Summer Intern at Kerala Water Authority(KWA) KOOLIMADU pumping station-Controlled by govt. of Kerala
• Learnt the process of municipal water distribution
• Stages involved in water purification
• Electrical installations involved in pumping & boosting water at various levels of
distribution
• Submitted a report on the installations
• A chance to work closely with the electrical maintenance team
2. Page | 2
AMRITA SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
BENGALURU
Sl No Content Page nos
1 Acknowledgement 4
2 Introduction 5
3 Water Treatment 67
4 Water Treatment Process 814
a) Pumping 89
b)Aeration 1012
c) Chemical Treatment
12
d) Chlarifloculator 12
e)Filtrations bed 13
f) Chlorination 13
g) Clear water pump house 14
5 Malfunctioning Encountered 1516
6 Electrical Installation 1730
7 Transformers 17
8 Main parts
1.Core
2 Constructional detail :
Shell type
Core type
3.Insulator
4.Bushing
5.Types of Cooling 22
6. Protection arrangement
Bucholtz relay
Silica Gel Breather
Tap changer
24
25
26
26
9 Three phase transformers 27
3. Page | 3
Construction
10
Different Windings in a three phase
transformer
2830
11 Three winding transformers 31
112 Substation Distribution & Components 31
13 What happens to incoming high voltage at
KSEB substation?
3271
a)Lightning Arrester(L A)
b) Earth Switch
c) Isolator
d) SF6 Circuit Breaker
e)Current transformer
f)Potential transformer
g)Bus Bar
14 Incomer
1 Oil Circuit Breaker(OCB)
2 Over Current Relay
3 DC Battery and Charger
4772
15 Induction Motors 5563
16 Starters 6472
17 Electrical Installation Images 7280
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
"Gratitude is not a thing of expression; it is more a matter of
feeling."
I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Chief Engineer
(Northern Region) Kerala Water Authority,Malaparamba,
Superintending Engineer P.H Circle Kerala Water Authority,
Malaparamba, Executive Engineer P.H.Division Kerala Water
Authority, Malaparamba , Assistant Executive Engineer Head
Works Sub Division Malaparamba, Assistant Engineer
Augmentation and Medical College Section Mavoor, Kozhikode
for permitting me to have an internship training at Mavoor treatment
plant which helped me enrich my knowledge in the field of electrical
installations and maintenance at a water treatment plant.
It was my privilege being trained under the guidance of Mrs.
Rajalakshmi Assistant Executive Engineer(Civil) Mavoor
Division, Mrs. Hemalatha Assistant Executive
Engineer(Electrical) Mavoor Division. I would like to thank them
for their active support and continuous guidance without which it
would have been difficult for me to complete this training. They were
generous enough to take time out of their regular work to lend a
helping hand whenever I needed one and enabling me to complete this
tenure.
I would also like to mention the generous guidance of Mr.Prabodh,
Overseer Electrical Mavoor division and Mr. Abdul Salam,
Electrician Mavoor division , together with all the staff at Mavoor
division whose guidance helped me settle down in the organization
and successfully complete the project within the relatively short time
frame of 10 days, from 1st
June, 2015 to 10th
June, 2015. They were
supporting enough to give me an opportunity to be a part of such a
prestigious organization for 10 days and learn the day to day
functioning. Last but not the least i would like to thank Mr.Suresh
5. Page | 5
(Retd. CE)for guiding me the pathway towards this journey of
knowledge.
INTRODUCTION
Kerala Water Authority is an autonomous authority established for the
development and regulation of water supply and waste water
collection and disposal in the state of Kerala, India. It is a
governmentowned organization and hence a monopoly in most parts
of the state. The authority was founded on 1 April 1984. Kerala Water
Authority is governed by a board chaired by the Chairman, usually
the Principal Secretary / Secretary, Department of Water Resources,
Government of Kerala. The board also includes the secretaries of the
departments of finance, local selfgovernment, the executive director
of KRWSA, Managing Director, Technical member, Accounts
Member of Kerala Water Authority and three members from local
selfgovernment institutions.
6. Page | 6
Water Treatment
Water treatment plant is a very integral part of the municipal water
distribution process. Water distribution to Kozhikode city starts from
the Mavoor water treatment plant located on the banks of Challiyar
River. The river water is not fit for drinking so there is a rising need
to treat this water and make it potable before supplying for domestic
use.
Chaliyar is the fourth longest river in Kerala at 169 km in length. The
Chaliyar is also known as Chulika River or Beypore River as it nears
the sea. Nilambur, Edavanna, Areekode, Kizhuparamba, Cheruvadi,
Edavannappara, Mavoor, Peruvayal, Feroke and Beypore are some of
the towns/villages situated along the banks of Chaliyar.
The Chaliyar originates in the Western Ghats range at Elambalari
Hills in the Wayanad Plateau of Kerala and flows through
Malappuram District for most of its length and then for around 17 km
it forms the boundary between Malappuram District and Kozhikode
District before entering the city of Kozhikode for its final 10 km
journey and finally empties into the Lakshadweep Sea.
This river water is termed as raw water (raw material for the
plant).Then it has to undergo a series of processes before it reaches
7. Page | 7
the customer. The full responsibility of pumping is being governed by
the Kerala Water Authority.
All the process emerges right near the challiyar river banks. The
pumping station pumps the raw water from the river using vertical
motorised pumps. The plant has a capacity to deliver 54 MLD
(million litres per day) + 18 MLD.This happens in two stages Stage 1:
54 MLD
Stage 2: 18 MLD
At present the plant is supplying 34+18 MLD, the rest demand is
being fed by the JICA Project at Peruvannamozhi.
Earlier till 2000 the plant had only 54 MLD capacity but in due course
of time the demand also increased which led to the additional
production of 18 MLD.
The whole plant is controlled by the tireless efforts of the Assistant
Executive Engineer (Civil), Assistant Executive Engineer (Electrical),
and Overseers, office staff, operators &Electricians.
The plant works 24 hours a day. The operators, electricians, cleaning
staff are put on shifts. There are totally three shifts
Shift A: 7:00a.m. – 2:00p.m.
Shift B: 2:00p.m. – 10:00p.m.
Shift C: 10:00p.m. – 7:00a.m.
The cleaning of filter beds takes place twice a day i.e. 8:00a.m. &
3:00 p.m.There are working staff on PSC, employment & daily
wages.
Most of the Motors pumps and installations at the mavoor treatment
plant are more than 40 years old.
8. Page | 8
Water Treatment Process
A)Pumping
Pumping stations are facilities including pumps and equipment
for pumping fluids from one place to another. They are used for
a variety of infrastructure systems, such as the supply of water
to canals, the drainage of lowlying land, and the removal of
sewage to processing sites.
There are two pump houses at the plant. One feeds the Stage I & the
other Stage II .The Stage 1 pump house has 3 motors & stage II also
houses 3 motors.
Sl
No.
Specification Quantity Location
1 600 HP 1 Stage 1
2 250 HP 2 Stage 1
3 150 Hp 2 Stage 2
9. Page | 9
There motors used to pump are of two types i) Slip Ring Induction
ii)Squirrel Cage induction motor.
Starters of two types are used for the stage 1 has old starters and
stage 2 has soft starters.
17. Page | 17
Electrical Installation
Transformers
An A.C. device used to change high voltage low current A.C. into low
voltage high current A.C. and viceversa without changing the
frequency
In brief,
1. Transfers electric power from one circuit to another
2. It does so without a change of frequency
3. It accomplishes this by electromagnetic induction
4. Where the two electric circuits are in mutual inductive influence of
each other.
Transformer forms an Integral part of Electricity distribution
22. Page | 22
•In sandwich coils leakage can be controlled
Fig: Sandwich
windings
•Cu or Al conductors
•HVCrossover,disc,multilayer
•LVHelix,disc,disc helix
3. Insulator
•Electrical isolation
•Paper, transformer oil, synthetic resin
•Major and minor
4. Bushing
To provide external electrical connection
26. Page | 26
Whenever electrical power transformer is loaded, the temperature of
the transformer insulating oil increases, consequently the volume of
the oil is increased. As the volume of the oil is increased, the air
above the oil level in conservator will come out. Again at low oil
temperature; the volume of the oil is decreased, which causes the
volume of the oil to be decreased which again causes air to enter into
conservator tank. The natural air always consists of more or less
moisture in it and this moisture can be mixed up with oil if it is
allowed to enter into the transformer. The air moisture should be
resisted during entering of the air into the transformer, because
moisture is very harmful for transformer insulation. A silica gel
breather is the most commonly used way of filtering air from
moisture. Silica gel breather for transformer is connected with
conservator tank by means of breathing pipe
7. Tap changer
It is used to control voltage, the two types of tap changers are
•On load tap changer
•Off load tap changer
Tap changing
•System voltage control is essential for
27. Page | 27
1. Adjustment of consumer’s terminal voltage within prescribed
limits.
2. Control of real and reactive power in the network
1.Varying secondary voltage
2.Maintaining the secondary voltage constant with a varying
primary voltage
3.For providing an auxiliary secondary voltage for a special
purpose
4.To provide low voltage for starting rotating machines
5.For providing neutral point
Cut view of transformer
28. Page | 28
Transformer with conservator and breather
Three phase transformers
Construction
•A threephase transformer is constructed by winding three
singlephase transformers on a single core.
29. Page | 29
•Threephase transformers are connected in either wye or delta
configurations
•Two or three singlephase transformers can be connected together to
deliver threephase power. This is referred to as a transformer bank.
•This allows greater maintenance and replacement options.
Different Windings in a three phase transformer
32. Page | 32
Substation Distribution & Components
Transformers have been setup in the plant for distribution. Being an
industrial plant the various units require electricity. There is a 66 KV
Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) substation at the KWA
compound. This substation provides a 11KV feeder to the plant.
The current is generated at the Nallalam Power generation Unit of
KSEB.Then this power has to be transmitted at high voltage to
various substation among which one of them is 66 KV substation
Ambalaparamba.Here the 66KV is stepped down to 11KV by
6.6MVA transformers. This substation provides one feeder to KWA,
one to Edavannapara, one each to Chennamangalur,Mavoor.
What happens to incoming high voltage at KSEB substation?
33. Page | 33
First the high voltage 66KV incomer approaches the substation
through transmission towers, first it moves to the lightning arrester.
a)Lightning Arrester(L A)
A lightning arrester is a device used on electrical power systems
and telecommunications systems to protect the insulation and
conductors of the system from the damaging effects of lightning. The
typical lightning arrester has a highvoltage terminal and a ground
terminal. If protection fails or is absent, lightning that strikes the
electrical system introduces thousands of kilovolts that may damage
the transmission lines, and can also cause severe damage to
transformers and other electrical or electronic devices.
Lightningproduced extreme voltage spikes in incoming power lines
can damage electrical home appliances.
34. Page | 34
Then it passes through the Earth Switch attached to LA
b) Earth Switch
Earthing switch connect the live parts/ line conductors and earth. This
switch is normally open.
Earthing switch is used to earth the live parts during maintenance and
during testing. During maintenance although circuit is open still there
are some voltages on line , due to which capacitance between line and
earth is charged. Before proceeding to maintenance work the voltage s
discharged to earth, by closing the earth switch.
1. Maintenance Earthing Switch: These are two or three pole units
with a manual operating mechanism.
2. High Speed Earthing Switch: These are operated by spring
energy. Spring is charged by motormechanism.
Earthing switches are mounted on the base of mainly line side
isolator. Earthing switches are normally vertically break switches.
Earthing arms (contact arm of earthing switch) are normally aligned
horizontally at off condition. during switching on operation, these
earthing arms rotate and move to vertical position and make contact
with earth female contacts fitted at the top of the post insulator stack
of isolator at its outgoing side. The earthing arms are so interlocked
with main isolator moving contacts that it can be closed only when
the main contacts of isolator are in open position. Similarly the main
35. Page | 35
isolator contacts can be closed only when the earthing arms are in
open position.
Then the supply passes through an isolator
c) Isolator
Electrical Isolator or Electrical Isolation Switch
Under Electrical Transmission
Definition of Isolator
Circuit breaker always trip the circuit but open contacts of breaker
cannot be visible physically from outside of the breaker and that is
why it is recommended not to touch any electrical circuit just by
switching off the circuit breaker. So for better safety there must be
some arrangement so that one can see open condition of the section of
the circuit before touching it. Isolator is a mechanical switch which
isolates a part of circuit from system as when required. Electrical
isolators separate a part of the system from rest for safe maintenance
works.
So definition of isolator can be rewritten as Isolator is a manually
operated mechanical switch which separates a part of the electrical
power system normally at off load condition.
Types of Electrical Isolators
There are different types of isolators available depending upon system
requirement such as
1)Double Break Isolator
2) Single Break Isolator
3) Pantograph type Isolator.
36. Page | 36
Depending upon the position in power system, the isolators can be
categorized as
1) Bus side isolator – the isolator is directly connected with main bus
2) Line side isolator – the isolator is situated at line side of any feeder
3) Transfer bus side isolator – the isolator is directly connected with
transfer bus.
Constructional Features of Double Break Isolators
Lets have a discussion on constructional features of Double Break
Isolators. These have three stacks of post insulators as shown in the
figure. The central post insulator carries a tubular or flat male contact
which can be rotated horizontally with rotation of central post
insulator. This rod type contact is also called moving contact.
The female type contacts are fixed
on the top of the other post insulators which fitted at both sides of the
central post insulator. The female contacts are generally in the form of
spring loaded figure contacts. The rotational movement of male
contact causes to come itself into female contacts and isolators
becomes closed. The rotation of male contact in opposite direction
make to it out from female contacts and isolators becomes open.
Rotation of the central post insulator is done by a driving lever
mechanism at the base of the post insulator and it connected to
operating handle (in case of hand operation) or motor (in case of
37. Page | 37
motorized operation) of the isolator through a mechanical tie rod.
Constructional features of Single Break Isolators
The contact arm is divided into two parts one carries male contact and
other female contact. The contact arm moves due to rotation of the
post insulator upon which the contact arms are fitted. Rotation of both
post insulators stacks in opposite to each other causes to close the
isolator by closing the contact arm. Counter rotation of both post
insulators stacks open the contact arm and isolator becomes in off
condition. This motorized form of this type of isolators is generally
used but emergency hand driven mechanism is also provided.
Operation of Electrical Isolator
As no arc quenching technique is provided in isolator it must be
operated when there is no chance current flowing through the circuit.
No live circuit should be closed or open by isolator operation. A
complete live closed circuit must not be opened by isolator operation
and also a live circuit must not be closed and completed by isolator
operation to avoid huge arcing in between isolator contacts. That is
why isolators must be open after circuit breaker is open and these
must be closed before circuit breaker is closed. Isolator can be
operated by hand locally as well as by motorized mechanism from
remote position. Motorized operation arrangement costs more
compared to hand operation; hence decision must be taken before
choosing an isolator for system whether hand operated or motor
38. Page | 38
operated economically optimum for the system. For voltages up to
145KV system hand operated isolators are used whereas for higher
voltage systems like 245 KV or 420 KV and above motorized
isolators are used.
Then the connection is connected in series with the SF6 circuit
breaker.
d) SF6 Circuit Breaker
A circuit breaker in which the current carrying contacts operate in
sulphur hexafluoride or SF6 gas is known as an SF6 circuit breaker.
SF6 has excellent insulating property. SF6 has high electronegativity.
That means it has high affinity of absorbing free electron. Whenever a
free electron collides with the SF6 gas molecule, it is absorbed by that
gas molecule and forms a negative ion. The attachment of electron
with SF6 gas molecules may occur in two different ways,
These negative ions obviously much heavier than a free electron and
therefore over all mobility of the charged particle in the SF6 gas is
much less as compared other common gases. We know that mobility
of charged particle is majorly responsible for conducting current
through a gas. Hence, for heavier
39. Page | 39
and less mobile charged particles in SF6 gas, it acquires very high
dielectric strength. Not only the gas has a good dielectric strength but
also it has the unique property of fast recombination after the source
energizing the spark is removed. The gas has also very good heat
transfer property. Due to its low gaseous viscosity (because of less
molecular mobility) SF6 gas can efficiently transfer heat by
convection. So due to its high dielectric strength and high cooling
effect SF6 gas is approximately 100 times more effective arc
quenching media than air. Due to these unique properties of this gas
SF6 circuit breaker is used in complete range of medium voltage and
high voltage electrical power system. These circuit breakers are
available for the voltage ranges from 33KV to 800KV and even more.
Disadvantages of SF6 CB
The SF6 gas is identified as a greenhouse gas, safety regulation are
being introduced in many countries in order to prevent its release into
atmosphere.
Puffer type design of SF6 CB needs a high mechanical energy which
is almost five times greater than that of oil circuit breaker.
40. Page | 40
Types of SF6 Circuit Breaker
There are mainly three types of SF6 CB depending upon the voltage
level of application
1. Single interrupter SF6 CB applied for up to 245 KV(220 KV)
system.
2. Two interrupter SF6 CB applied for up to 420 KV(400 KV)
system.
3. Four interrupter SF6 CB applied for up to 800 KV(715 KV)
system.
Working of SF6 Circuit Breaker
The working of SF6 CB of first generation was quite simple it is some
extent similar to air blast circuit breaker. Here SF6 gas was
compressed and stored in a high pressure reservoir. During operation
of SF6 circuit breaker this highly compressed gas is released through
the arc in breaker and collected to relatively low pressure reservoir
and then it pumped back to the high pressure reservoir for re utilize.
The working of SF6 circuit breaker is little bit different in modern
time. Innovation of puffer type design makes operation of SF6 CB
much easier. In buffer type design, the arc energy is utilized to
develop pressure in the arcing chamber for arc quenching.
41. Page | 41
Here the
breaker is filled with SF6 gas at rated pressure. There are two fixed
contact fitted with a specific contact gap. A sliding cylinder bridges
42. Page | 42
these to fixed contacts. The cylinder can axially slide upward and
downward along the contacts. There is one stationary piston inside the
cylinder which is fixed with other stationary parts of the SF6 circuit
breaker, in such a way that it can not change its position during the
movement of the cylinder. As the piston is fixed and cylinder is
movable or sliding, the internal volume of the cylinder changes when
the cylinder slides.
During opening of the breaker the cylinder moves downwards against
position of the fixed piston hence the volume inside the cylinder is
reduced which produces compressed SF6 gas inside the cylinder. The
cylinder has numbers of side vents which were blocked by upper
fixed contact body during closed position. As the cylinder move
further downwards, these vent openings cross the upper fixed contact,
and become unblocked and then compressed SF6 gas inside the
cylinder will come out through this vents in high speed towards the
arc and passes through the axial hole of the both fixed contacts. The
arc is quenched during this flow of SF6 gas.
During closing of the circuit breaker, the sliding cylinder moves
upwards and as the position of piston remains at fixed height, the
volume of the cylinder increases which introduces low pressure inside
the cylinder compared to the surrounding. Due to this pressure
difference SF6 gas from surrounding will try to enter in the cylinder.
The higher pressure gas will come through the axial hole of both fixed
contact and enters into cylinder via vent and during this flow; the gas
will quench the arc.
Then the supply passes through a current transformer
e)Current transformer
A current transformer (CT) is used for measurement of alternating
electric currents. Current transformers, together with voltage (or
potential) transformers (VT or PT), are known as instrument
transformers. When current in a circuit is too high to apply directly
to measuring instruments, a current transformer produces a reduced
43. Page | 43
current accurately proportional to the current in the circuit, which can
be conveniently connected to measuring and recording instruments. A
current transformer isolates the measuring instruments from what may
be very high voltage in the monitored circuit. Current transformers are
commonly used in metering and protective relays in the electrical
power industry.
Current transformers are basically used to take the readings of the
currents entering the substation. This transformer steps down the
current from 800 amps to 1 amp. This is done because we have no
instrument for measuring of such a large current. The main use of this
transformer is
a. Distance Protection
b. Backup Protection
c. Measurement
A current transformer is defined as an instrument transformer in
which the secondary current is substantially proportional to the
primary current (under normal conditions of operation) and differs in
phase from it by an angle which is approximately zero for an
44. Page | 44
appropriate direction of the connections. This highlights the accuracy
requirement of the current transformer but also important is the
isolating function, which means no matter what the system voltage the
secondary circuit need to be insulated only for a low voltage.
The current transformer works on the principle of variable flux. In the
ideal current transformer, secondary current would be exactly equal
(when multiplied by the turns ratio) and opposite to the primary
current. But, as in the voltage transformer, some of the primary
current or the primary ampereturns are utilized for magnetizing the
core, thus leaving less than the actual primary ampere turns to be
transformed into the secondary ampereturns. This naturally
introduces an error in the transformation. The error is classified into
current ratio error and the phase error
Then the circuit is parallel branched into two lines which passes
through an isolator, a SF6 circuit breaker, a current transformer,
followed by a LA(note: always a transformer in distribution is
associated with an LA before the line reaches the transformer)
connecting to the transformer. There are two transformers of 60/11
,6.3 MVA at the substation which convert 66KV to 11KV.Then it
passes through a CT,VCB& an isolator. Then the distribution of
11KV through various feeders takes place.
A Potential transformer is connected in parallel to the circuit
f)Potential transformer
There are two potential transformers used in the bus connected both
side of the bus. The potential transformer uses a bus isolator to protect
itself. The main use of this transformer is to measure the voltage
through the bus. This is done so as to get the detail information of the
voltage passing through the bus to the instrument. There are two main
parts in it
a. Measurement
45. Page | 45
b. Protection
The standards define a voltage transformer as one in which the
secondary voltage is substantially proportional to the primary voltage
and differs in phase from it by an angle which is approximately equal
to zero for an appropriate direction of the connections. This in essence
means that the voltage transformer has to be as close as possible to the
ideal transformer.
In an ideal transformer, the secondary voltage vector is exactly
opposite and equal to the primary voltage vector when multiplied by
the turn’s ratio.
In a practical transformer, errors are introduced because some current
is drawn for the magnetization of the core and because of drops in the
primary and secondary windings due to leakage reactance and
winding resistance. One can thus talk of a voltage error which is the
amount by which the voltage is less than the applied primary voltage
and the phase error which is the phase angle by which the reversed
secondary voltage vector is displaced from the primary voltage
vector.
g)Bus Bar
The bus is a line in which the incoming feeders come into and get into
the instruments for further step up or step down. The first bus is used
for putting the incoming feeders in la single line. There may be
double line in the bus so that if any fault occurs in the one the other
can still have the current and the supply will not stop. The two lines in
the bus are separated by a little distance by a conductor having a
connector between them. This is so that one can work at a time and
the other works only if the first is having any fault.
A bus bar in electrical power distribution refers to thick strips of
copper or aluminum that conduct electricity within a switchboard,
distribution board, substation, or other electrical apparatus. The size
46. Page | 46
of the bus bar is important in determining the maximum amount of
current that can be safely carried. Bus bars are typically either flat
strips or hollow tubes as these shapes allow heat to dissipate more
efficiently due to their high surface area to cross sectional area ratio.
The skin effect makes 5060 Hz AC bus bars more than about 8 mm
(1/3 in) thick inefficient, so hollow or flat shapes are prevalent in
higher current applications. A hollow section has higher stiffness than
a solid rod of equivalent current carrying capacity, which allows a
greater span between bus bar supports in outdoor switchyards. A bus
bar may either be supported on insulators or else insulation may
completely surround it. Bus bars are protected from accidental contact
either by a metal enclosure or by elevation out of normal reach.
Neutral bus bars may also be insulated. Earth bus bars are typically
bolted directly onto any metal chassis of their enclosure. Bus bars
may be enclosed in a metal housing, in the form of bus duct or bus
way, segregatedphase bus, or isolatedphase bus.
66KV KSEB Substation
48. Page | 48
The substation is under the jurisdiction of KSEB.The KEY diagram
of the substation is as given below.
The 11 KV feeder enters the plant through poles into a switchyard
where the protection is provide by the airbrake switch to a current
transformer attached to a metre which displays the no of units
consumed based on which the current consumption is calculated. The
three phase supply enters the Incomer control panel room. This room
49. Page | 49
is located near the pump house. This room receives feeder of 11KV
from KSEB.This room contains 46 year old analog control panel,
from where the supply is separated to different lines i.e. supply to
Ram water 1(pump house 1),Raw water 2,Clear water pump
house,contol panel room(newly constructed).So these line move
through the electric cables beneath the ground towards distribution
transformers.
There are 6 distribution transformers in the plant.
Sl No
Location
No of transformers
1 Raw water I 1
2 Raw water II 1(working)
1(not working)
3 Control Room newly constructed 1(supply to stage II)
1(supply to stage I)
4 Clear pump house 1
Incommer Room
51. Page | 51
When the current carrying contacts in the oil are separated an arc is
established in between the separated contacts.
Operation
Actually, when separation of contacts has just started, distance
between the current contacts is small as a result the voltage gradient
between contacts becomes high. This high voltage gradient between
the contacts ionized the oil and consequently initiates arcing between
the contacts. This arc will produce a large amount of heat in
surrounding oil and vaporizes the oil and decomposes the oil in
mostly hydrogen and a small amount of methane, ethylene and
acetylene. The hydrogen gas cannot remain in molecular form and its
is broken into its atomic form releasing lot of heat. The arc
temperature may reach up to 5000° K. Due to this high temperature
the gas is liberated surround the arc very rapidly and forms an
excessively fast growing gas bubble around the arc. It is found that
the mixture of gases occupies a volume about one thousand times that
of the oil decomposed. From this figure we can assume how fast the
gas bubble around the arc will grow in size. If this growing gas
bubble around the arc is compressed by any means then rate of de –
ionization process of ionized gaseous media in between the contacts
will accelerate which rapidly increase the dielectric strength between
the contacts and consequently the arc will be quenched at zero
crossing of the current cycle. This is the basic operation of oil circuit
breaker. In addition to that cooling effect of hydrogen gas surround
the arc path also helps, the quick arc quenching in oil circuit breaker.
Now at present the role of the oil circuit breakers is being carried out
by the vacuum circuit breakers (VCBs).
Types of Oil Circuit Breakers
Bulk Oil Circuit Breaker or BOCB
Arc Quenching in Bulk Oil Circuit Breaker
59. Page | 59
Working Principle of Induction Motor
But in induction motor we give only one supply, so it is really
interesting to know that how it works. It is very simple, from the
name itself we can understand that there is induction process
occurred. Actually when we are giving the supply to the stator
winding, flux will generate in the coil due to flow of current in the
coil. Now the rotor winding is arranged in such a way that it becomes
short circuited in the rotor itself. The flux from the stator will cut the
coil in the rotor and since the rotor coils are short circuited, according
to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, current will start
flowing in the coil of the rotor. When the current will flow, another
flux will get generated in the rotor. Now there will be two flux, one is
stator flux and another is rotor flux and the rotor flux will be lagging
to the stator flux. Due to this, the rotor will feel a torque which will
make the rotor to rotate in the direction of rotating magnetic flux. So
the speed of the rotor will be depending upon the ac supply and the
speed can be controlled by varying the input supply. This is the
working principle of an induction motor of either type.
Types Induction Motor
SINGLE PHASE INDUCTION MOTOR
Split phase induction motor
Capacitor start induction motor
Capacitor start capacitor run induction motor
Shaded pole induction motor
THREE PHASE INDUCTION MOTOR
a)Squirrel cage induction motor
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b) Slip ring induction motor
Construction of Three Phase Induction Motor
Under Induction Motor
The three phase induction motor is the most widely used electrical
motor. Almost 80% of the mechanical power used by industries is
provided by three phase induction motors because of its simple and
rugged construction, low cost, good operating characteristics, absence
of commutator and good speed regulation. In three phase induction
motor the power is transferred from stator to rotor winding through
induction. The Induction motor is also called asynchronous motor as
it runs at a speed other than the synchronous speed.
Like any other electrical motor induction motor also have two main
parts namely rotor and stator
1. Stator: As its name indicates stator is a stationary part of
induction motor. A stator winding is placed in the stator of
induction motor and the three phase supply is given to it.
2. Rotor: The rotor is a rotating part of induction motor. The rotor
is connected to the mechanical load through the shaft.
The rotor of the three phase induction motor are further classified as
1. Squirrel cage rotor,
2. Slip ring rotor or wound rotor or phase wound rotor.
Depending upon the type of rotor construction used the three phase
induction motor are classified as:
1. Squirrel cage induction motor,
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2. Slip ring induction motor or wound induction motor or phase
wound induction motor.
The construction of stator for both the kinds of three phase induction
motor remains the same and is discussed in brief in next paragraph.
The other parts, which are required to complete the induction motor,
are:
1. Shaft for transmitting the torque to the load. This shaft is made
up of steel.
2. Bearings for supporting the rotating shaft.
3. One of the problems with electrical motor is the production of
heat during its rotation. In order to overcome this problem we
need fan for cooling.
4. For receiving external electrical connection Terminal box is
needed.
5. There is a small distance between rotor and stator which usually
varies from 0.4 mm to 4 mm. Such a distance is called air gap.
Stator of Three Phase Induction Motor
The stator of the three phase induction motor consists of three main
parts :
1. Stator frame,
2. Stator core,
3. Stator winding or field winding.
Stator Frame
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It is the outer most part of the
three phase induction motor. Its main function is to support the stator
core and the field winding. It acts as a covering and it provide
protection and mechanical strength to all the inner parts of the
induction motor. The frame is either made up of die cast or fabricated
steel. The frame of three phase induction motor should be very strong
and rigid as the air gap length of three phase induction motor is very
small, otherwise rotor will not remain concentric with stator, which
will give rise to unbalanced magnetic pull.
Stator Core
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The main function of the stator core is to carry the alternating flux. In
order to reduce the eddy current loss, the stator core is laminated.
These laminated types of structure are made up of stamping which is
about 0.4 to 0.5 mm thick. All the stamping are stamped together to
form stator core, which is then housed in stator frame. The stamping
is generally made up of silicon steel, which helps to reduce the
hysteresis loss occurring in motor.
Stator Winding or Field Winding
The slots on the periphery of stator core of the three phase induction
motor carries three phase windings. This three phase winding is
supplied by three phase ac supply. The three phases of the winding
are connected either in star or delta depending upon which type of
starting method is used. The squirrel cage motor is mostly started by
star – delta stater and hence the stator of squirrel cage motor is delta
connected. The slip ring three phase induction motor are started by
inserting resistances so, the stator winding of slip ring induction
motor can be connected either in star or delta. The winding wound on
the stator of three phase induction motor is also called field winding
and when this winding is excited by three phase ac supply it produces
a rotating magnetic field.
Types of Three Phase Induction Motor
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1. Squirrel cage three phase induction motor: The rotor of the
squirrel cage three phase induction motor is cylindrical in shape
and have slots on its periphery. The slots are not made parallel
to each other but are bit skewed (skewing is not shown in the
figure of squirrel cadge rotor beside) as the skewing prevents
magnetic locking of stator and rotor teeth and makes the
working of motor more smooth and quieter. The squirrel cage
rotor consists of aluminium, brass or copper bars (copper bras
rotor is shown in the figure beside). These aluminium, brass or
copper bars are called rotor conductors and are placed in the
slots on the periphery of the rotor. The rotor conductors are
permanently shorted by the copper or aluminium rings called the
end rings. In order to provide mechanical strength these rotor
conductor are braced to the end ring and hence form a complete
closed circuit resembling like a cage and hence got its name as
"squirrel cage induction motor". The squirrel cage rotor winding
is made symmetrical. As the bars are permanently shorted by
end rings, the rotor resistance is very small and it is not possible
to add external resistance as the bars are permanently shorted.
The absence of slip ring and brushes make the construction of
Squirrel cage three phase induction motor very simple and
robust and hence widely used three phase induction motor.
These motors have the advantage of adapting any number of
pole pairs. The below diagram shows squirrel cage induction
rotor having aluminium bars short circuit by aluminium end
rings.
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Advantages of squirrel cage
induction rotor
1. Its construction is very simple and rugged.
2. As there are no brushes and slip ring, these motors requires
less maintenance.
Applications: Squirrel cage induction motor is used in lathes, drilling
machine, fan, blower printing machines etc
2. Slip ring or wound three phase induction motor : In this type
of three phase induction motor the rotor is wound for the same
number of poles as that of stator but it has less number of slots
and has less turns per phase of a heavier conductor. The rotor
also carries star or delta winding similar to that of stator
winding. The rotor consists of numbers of slots and rotor
winding are placed inside these slots. The three end terminals
are connected together to form star connection. As its name
indicates three phase slip ring induction motor consists of slip
rings connected on same shaft as that of rotor. The three ends of
three phase windings are permanently connected to these slip
rings. The external resistance can be easily connected through
the brushes and slip rings and hence used for speed control and
improving the starting torque of three phase induction motor.
The brushes are used to carry current to and from the rotor
winding. These brushes are further connected to three phase star
connected resistances. At starting, the resistance are connected
in rotor circuit and is gradually cut out as the rotor pick up its
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speed. When the motor is running the slip ring are shorted by
connecting a metal collar, which connect all slip ring together
and the brushes are also removed. This reduces wear and tear of
the brushes. Due to presence of slip rings and brushes the rotor
construction becomes somewhat complicated therefore it is less
used as compare to squirrel cage induction motor.
Advantages of slip ring induction motor
1. It has high starting torque and low starting current.
2. Possibility of adding additional resistance to control speed.
Application:
Slip ring induction motor are used where high starting torque is
required i.e. in hoists, cranes, elevator etc.
Difference between Slip Ring and Squirrel Cage Induction Motor
Slip ring or phase wound Induction
motor
Squirrel cage induction motor
Construction is complicated due to
presence of slip ring and brushes
Construction is very simple
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The rotor winding is similar to the
stator winding
The rotor consists of rotor bars
which are permanently shorted with
the help of end rings
We can easily add rotor resistance by
using slip ring and brushes
Since the rotor bars are
permanently shorted, its not possible
to add external resistance
Due to presence of external resistance
high starting torque can be obtained
Staring torque is low and cannot be
improved
Slip ring and brushes are present Slip ring and brushes are absent
Frequent maintenance is required due
to presence of brushes
Less maintenance is required
The construction is complicated and
the presence of brushes and slip ring
makes the motor more costly
The construction is simple and
robust and it is cheap as compared
to slip ring induction motor
This motor is rarely used only 10 %
industry uses slip ring induction
motor
Due to its simple construction and
low cost. The squirrel cage induction
motor is widely used
Rotor copper losses are high and
hence less efficiency
Less rotor copper losses and hence
high efficiency
Speed control by rotor resistance
method is possible
Speed control by rotor resistance
method is not possible
Slip ring induction motor are used
where high starting torque is required
i.e in hoists, cranes, elevator etc
Squirrel cage induction motor is
used in lathes, drilling machine, fan,
blower printing machines etc
An induction motor is similar to a polyphase transformer whose
secondary is short circuited. Thus, at normal supply voltage, like in
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transformers, the initial current taken by the primary is very large for
a short while. (Unlike in DC motor, large current at starting is due to
back emf.) If an induction motor is directly switched on from supply,
it takes 5 to 7 times its full load current, and develops a torque which
is only 1.5 to 2.5 times the full load torque. This large starting current
will produce large voltage drop in line, which may affect the
operation of other devices connected in the line. From the torque
equation of induction motor, it can be seen that starting torque can be
improved by increasing the rotor resistance. Rotor resistance can be
easily increased in case of slipring induction motors, but for squirrel
cage motorsstarting current can be controlled by applying reduced
stator voltage.
Methods of starting induction motor are described below.
Starting Of Squirrel Cage Motors
Adding external resistance to the rotor of a squirrel cage motor is not
possible. Starting inrush current in squirrel cage motors is controlled
by applying reduced voltage to the stator. For this purpose, following
methods are used:
1. By using primary resistors or reactors
2. Autotransformer
3. Stardelta switches
1. Using primary resistors:
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Obviously, purpose of primary resistors is to drop some voltage,
consequently applying reduced voltage to the stator. Hence, the initial
current will be reduced. Here, one thing should be noted that, current
varies directly to thee voltage whereas torque varies as square of the
applied voltage.
That is, if the applied voltage is reduced by 50% : current will be
reduced by 50% but the torque will be reduced by 25%.
2.Autotransformers:
Autotransformer
Autotransformers are also known as autostarters or compensators.
They can be used for both star connected or delta connected squirrel
cage motors. The internal connections of an autostarter is as shown
in the figure. At starting, switch is at "start" position, and reduced
voltage is applied across the stator. When the motor gathers speed,
say upto 80% of its rated speed, autotransformer automatically
disconnects from the circuit as the switch goes to "run" position.
The switch changing the connection from start to run position may be
airbreak (small motors) or oilimmersed (large motors). There are
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also provisions for novoltage and overload, with time delay circuits.
Many autotransformers also come with options of reduced voltage
drop of 80%, 65% and 50% of the line voltage.
3.Stardelta starter:
This method is used in the motors, which are designed to run on delta
connected stator. A two way switch is used to connect the stator
winding in star while starting and in delta while running with normal
speed. When stator winding is star connected, voltage over each phase
in motor will be reduced by a factor 1/(sqrt. 3) that it would be for
delta connected winding. The starting torque will 1/3 to that of it will
be for delta connected winding. Hence a stardelta starter is equivalent
to an autotransformer of ratio 1/(sqrt. 3) or 58% reduced voltage.
Starting Of SlipRing Motors
Slipring motors are started with full line voltage, as external
resistance can be easily added in the rotor circuit with the help of
sliprings. A star connected rheostat is connected in series with rotor
via sliprings as shown in the fig. Introducing resistance in rotor
current will decrease the starting current in rotor (and hence in stator).
Also, it improves power factor and the torque is increased. The
connected rheostat may be handoperated or automatic.
As, introduction of additional resistance in rotor improves the starting
torque, slipring motors can be started on load.
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The external resistance introduced is only for starting purposes, and is
gradually cut out as the motor gathers the speed.
How does soft start work?
A soft starter is any device which controls the acceleration of an
electric motor by means of controlling the applied voltage.
An Induction motor has the ability to self start owing to the
interaction between the rotating magnetic field flux and the rotor
winding flux, causing a high rotor current as torque is increased. As a
result the stator draws high current and by the time the motor reaches
to full speed, a large amount of current (greater than the rated current)
is drawn and this can cause heating up of the motor, eventually
damaging it. To prevent this, motor starters are needed.
Motor starting can be in 3 ways:
1. Applying full load voltage at intervals of time: Direct On Line
Starting
2. Applying reduced voltage gradually: Star Delta Starter and Soft
starter
3. Applying part winding starting: Autotransformer starter
Soft Start Definition
In technical terms, a soft starter is any device which reduces the
torque applied to the electric motor. It generally consists of solid state
devices like thyristors to control the application of supply voltage to
the motor. The starter works on the fact that the torque is proportional
to the square of the starting current, which in turn is proportional to
the applied voltage. Thus the torque and the current can be adjusted
by reducing the voltage at the time of starting the motor.
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initially at a delay of 180 degrees during the respective half wave
cycles (for which each SCR conducts). This delay is reduced
gradually with time until the applied voltage ramps up to the full
supply voltage. This is also known as Time Voltage Ramp System.
This method is not relevant as it doesn’t actually control the motor
acceleration.
2) Closed Loop Control: Any of the motor output characteristics like
the current drawn or the speed is monitored and the starting voltage is
modified accordingly to get the required response. The current in
each phase is monitored and if it exceeds a certain set point, the time
voltage ramp is halted.
Thus basic principle of soft starter is by controlling the conduction
angle of the SCRs the application of supply voltage can be controlled.
Components of a basic soft starter
● Power switches like SCRs which need to be phase controlled
such that they are applied for each part of the cycle. For a 3
phase motor, two SCRs are connected back to back for each
phase. The switching devices need to be rated at least three
times more than the line voltage.
● Control Logic using PID controllers or Microcontrollers or any
other logic to control the application of gate voltage to the SCR,
i.e. to control the firing angle of SCRs in order to make the SCR
conduct at the required part of the supply voltage cycle.
Working Example of Electronic Soft Start System for 3 phase
induction motor
The system consists of the following components:
● Two back to back SCRs for each phase, i.e. 6 SCRs in total.
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● Control Logic circuitry in form of two comparators LM324 and
LM339 to produce the level and the ramp voltage and an
optoisolator to control the application of gate voltage to the
each SCR in each phase.
A power supply circuitry to provide the required dc supply voltage.
The level voltage is generated using the comparator LM324 whose
inverting terminal is fed using a fixed voltage source and the non
inverting terminal is fed through a capacitor connected to the collector
of an NPN transistor. The charging and discharging of the capacitor
causes the output of the comparator to change accordingly and the
voltage level to change from high to low. This output level voltage is
applied to the non inverting terminal of another comparator LM339
whose inverting terminal is fed using a ramp voltage. This ramp
voltage is produced using another comparator LM339 which
compares the pulsating DC voltage applied at its inverting terminal to
the pure DC voltage at its non inverting terminal and generates a zero
voltage reference signal which is converted to a ramp signal by the
charging and discharging of a electrolyte capacitor.
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The 3rd comparator LM339 produces a High pulse width signal for
every high level voltage, which decreases gradually as the level
voltage reduces. This signal is inverted and applied to the Opto
isolator, which provides gate pulses to the SCRs. As voltage level
falls, the pulse width of the Opto isolator increases and more the pulse
width, lesser is the delay and gradually the SCR is triggered without
any delay. Thus by controlling the duration between the pulses or
delay between applications of pulses, the firing angle of SCR is
controlled and the application of supply current is controlled, thus
controlling the motor output torque.
The whole process is actually an open loop control system where the
time of application of gate triggering pulses to each SCR is controlled
based on the how earlier the ramp voltage decreases from the level
voltage.
Advantages of Soft Start
Now that we have learnt about how an electronic soft start system
works, let us recollect few reasons why it is preferred over other
methods.
● Improved Efficiency: The efficiency of soft starter system
using solid state switches is more owing to the low on state
voltage.
● Controlled startup: The starting current can be controlled
smoothly by easily altering the starting voltage and this ensures
smooth starting of the motor without any jerks.
● Controlled acceleration: Motor acceleration is controlled
smoothly.
● Low Cost and size: This is ensured with the use of solid state
switches.
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The problem with the soft starter is the companies that make the soft
starter hoarding the parts, when the soft starter fails the company
wants the customer to send the whole soft starter in for repairs vice
allowing the customer to rebuild on site..if you have 30 soft starters in
a particular building or a ship per say in 12 years all of those soft
starters should need to go back to the company just to replace an
SCR, how about building a better soft starter that could possibly last
46 years or allow the customer to make repairs on site.The loud
clunk coming from the soft starter is present in over 60% of the soft
starter upon motor start up.
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