From the moment the first electric motor was developed, engineers have tried to come up with ways of avoiding the electrical and mechanical problems that usually occur when starting a motor. High inrush currents, current spikes and excessive mechanical wear are some of the problems that need to be avoided. One way is to use a Star-Delta starter. This method is for many applications an insufficient solution since it handles neither problems with current spikes or torque peaks nor provides a way to perform a soft stop. A softstarter on the other hand, will provide far better performance during the start and allows for soft stops of the motor. ABB has been producing softstarters since the beginning of the 1980’s. Over 30 years’ experience has been incorporated into the design of today’s product ranges. Modern power electronics matched with smart circuitry and software gives users of ABB‘s softstarters, with several state-of-the-art design features, superior control of current and voltage levels during motor start and stop. The solution to both mechanical and electrical problems AC motors, “the workhorses of the industry”, are used to drive fans, crushers, agitators, pumps, conveyors and more. Depending on the motor installation, torque and current peaks occur. These peaks are everyday reality for production plants.
All Over the World, Causing Problems in Several Ways:
- Electrical problems due to voltage and current transients arising from Direct-On-Line or Star-Delta starts. The transients may overload the local supply network and cause unacceptable voltage variations that interfere with other electrical equipment connected to the network.
- Mechanical problems that address the entire drive chain, from motor to driven equipment, causing a big need for service and repair work.
- Operational problems, such as damage to products on conveyor belts.
- Water hammering and pressure surges in pipe systems when starting and stopping pumps. The financial consequences of the problems above are considerable. Every technical problem and every breakdown costs money in repairs and lost production. By choosing ABB’s softstarter, all of these problems could be avoided. Whether the choice is the PSR, PSS, PSE or the PST(B), ABB’s softstarters all allow smooth start and stops while keeping mechanical and electrical stresses to a minimum
