A Combined Frequency Converter for Soft Acceleration of Induction Electric Drives with Heavy Starting Conditions

Abstract

The usability of a thyristor frequency converter with a supplementary controlled series compensator for soft starting of induction motors with high torque of inertia of actuating mechanisms is considered as an alternative to transistor converters. It is shown that the supplemental device, in the form of a transistor–capacitor convertor, can be considered as an adjustable capacitor, the equivalent capacitance of which can be varied from very large values (to a maximum of infinitely large) to some fixed minimum value. The voltage of an adjustable series capacitor provides the desired switching conditions of thyristor inverter, and the capacitive reactance ensures the compensation of reactive power consumed by the induction motor and thyristor inverter, reducing the current load of the motor and converter. The addition of a thyristor current converter with a controlled series compensator of reactive power in the form of a transistor–capacitor unit makes it possible to carry out a soft start of induction motors similar to the starting modes of synchronous machines. Simulation results confirming the achievement of the desired effect are presented. It is shown that the supplemental device in the form of transistor–capacitor converter is a robust system well adaptable to various conditions of electric-drive operation. The functional equivalence of a transistor frequency converter and thyristor frequency converter with a supplemental transistor–capacitor unit with a substantially lower cost of the latter makes possible a new mechanism for soft starting of powerful electric drives with induction motors under conditions of high torques of inertia of actuating mechanisms.