltage (for a limited time), increasing and decreasing it and thereby controlling the torque on the motor shaft. The use of soft starters based on IGBT transistors allows you to start even the heaviest mechanisms by supplying full voltage, while soft starters based on thyristors can no longer provide the required starting torque without serious current surges.
Additionally, the soft starter can have a soft stop function and linearly reduce the voltage. A soft starter based on IGBT transistors, using the full voltage control function, makes it possible to accurately control the torque on the motor shaft throughout the shutdown.
3. There are also UPTF on the market – soft start devices for synchronous motors with a wound rotor, which allow you to smoothly and steplessly start an electric motor with a wound rotor to the rated speed by introducing starting resistances into the rotor circuit with the rotor “short-circuited” at the end of the start. UPTF allows you to manually adjust the engine rotation speed (for example, during repair work).
Our company’s specialists have significant experience in implementing soft starters into customer technology and can offer devices adapted to the customer’s specific technology.
Equipment images
SOLCON soft starters
As a global leader in solid state starters and motor control systems, Solcon Industries designs and manufactures a complete line of low and medium voltage soft starters from 4 kW to 50 MW, motor control relays and motor protection relays. The Solсon soft starter based on IGBT transistors made it possible to solve the main problem of implementing a soft starter on machines with difficult starting.
SOLCON equipment is used in the most challenging environments such as the mining, marine, waterborne, general industrial and petroleum industries. Most of the world’s brands of electrical equipment manufacturers place their orders with Solсon. Reliable solutions, large supply references around the world, modern solutions and a developed network of service partners allow Solson to be an industry leader.
Energokomplekt soft starters
JSC Energokomplekt has unique experience in the manufacture and supply of non-standard frequency converters and soft starters. A proven solution for soft starters for electric motors with a wound rotor UPTF allows you to combine a soft starter and starting resistors with bypass in one device. Extensive experience in the energy sector has allowed us to develop a base of unique solutions in the automation of production line control systems.