Motor Control and Protection
Motor Control and Protection
Oladokun Sulaiman
Objective
3
Motors and Back emf
• The phrase back emf is used for
an emf that tends to reduce the
applied current
• When a motor is turned on, there
is no back emf initially
• The current is very large because
it is limited only by the resistance
of the coil
4
Motor
• DC
• AC
AC Motor
• Induction motor
• Synchronous motor
• Wound rotor motor
Operate based on Speed (S)= 120f/p
• F-Frequency
• P-Number of poles
6
Control
Control: getting motors to do what you want
them to
What you want to control = what you can control
For DC speed
motors:
voltage
windings’
resistance
R
N
ω
V V e back
N S emf
100
Characteristics
Normal Operating Current
10
Seconds
Time in
0.1
Inrush Current
0.01
1 10 100 1000 Motor Inrush Curve
Current in Amperes
1000 1000
100 100
300 % Overload
Short Circuit
10 10
Seconds
Time in
Seconds
Time in
1 1
0.1 0.1
0.01
0.01
1 10 100 1000
1 10 100 1000
Current in Amperes Current in Amperes
COMPARISON OF STARTERS
60 DIRECT ON
0 LINE
STARTING
40
Current %
0
AUTO
TRANSFORMER
20 STARTING
0 STAR
DELTA
STARTING
0
10 Slip 0
0 Auto transformer
%
on 60%
Contactor
KM2 & KM3 contactors drop out, Stop by S1 button or OCR trip F1
motor stops
Note: KM2 has a pair of auxiliary contacts with a time delay action (typically 40ms)
between the operating of the N/C and the closing of the N/O contacts.
Comparison if star & delta connection
VL
I L (Y ) 3.Z 1
Ratio = =
I L(∆) 3.VL 3
of Z
Current surge from star to delta
• Motors generate back emf against power supply when
running
• When supply removed, magnetic field does not
collapse immediately
• Motor will slow down but still generate emf
• When supply reconnected, supply voltage & motor
emf are not in phase
• Thus each time the starter is operated, different
current surge will produced
• To overcome – auto transformer is used where the
supply is eventually never disconnected during
starting period
Auto transformer
• Starting large motor with prolong run-up period demand very
high current surge from supply generator even for few
seconds
• Will causes severe voltage dip - affects other loads
• Reduced voltage starting will limit starting surge current
• One method – step it down using transformer
• When motor accelerated up to almost rated speed, then
“reduced” voltage will resume to normal
• Special transformer – uses one winding for input & output
• Thus, cheaper, smaller & lighter than equivalent double-
wound transformer
• Meant for operation of short starting period only
• Only applicable to large motor drives due to initial cost
Power circuit operation Control circuit operation
Manual closing of fused isolator Q1 Control circuit voltage available
(e.g. 110V from control transformer)
Closing KM1: star connection of Press start button S2 to close KM1
transformer Interlocking of KM3 by KM1
Closing KA1 by KM1
Opening KM1: star connection opens Opening KM1 by KA1 (after time
delay)
Closing KM3: direct supply to motor Closing KM3 by KM1
Interlocking KM1 by KM3
KM3 contactors drop out, motor stop Stop by S1 button or OCR trip F1
Auto transformer - operation
• Supply voltage connected across complete winding & motor
connected to reduced voltage tapping
• Number of tapping available - giving output voltage ranging from
50% ~ 80% of main supply
• If 60% tap supplied at 440 V, output will be 60% x 440 = 264 V
• Multiple tapping - to match motor current demand to supply
capability
• Autotransformer can be use in both open & closed transition
switching sequence between start & run conditions
• Star delta - reduced voltage initially supplied, disconnected & then
full supply voltage rapidly reconnected to motor – open transition
• Danger with open-transition - very large surge current can flow
after transition from reduced to full voltage
Soft starter (additional)
Conclusion
• DOL starter - simple & cheap but causes large
starting surge
• Star delta starting reduces surge but more
complex – require 3 contactors & timer
• Auto transformer - can arranged to match
motor surge current & run-up period with
suitable voltage but the most expensive one
Controlling speed with voltage
• The back emf depends only on the motor speed. e = ke ω
• The motor’s torque depends only on the current, I. τ = kτ I
V e
DC motor model
Controlling speed with voltage
• The back emf depends only on the motor speed. e = ke ω
• The motor’s torque depends only on the current, I. τ = kτ I
Istall = V/R
current when
• Consider this circuit’s V: V = IR + e
motor is stalled
speed = 0 How is V related to ω ?
torque = max
τ R
V = + ke ω
R kτ
V e
or
R V
ω = τ +
kτ ke ke
Speed is proportional to voltage.
DC motor model
speed vs. torque at a fixed voltage
speed ω
V no torque at max
speed
ke
kτV
torque τ
R
speed vs. torque at a fixed voltage
speed ω Linear mechanical power Pm = F • v
Rotational version of Pm = τ • ω
V no torque at max
speed
ke
speed vs.
torque
τ R We want a particular
V = + ke ω motor speed ω .
kτ
How to change the voltage?
• Duty cycle:
– The ratio of the “On time” and the “Off time” in one cycle
– Determines the fractional amount of full power delivered to
the motor
Openloop vs. Closeloop Control
Openloop Control:
V(t)
desired speed ω Controller Motor ω
solving for V(t)
actual speed
Closedloop Control: using feedback
ωd − ωa
ωa
desired ωd V
compute V from
the current error
Motor
PID controller
actual speed
ωa
Speed control:
Brass cap
Fuse Rating
• Important – correct rating for normal current
flowing in circuit it protects
• Lower rating - every time switch on, fuse will
blow
• Higher rating – promoting positive dangerous
circuit with over current flowing without blowing
fuse - overheat & can cause fire
• If fuses blow, must replaced by same type &
same rating
• Position - between supply and the circuit – fuses
removal means total isolation for the circuit
• Two main types:
– Cartridge fuse
– High rupturing capacity (HRC) fuse
Checking Fuses: Visual inspection
Relays are amazingly simple devices.
There are four parts in every relay:
• Electromagnet
• Armature that can be attracted by the
electromagnet
• Spring
• Set of electrical contacts
Case study 1: How a relay works?
Case study 2: Under voltage trip
3-ph 440V bus bars
Circuit
UV relay
breaker
coil
Fuse
Generator
Case study 3: Single phasing
1.4 A 0A
1.4 A
2.4 A
M (173%)
M
1.4 A (173%)
2.4 A
208V 1/3 HP Motor 40 C
F.L.A. = 1.4 Amperes
Bi-metallic Single-phasing
Protection (differential action)
Single phasing
• Occurs when one of three back-up fuses blows or if one of
contactor contacts is open-circuited
• Effect – current increase in two remaining lines
• Cause noisy motor – uneven torque produced in rotor
• Will detect by OCR – unequal heating of bi-metal strips
causes differential movement, initiate OCR to trip motor
contactor
• For star connected motor – phase & line currents are equal,
thus OCR has no problem in sensing correct winding
current
• For delta connected – uneasy task, therefore, normally line
current will divides phasorally between 2 phases of motor
windings
IL
I PH = = 0.577 I L
3
Single phasing
Healthy
Single phasing fault condition
condition
(unbalanced)
(balanced)
% of rated FLC
% of rated
FLC IL2 and IL3 IA and IB IC
60 102 62 131
70 130 79 161
100 243 129 185
Facts of single phasing
• When one line open circuited, balanced condition will no
longer exists
• Note that current C is higher than others
• At 60% of full load, due to single-phasing, line currents are
102% of full-load value but current C is 131%
• 102% may not activate OCR, thus motor remains connected
• However, local overheating in winding C will quickly get
damage
• Differential type relay used to protect motors against this
condition i.e. trips out with unbalanced currents
• For most modern thermal OCR - protection against single-
phasing - normal feature
Effect of single phasing
AC BLDC
Input Motor
PWM Signal Hall Sensor
(Inside Motor)
Control
Power Unit Gate Driver
Management
With Gate Driver
Motor Gate Driver
Power Stage
Control
= 6 x IGBT
Cell 3 x Driver IC or MOSFET
IPM Module
Feedback Signal
Others
(Speed / Positon)
61
Inspection & maintenance
• Moving contacts in control gear - ‘wipe’ phenomenon i.e.
if fixed part need to removed, moving part would follow
on
• Rolling / sliding action of contactor - to remove any
oxide, ensure good metal-to-metal contact
• Frequently operate contact – subject to worn, bad contact,
‘wipe’ lost, reduction in contact pressure & overheating –
regular inspection & cleaning
• Rough contact surface could lower contact resistance -
file used sparingly & only on badly burned & pitted
contacts
• Contact restorer - helps reduce mechanical wear, but
excess oil / grease encourages burning & pitting
• Silver-faced & carbon contacts shouldn’t be lubricated
Inspection & maintenance (cont/…)
• Closed copper contacts with long periods tend to build
oxide film - cause overheating
• Operated contact several times – to clean surfaces
• Magnet faces - kept clean & free from grease/oil, rust
removed using fine emery
• Moving parts – free, no undue wear at pivots, magnets
bedding properly & no filing on magnetic faces
• Enclosure – dirt/rust accumulations, corroded parts,
starter fixing bolts & earth bonding connection
• Contactors & relays – signs of overheating & loose
connections, dust/grease from insulating components
Inspection & maintenance (cont/…)