Electrolytic starter (LRS) for slipring motors from 550 to 20,000 kWEPM electrolytic starter can be used to start slipring motors from 500 kW to 20,000 kW. It will supply the power necessary to drive the motor by resistance variation.
EPM electrolytic starter can be used to start slipring motors from 500 kW to 20,000 kW. It will supply the power necessary to drive the motor by resistance variation. Designed for controlled starting and speed control of large slipring motors in demanding applications, the EPM liquir rotor starters ensure a smooth progressive acceleration of installations such as:
They are widely used in various industries such as mines, quarries, cement plants, water treatment and associated industries. They are also adapted to specific applications such as car fragmentisers, plastic mixers and sugar cane knives.
Several models and options are available according to the starting power required, the inertia of the driven machine and the application. Feel free to contact us and explain us about your requirements (Use the section Necessary information to quote a starter), our staff will quote the suitable starter and the eventual necessary options.
You will find below the description of an EPM starter and its operating principle.
Driven machine:
Ambient temperature: Minimum, maximum and average value
Starting time in s
Temps de démarrage : en secondes
Starting torge: Cn
Number of starts per hour
Number of consecutive starts
Country of destination
An EPM unit is made of:
Tank: The tank is manufactured with heavy duty sheet steel 30/10 to 50/10 mm gauge, and is normally supplied complete with lifting eye bolts Tank capacity and dimensions are determined by the motor rating.
The tank is filled through a filling flap and emptied through valves situated at the base of the unit, which are normally locked in the ‘closed’ position.
Agitator: The agitator is thermostatically controlled to ensure maximum thermal capacity.
Electrolyte: Various concentrations of sodium carbonate are normally employed. The electrolyte level is monitored by a float switch and the temperature is controlled by thermostats.
Electrode assemblies: A set consists of three fixed and three moving electrodes; polypropylene containers shroud the fixed electrodes to provide adequate isolation between phases.
The cast alloy electrodes consist of concentric cylinders which merge with each other in the minimum resistance position.
The fixed electrodes, located inside the insulating containers, are fed from an insulated copper bar. Since this bar does not pass through the tank wall, there is no danger of electrolyte leakage.
The moving electrodes travel vertically inside the insulating container, guided by a nylon rod. The assembly is supported by two brass rods fixed to a transversal carrier which is common to all three electrodes and constitutes the neutral point.
Current density is extremely low (typically 1 amp/cm²) resulting in extremely long electrode life.
Electrode control system:
Displacement of the electrodes is effected by a motor driven worm screw assembly. This is normally controlled by either a geared motor or a servomotor depending on the application.
An inverter may also be used for some applications.
A hand wheel is also provided for emergency operation.
Starting times are adjustable from 10 to 150 seconds.
Control and interlocking: Limit switches are incorporated to control the geared motor, and to power the shorting contactor which shorts out the residual resistance at the end of the run up time. The geared motor is fitted with
an overload relay, which is used to provide protection in case of the drive mechanism jamming.
An electrical interlock prevents a restart before the electrodes return to the initial maximum resistance position.
If a power failure occurs during starting, the electrodes return automatically to the start position when the supply is restored, so that a new start is possible.
Control panels: The control gear is housed in two separate enclosures. The shorting contactor complete with the rotor terminations are housed in the MV enclosure.
A separate housing is provided for the LV controls.
The MV enclosure is normally included with the starter, but for higher ratings, it may be supplied in a separate control panel.
The EPM rotor starter is normally used to control the starting of a slipring motor, and the starting current is generally limited to a maximum of 250% FLC.
Optimal starting torque for each application is normally selected by the choice of the initial value of resistance.
The principle of the EPM starter is that the resistance automatically varies during the starting pe riod.
This type of starter is designed to provide the optimum starting characteristic, which results in smooth progressive acceleration to full load speed. It can also be used for speed variation and torque control. Plug braking can also be implemented with this system.
The variation in the resistance is achieved by displacement of the electrodes in the electrolyte.
At the end of the acceleration, the electrodes are short-circuited.
AOIP starters for slipring motors, also named electrolytic starters or Liquid Resistance Starters (LRS), use mobile electrolytic resistances. Each starter is made of 3 tanks (one per phase) filled with conductive liquid named electrolyte (water mixed with salt, usually Sodium Carbonate) and two immerged electrodes. One is fixed to the bottom of the tank, the other travels vertically inside the insulating container, guided by a nylon rod. The electrodes are in stainless steel (or bronze in option), shaped in concentric cylinders which merge with each other in the minimum resistance position.
The resistance value depends on the distance between the electrodes, Sodium Carbonate concentration, and electrolyte temperature. The level and temperature of the electrolyte are controlled by a float and thermostats triggering an alarm when set limits are reached.
By distance variation between the electrodes, we get an accurate variation of resistance, thus a supply voltage adjustment and a reduction of starting current and torque, purpose of the system. (see Why using a starter for slip ring motors)
Sodium Carbonate concentration is defined according to the starter data, the driven machine data (such as necessary starting torque) and ambient conditions.
The starter slowly decreases the resistance, ensuring a progressive starting of the driven machine, unlike step starting due to starters with fixed electrodes. At the end of the starting process, the resistance is short-circuited.
Some LRS manufacturers do not use mobile electrodes but prefer to vary the level of electrolyte to modify the resistance value. This solution implies using circulation pump which has two disadvantages:
In order to start a slip ring motor, the accelerating torque has to be sufficiently higher than the resisting torque. Higher is the inertia, higher has to be the accelerating torque, otherwise the start will be very long and the motor can be damaged by the heating.
If the motor is started directly, without starter:
In order to reduce the starting current and starting torque, it is necessary to decrease the supply voltage of the motor. If the supply voltage is divided by two, the absorbed current is divided by the same ratio of two.
For example, for a motor with a ratio starting torque / nominal torque of two and a ratio starting current / nominal current of six under a nominal voltage of 400 V, if the supply voltage is reduced to 200 V the absorbed current is only three times the nominal current. Furthermore, the torque is reduced by the square of the supply voltage reduction, by reducing the supply voltage from 400 V to 200 V, the motor torque is 2/(2x2) ie 0.5 times the nominal torque.
The supply voltage is reducing by using resistors in series in the rotor circuit for each phase. The resistors can be metal grid (cooled in the air or cooled in oil) or electrolytic resistors.
| Reference | Maximum power | |||
| Tstarter / Tnominal = 0.7 | Tstarter / Tnominal = 1 | Tstarter / Tnominal = 1.4 | Tstarter / Tnominal = 2 | |
| EPM1/1 | 1,600 kW | 1,100 kW | 790 kW | 550 kW |
| EPM2/1 | 2,600 kW | 1,800 kW | 1,300 kW | 900 kW |
| EPM3/1 | 5,200 kW | 3,700 kW | 2,600 kW | 1,850 kW |
| EPM3/2 | 6,400 kW | 4,500 kW | 3,200 kW | 2,250 kW |
| EPM4/1 | 7,800 kW | 5,500 kW | 3,900 kW | 2,750 kW |
| EPM4/2 | 13,000 kW | 9,100 kW | 6,500 kW | 4,550 kW |
| EPM1/1 DUO | 2 x 1,600 kW | 2 x 1,100 kW | 2 x 790 kW | 2 x 550 kW |
| EPM2/1 DUO | 2 x 2,600 kW | 2 x 1,800 kW | 2 x 1,300 kW | 2 x 900 kW |
| EPM3/1 DUO | 2 x 5,200 kW | 2 x 3,700 kW | 2 x 2,600 kW | 2 x 1,850 kW |
| EPM3/2 DUO | 2 x 6,400 kW | 2 x 4,500 kW | 2 x 3,200 kW | 2 x 2,250 kW |
| EPM3/1 DUO | 2 x 7,800 kW | 2 x 5,500 kW | 2 x 3,900 kW | 2 x 2,750 kW |
| EPM4/2 DUO | 2 x 9,100 kW | 2 x 6,500 kW | 2 x 4550 kW | |
Maximum power of engine given for 1 start/hour and 3 consecutive starts from cold state.
Different models exist to suit the power of the starter(s) and the inertia of the driven machine.
The ranges of EPM starters given above are theoretical only, as ranges will depend on many further non negligible parameters such as starting conditions, starting time and cadenza, torque, type and load of the driven machine, ambient temperature…
Rotor voltage between rings: 3,500 V max
Standard starting times: 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 130 s factory preset
Level of electrolyte monitored by magnetic floating system
Electrolyte temperature monitored by thermostats
Electrolyte cooling down by natural convection and agitator mixing
Low current density of electrodes: about 1 A/cm².
| Démarreur EPM DUO | When starting machines of large powers, or in order to reduce mechanical stress, it is sometimes preferable to use two starters totaling the rated power rather than a single one. An EPM DUO starter is then used, to ensure identical acceleration of both motors. The EPM DUO consists in two resistances whose ohmic values are equalized between the two tanks. The electrode drive assemblies are mechanically coupled, so as to ensure complete synchronization of the movement of the two electrode assemblies, which are driven by a common geared motor. The two resistances are finally shorted out by a single four or six pole shorting contactor, at the end of the run-up period. |
| EPM starter with heat exchanger | An EPM starter equipped with a heat exchanger is suitable for applications requiring: - high starting cadenza - speed variation or permanent sliding of the engine An exchanging system can be mounted on any EPM started, with the addition of a regulation servo-motor and a heat exchanger. Heat dissipation and capacity are increased significantly. This option requires an onsite supply of cool water. |
| Electrolyte | Composition: In powder or crystal form for mixing with drinking water and anti-evaporation oil Electrolyte temperature is controlled by thermostat 16 A/400 V. Electrolyte level: level is visible through transparency of tanks. |
| Antigel (option) | Protection down to -20°C It has to be inserted into the electrolyte before commissioning since it alters its resistivity. Il can be used throughout the year. |
| Reference | Tank capacity | Size (H x L x w) | Weight (empty tank) |
| EPM1/1 | 1,000 l | 2000 x 1700 x 1230 mm | 720 kg |
| EPM2/1 | 1,500 l | 2000 x 2120 x 1360 mm | 850 kg |
| EPM3/1 | 3,000 l | 2290 x 2510 x 1660 mm | 1,230 kg |
| EPM4/1 | 5,000 l | 2500 x 2950 x 1860 mm | 1,650 kg |
| EPM1/1 DUO | 2 x 1,000 l | 2000 x 2760 x 1520 mm | 1,500 kg |
| EPM2/1 DUO | 2 x 1,500 l | 2000 x 2945 x 2030 mm | 1,800 kg |
| EPM3/1 DUO | 2 x 3,000 l | 2290 x 3580 x 2560 mm | 2,450 kg |
| EPM4/1 DUO | 2 x 5,000 l | 2500 x 4020 x 2950 mm | 2,800 kg |
EPM1/1 Liquid rotor starter with mobile electrodes – Size 1
EPM2/1 Liquid rotor starter with mobile electrodes – Size 2
EPM3/1 Liquid rotor starter with mobile electrodes – Size 3
EPM4/1 Liquid rotor starter with mobile electrodes – Size 4
EPM1/1 DUO Liquid rotor starter with mobile electrodes – Size 1 – Double tank
EPM2/1 DUO Liquid rotor starter with mobile electrodes – Size 2 – Double tank
EPM3/1 DUO Liquid rotor starter with mobile electrodes – Size 3 – Double tank
EPM4/1 DUO Liquid rotor starter with mobile electrodes – Size 4 – Double tank
Delivered in standard with:
Further supply voltage for electrodes drive motor and agitator motor
Further paint color
Further language for maintenance and operation manual
Anti freeze heaters in tank
Tropicalisation (special paint and nut, bolt and screw treated against humidity)
Space heater (anti-condensation) in MV cubicle
Variable starting time (gear motor electrodes replaced by frequency drive)
Anti blocking rotor detection
Brush lifting
Electrodes position sensor
Digital panel meter with temperature probe for tank
IP55 instead of IP54 for the MV cubicle
Heat exchanger for high duty start or high number of starts (electrolyte-water or electrolyte-air)
Main motor speed variation (starter drives the speed variation of the main motor)
High speed torque variation for shredder (motor electrodes replaced by pneumatic drive)
CSA and UL certification
GOST certification
Resistance ratio 100:1 instead of 50:1
Final insertion resistor
Slip resistor
Roof
Cable glands
Transformer for LV control cubicle (if 230 V / 50 Hz non available)
PLC and programming
| Product | Description | Release | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPM | Commercial brochure | 04/2015 |
AOIP offers a complete range of services: technical assistance and advice, calibration and verification by the SOFIA laboratory, equipment repair, maintenance, assistance and metrological monitoring, equipment rental, training, installation and commissioning of your equipment. More informations
