Applying Generator Sets to Motor Loads

By Robert A. Barr, Product Specialist, Kohler Co., Generator Division

© 1983 by KOHLER CO.

Motor starting is one of the major applications of both prime power and standby generator sets.

Years of experience in successfully applying generator sets to motor loads leads us to the conclusion that the subject is often complicated beyond necessity.

The basic characteristic of motor loads that causes difficulty is that motors draw high starting currents when started at full voltage. A typical motor, if there is such a thing, draws approximately six times its rated full load current when starting, and continues to do so with only a slight reduction until it reaches about 75% of rated speed.

Figure 1: Starting vs Running Loads

The KVA required by a motor starting at full voltage is quite close to the "locked rotor KVA" requirement of the motor, which is usually fairly easily determined either from the actual motor's nameplate or from the manufacturer. The National Electrical Manufacturer's Association (NEMA) sets design standards for motors, and has established a NEMA Code letter designation to classify motors by the ratio of locked rotor KVA per horsepower. These code letters range from A to V, covering motors with a locked rotor KVA per horsepower of 3.14 or less to 22.4 KVA per horsepower or more. Small motors commonly have a higher NEMA Code letter and corresponding higher locked rotor KVA per horsepower requirement than large motors. Typical motor sizes and codes are:

Fractional horsepower motors usually have even higher locked rotor KVA requirements.

In trying to identify motors, the NEMA Code letter should not be confused with the NEMA Design letter which refers to the motor's torque curve.

Figure 2: National Electrical Manufacturer's Association Motor Design Code

Since the KVA requirements of a motor running at full load and rated speed are normally somewhat less than one KVA per horsepower except for small motors, it would obviously be very inefficient to size a generator set by matching its rated continuous or standby KVA to the motor's locked rotor or starting KVA rating. Several factors combine to make this conservative approach unnecessary.

One of these is power factor. Three phase generator sets are usually rated in KVA at 0.8 power factor. The actual power factor of a given motor load during starting is difficult, if not impossible to measure since it is changing constantly. Various sources put it in the range of 0.3 to 0.5. A typical generator set will produce somewhere near twice its continuous rated KVA at 0.4 Power Factor for the time required to accelerate a motor to the speed at which its KVA requirement drops sharply. The engine does not stall even though the generator set is delivering more than rated KVA, because only slightly more horsepower is required for reduced generator efficiency on low power factor loads (see Figure 3). This generator characteristic allows us to obtain satisfactory motor starting results with generators half the size which would theoretically be required using the most conservative approach of matching the generator 0.8 Power Factor KVA rating to the motor locked rotor KVA rating.

.4 Power Factor = 50% HP Factor

Figure 3: Engine Power Required for Low Power Factor Load

The other factor which can substantially reduce the size generator set needed for a particular motor load is voltage dip. Values for motor locked rotor current or KVA are based on full voltage starting. In practice, there is always some voltage dip even when starting on utility power. When voltage drops, current also is reduced proportionately so that starting KVA is reduced as the square of the voltage dip. A 30% voltage dip reduces KVA by about 50% (0.7 volts x 0.7 amps = 0.49 KVA).

The voltage dip for a given motor load on a particular generator set does not change without modification to one or the other. At least for the first few cycles, it is determined by the size of the load (locked rotor KVA draw) and the amount of copper and iron in the generator. The problem of selecting a generator for a particular load can be considered as a problem of determining what voltage dip will be acceptable, considering its effect on all components in the system.

Voltage dip has important effects on motor loads themselves, aside from any possible effects on other equipment in an emergency system. One is that excessive voltage dip will cause control relays or magnetically held motor starting contactors to drop out. If this happens, the contactor or relay opening immediately removes the load from the generator, causing voltage to rise, and the cycle repeats rapidly. This can damage contactors if allowed to continue. In our experience, most control relays and motor starting contactors will stand a 40% voltage dip. There are exceptions however, and we have seen cases where relays or contactors would chatter if subjected to more than a 20% dip. To assure satisfactory operation the voltage limitations of control components should be obtained from their manufacturers or suppliers.

The second effect of voltage dip which may determine whether a generator will successfully start a motor is that it reduces the torque available from the motor. A common NEMA Design B motor will develop 150% of rated full load torque during starting. Torque is proportional to the KVA delivered to the motor, so the same 30% voltage dip that reduces KVA to 49% of the rated locked rotor value reduces torque to 49% of its rating at any given speed and 100% voltage. If the motor starts unloaded as most fans, centrifugal pumps and motor-generators used with elevators do, this produces no problem other than a somewhat longer acceleration time. Other types of loads such as positive displacement pumps may require more torque than the motor can develop at reduced voltage, and the motor will not come up to speed. To be sure of a successful start on these applications, it is necessary to compare the torque curves of the pump and the motor, correcting the latter for the effect of the expected voltage dip.

Reduced Voltage Motor Starters

The high inrush current and high starting torque associated with across-the-line starting of motors may create problems with the equipment driven by the motor or objections from the power company. Reduced voltage starters are used to solve these problems.

There are various types of reduced voltage starters, and their use sometimes allows successful starting of a given motor on a smaller generator set than would otherwise be the case. Most such starters involve applying the load to the power source in two or more steps. The starters are "open" or "closed" transition type depending on whether the load is momentarily disconnected from the power source between steps. Open transition starters are of no value in reducing voltage dip when the power source is a generator set. The maximum dip at the transition can be higher than the maximum starting the same motor across-the-line.

Figure 4: Open Transition Vs. Closed Transition Starters

This is because the motor acts as a generator for a few cycles after power is removed, until the residual voltage decays. When the motor is reconnected to the power source the effect is the same as connecting two generators out-of-phaseÑhigh inrush current. Closed transition starters do reduce the maximum voltage dip, but the amount of reduction depends on the speed of the motor at the time of transition. To keep the voltage dip to a minimum, it is important to allow as much time for the motor to accelerate as possible before making the transition. The starters usually have an adjustable time delay for this purpose.

Some Types of Reduced Voltage Starters

Primary Resistor Starting

In this type of starter, resistors are connected in the motor lines to produce a voltage drop due to the motor starting current. A timing relay is connected to short out the resistors after motor acceleration. The motor starts at reduced voltage and operates at full voltage. These starters provide very smooth starting due to increasing voltage across the motor terminals as the motor accelerates. Since motor current decreases as speed increases, the voltage drop across the resistor is less as the motor approaches rated speed. When the resistor is shorted out when the motor is nearly at rated speed, there is little increase in current or torque. Standard primary resistor starters provide one step of resistance with about 70% of line voltage at the motor terminals at the time the starting contacts close. Line current is also reduced to about 70% of rated locked rotor current and about 49% of rated locked rotor torque is available.

Maximum inrush KVA is also limited to about 50% of the motor's rated locked rotor KVA. Because this type of starter increases the power factor of the motor starting load, we find that it frequently overloads the engine on the generator set. We recommend that resistance starters not be used on generator sets.

Figure 5: Primary Resistor Starting

Primary Reactor Starting

This type of starter uses reactors connected in the motor lines to reduce starting power requirements. These starters provide a low power factor load, but must be designed to match the characteristics of the particular motor being started.

Primary reactor starters reduce the starting KVA load by 35-50% and reduce the starting torque available from the motor by 60-75%. When properly applied, these starters work well with generator sets.

Wye-Delta Starting

Some motors have 6 leads which allow them to be connected in either wye or delta. When wye connected, the motor has a voltage rating 173% of its delta voltage rating. By connecting the motor windings in the wye configuration and using a voltage source corresponding to the delta rating, starting current and torque are reduced. The starter is not truly a reduced voltage type, but the effect is the same. Wye-delta starters are usually open transition type. On the initial start, two contactors close: one to connect the windings in wye and one to energize them. After a time delay the wye contactor opens and a third contactor closes to reconnect the motor in delta. With the motor connected in wye, both starting torque and current are 33% of the delta connection values.

Figure 6: Wye-Delta Starting

Because of the high current inherent with the open transition the maximum voltage dip on a generator set is not improved over normal full voltage starting. Special closed transition starters are available which will reduce the maximum inrush current and KVA to approximately 60% of the maximum starting the same motor across-the-line, delta connected. Because of the very low starting torque, the time to the transition point must be relatively long to avoid high currents at that point.

Part Winding Starting

Part Winding starters are used with motors having two identical windings intended to be connected in parallel. These windings can be energized in sequence to provide reduced starting current and torque. When one winding is energized, the torque is about 50% of "both winding" rating, and line current is 60-70%, depending on motor design.

Part winding starters are not truly reduced voltage starters, but the effect is similar. Since they are inherently closed transition, the maximum inrush current occurs at the moment the first winding is energized and the maximum inrush KVA load on a generator set will be 60-70% of the normal across-the-line rating of the same motor.

Figure 7: Part Winding Starting

Autotransformer Starting

This type of starter generally gives the best results with generator sets. The starter provides reduced voltage at the motor terminals from a tapped 3-phase auto-transformer. Taps on the transformer provide selection of 80, 65 or 50 percent of line voltage to the motor terminals initially. Starting torque is reduced to 64%, 42% or 25% of the full voltage value but because of transformer action line current and KVA are reduced in the same amounts, depending on the transformer tap selected.

Figure 8: Autotransformer Starting

Summary

Type of Starter	Percent of Full Voltage Values			Advantages	Disadvantages
	Voltage at Motor	Line Current	Starting Torque
Auto- transformer	Taps 80 65 50	64 42 25	64 42 25	1. Provides highest torque per ampere of line current. 2. Taps on autotransformer permit adjustment of starting voltage. 3. Suitable for long starting periods. 4. Closed transition starting. 5. While starting, motor current is greater than line current. 6. Low power factor.	1. In lower HP ratings, is most expensive design.
Primary Resistor	70	70	49	1. Smooth acceleration--motor voltage increases with speed. 2. Closed transition starting. 3. Less expensive than autotransformer starter in lower HP ratings. 4. Available with as many as 7 accelerating points.	1. Low torque efficiency. 2. Resistor gives off heat. 3. Starting time in excess of 5 seconds requires expensive resistor. 4. Starting voltage difficult to adjust to meet varying conditions. 5. High power factor during start.
Part Winding	100	65	48	1. Least expensive reduced voltage starter. 2. Closed transition starting. 3. Most dual voltage motors can be started part winding on lower of two voltages. 4. Small size.	1. Unsuited for high inertia, long starting loads. 2. Requires special motor design for voltages higher than 230 V.
Wye-Delta	100	33-1/2	33-1/2	1. Moderate cost--less than primary resistor or auto-transformer. 2. Suitable for high inertia, long acceleration loads. 3. High torque efficiency.	1. Requires special motor design. 2. Starting torque is low. 3. Inherently open transition--closed transition available at added cost.

Table 3: Reduced Voltage Starters Application Data

Because there will still be some voltage dip when the motor is started on a generator set, and that dip further reduces available torque, it usually is not practical to use the 50% tap with a generator set. Closed transition type autotransformer reduced voltage starters can be helpful when starting large motors on generator sets.

We have had experience with a variety of other special applications and are glad to provide assistance with whatever motor starting problems you may encounter.

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