The motor has very little starting torque because it is start-
ing at reduced voltage so autotransformer start is used only in
special applications. This type of motor start-up is common
among large compressors that need little starting torque, such
as centrifugal compressors where the pressures are completely
equalized during the off cycle and compression does not start
until the compressor is up to speed and the vanes start to open.
48.38
WYE-DELTA
Wye-delta start is often called star-delta start and is used with
large motors with six leads and a single voltage.
When the
motor is starting in the wye configuration, it typically draws
only about 33% of the current that it would draw starting in the
delta configuration,
Figure 48–76.
After the motor is up to
speed, a transition to a delta connection is made where the
motor pulls the load and does the work more efficiently,
Figure 48–77.
The transition from star to delta is accomplished
with a starting sequence that has three different contactors
that are
electrically
and
mechanically interlocked;
two are
energized in wye for start-up, then one is dropped out and the
other engaged for delta operation. The time the motor oper-
ates in the wye connection depends on how long it takes the
compressor to get up to speed. Large centrifugal compressors
may take a minute or more to get up to speed in wye, then the
transition is made to delta.
When the motor starter switches from wye to delta, the wye
connection is actually disconnected electrically by means of a
contactor. This disconnect is proven both electrically by the
timing of the auxiliary contacts and mechanically by means of
a set of levers that interlock the contactors. Then the delta
connection is made. The electrical and mechanical interlock
feature is necessary because if the wye connection and the
delta connection were to be made at the same time, a dead
short from phase to phase would occur and likely destroy the
starter components,
Figure 48–78.