Torque-based stepwise motor starting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016134208-A1
Application number	US-201514832794-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 21, 2015
Priority date	Nov 6, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

One embodiment describes a method that includes determining a desired torque level of a motor actuated by a motor starter; determining, using a control system, a configuration of the motor starter to achieve the desired torque level, in which determining the configuration includes determining which of a plurality of switching devices in the motor starter should be opened and which should be closed; and instructing, using the control system, the motor starter to implement the determined configuration by opening or closing one or more of the plurality of switching devices.

First claim

1 . A method comprising:
determining a desired torque level of a motor actuated by a motor starter; determining, using a control system, a configuration of the motor starter to achieve the desired torque level, wherein determining the configuration comprises determining which of a plurality of switching devices in the motor starter should be opened and which should be closed; and instructing, using the control system, the motor starter to implement the determined configuration by opening or closing one or more of the plurality of switching devices.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein instructing the motor starter to implement the determined configuration comprises sequentially instructing each of the plurality of switching devices to open, close, or remain in a current state.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the switching devices are single pole, single current carrying path switching devices; and the motor starter comprises a wye-delta motor starter.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein instructing the motor starter to implement the determined configuration comprises:
determining whether each of the plurality of switching is open or closed; and instructing a closed switching device that should be open in the determined configuration to open or instructing an open switching device that should be closed in the determined configuration to close.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired torque level is less than or equal to approximately 33% of a maximum torque level of the motor,
wherein determining the configuration of the motor starter to achieve the desired torque level comprises determining that:
a first switching device should be closed;
a second switching device should be open;
a third switching device should be closed;
a fourth switching device should be open; and
a fifth switching device should be open.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired torque level is less than or equal to approximately 22% of a maximum torque level of the motor,
wherein determining the configuration of the motor starter to achieve the desired torque level comprises determining that:
a first switching device should be open;
a second switching device should be open;
a third switching device should be closed;
a fourth switching device should be open; and
a fifth switching device should be open.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired torque level is less than or equal to approximately 55% of a maximum torque level of the motor,
wherein determining the configuration of the motor starter to achieve the desired torque level comprises determining that:
a first switching device should be open;
a second switching device should be closed;
a third switching device should be closed;
a fourth switching device should be open; and
a fifth switching device should be open.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired torque level is less than or equal to approximately 66% of a maximum torque level of the motor,
wherein determining the configuration of the motor starter to achieve the desired torque level comprises determining that:
a first switching device should be open;
a second switching device should be closed;
a third switching device should be open;
a fourth switching device should be closed; and
a fifth switching device should be open.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired torque level is less than or equal to approximately 100% of a maximum torque level of the motor,
wherein determining the configuration of the motor starter to achieve the desired torque level comprises determining that:
a first switching device should be open;
a second switching device should be closed;
a third switching device should be open;
a fourth switching device should be closed; and
a fifth switching device should be closed.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired torque level is less than or equal to approximately 33% of a maximum torque level of the motor,
wherein determining the configuration of the motor starter to achieve the desired torque level comprises determining that:
a first switching device should be closed;
a second switching device should be open;
a third switching device should be closed;
a fourth switching device should be open;
a fifth switching device should be closed; and
a sixth switching device should be open.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired torque level is less than or equal to approximately 22% of a maximum torque level of the motor,
wherein determining the configuration of the motor starter to achieve the desired torque level comprises determining that:
a first switching device should be open;
a second switching device should be open;
a third switching device should be closed;
a fourth switching device should be open;
a fifth switching device should be closed; and
a sixth switching device should be open.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired torque level is less than or equal to approximately 55% of a maximum torque level of the motor,
wherein determining the configuration of the motor starter to achieve the desired torque level comprises determining that:
a first switching device should be open;
a second switching device should be closed;
a third switching device should be closed;
a fourth switching device should be open;
a fifth switching device should be closed; and
a sixth switching device should be open.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired torque level is less than or equal to approximately 66% of a maximum torque level of the motor,
wherein determining the configuration of the motor starter to achieve the desired torque level comprises determining that:
a first switching device should be open;
a second switching device should be closed;
a third switching device should be closed;
a fourth switching device should be closed;
a fifth switching device should be closed; and
a sixth switching device should be open.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired torque level is less than or equal to approximately 100% of a maximum torque level of the motor,
wherein determining the configuration of the motor starter to achieve the desired torque level comprises determining that:
a first switching device should be open;
a second switching device should be closed;
a third switching device should be open;
a fourth switching device should be closed;
a fifth switching device should be open; and
a sixth switching device should be closed.

15 . A tangible, non-transitory, computer readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a control circuitry, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to:
determine, using the control unit, a desired power consumption level of a motor actuated by a motor starter; determine, using the control circuitry, a configuration of the motor starter to achieve the desired power consumption level, wherein determining the configuration comprises determining which of a plurality of a plurality of switching devices in the motor starter should be open and which should be closed; instruct, using the control circuitry, the motor starter to implement the determined configuration by opening or closing one or more of the plurality of switching devices.

16 . The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the motor starter is a wye-delta starter.

17 . The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the switching devices are single pole, single current carrying path switching devices, single pole, multi current carrying path

Assignees

• Rockwell Automation Tech Inc

Inventors

• Bock Christopher H
• Wieloch Christopher J
• Kinsella James J
• Dziekonski Stefan T

Classifications

• H01H9/563

  for multipolar switches, e.g. different timing for different phases, selecting phase with first zero-crossing · CPC title

• H02P1/32 Primary

  by star/delta switching · CPC title