Motion Control & Drives


Start and stop softly

August 2010 Motion Control & Drives

Schneider Electric South Africa will launch its soft start/stop unit for infrastructure and industrial applications, Altistart 22, during the third quarter of this year.

According to Rynhard Davids, product manager VSD, the soft start/soft stop unit uses both voltage and torque for three-phase squirrel cage asynchronous motors between four and 400 kW.

“With this unit, users can expect a reduction in operating costs, simplified wiring, protection of the electrical installation and space savings. All this comes in a fully equipped product that is safe, innovative and economical,” he says.

The installation and operation of Altistart 22 is simple as it uses six terminals instead of 12, saving time on wiring. The soft start/soft stop unit is also compact, allowing users to optimise the size of their enclosures. Its low heat dissipation keeps temperature rises to a minimum and because it is a multifunction product it reduces the number of components that have to be managed.

Altistart 22 also allows users to bypass any stresses on their applications and so protects their installations. By minimising jolts and shocks, Altistart 22 reduces mechanical stresses on machines and increases their service life. It also prevents installation failures by detecting and signalling faults such as blocked motor, underload or incorrect earthing of one of the three motor phases. In addition, cards are coated to provide an enhanced resistance to harsh environments.

Davids adds that Altistart 22, with its three controlled phases, incorporates all the protection functions needed to monitor the motor, the electrical installation and the starter itself. Setup and operation are simplified with four LEDs, four navigation keys, a four digit display and SoMove setup software which is common to the Altivar, Lexium and TeSys ranges.

The soft start/soft stop unit also integrates application specific functions that optimise machines. These include:

* A centrifugal pump to reduce 'water hammer' and protect against underloads or reversed phase rotation direction.

* A piton pump for the monitoring of pump priming and direction of rotation.

* A fan to detect under- and overloads.

* A turbine for thermal monitoring of the motor with an electrically isolated PTC probe.

* A cold compressor for the monitoring of starting characteristics and the management of automatic restarting.

* A screw compressor and centrifugal compressor to protect against reversed phase rotation direction.

Further optimisation functions include a conveyor that acts as an overload monitor for short-circuit detection or underload monitor for break detection. There is also a conveyor belt which offers a second set of motor parameters, depending on the load carried.

A lifting screw is included for hard spot detection through overload monitoring or break detection though underload monitoring. An agitator/mixer displays the current density of the material and provides a boost on start-up.

“Additional benefits are that Altistart 22 communicates easily with control systems and a remote terminal allows users to communicate with

Altistart 22 without needing to open the electrical cabinet door. Altistart 22 will also be available in IP65 version,” concludes Davids.

For more information contact Rynhard Davids, Schneider Electric SA, +27 (0)11 254 6400, [email protected], www.schneider-electric.co.za



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

All eyes on the modern DCS platform
Schneider Electric South Africa PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Modernised DCS platforms are no longer confined to hardware-dependent architectures. These systems have evolved to combine the strengths of both PLCs and DCS while adding capabilities that make them more open, resilient and collaborative.

Read more...
Why choose between Capex and Opex if you can Totex?
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
In a sector marked by cyclical demand, high capital intensity, and increasing regulatory and sustainability pressures, mining, minerals and metals (MMM) companies are re-evaluating how they approach procurement and investment.

Read more...
Novel bearing steel next generation of aeroengines
SKF South Africa Motion Control & Drives
SKF continues to re-imagine intelligent and clean rotation with the development of an innovative temperature-resistant, corrosion-tolerant steel called ARCTIC15 designed for aeroengine bearings.

Read more...
AI and the smart factory
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Imagine walking into a factory where machines can think ahead, predict problems before they happen and automatically make adjustments to realise peak performance. This isn’t science fiction, it’s happening right now as AI continues to transform how we run industrial operations.

Read more...
Why your supply chain should be a competitive advantage
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
The last five years have placed unprecedented strain on global supply chains. Leading companies are turning the challenge into an opportunity to transform their supply chains into a competitive advantage.

Read more...
Real-time modelling is the key to a resilient, bi-directional energy grid
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Utilities and municipalities are facing a challenge as the country’s legacy power grid, engineered for one-way energy delivery from centralised suppliers to end-users, must rapidly evolve to meet a new paradigm.

Read more...
Shielding data centre growth from the looming power crunch
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Today’s digital economy is placing unprecedented strain on the power grid. The good news is that these challenges are not insurmountable. By adopting proactive strategies such as alternative power sources, infrastructure planning and software, operators can secure capacity, build resilient facilities and scale sustainably.

Read more...
Circuit breaker innovations
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Recent advancements in circuit breaker technology have seen a major step forward in setting new standards for efficiency and sustainability in data centres, industrial and commercial infrastructure.

Read more...
Buildings and microgrids for a greener future
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Buildings are no longer passive consumers of power. Structures of almost every size are evolving into dynamic energy ecosystems capable of generating, storing and distributing their own electricity. Forming part of this exciting transformation are microgrids.

Read more...
Africa’s brightest young battery innovators
Schneider Electric South Africa News
Schneider Electric and Enactus, the international NGO dedicated to inspiring students through entrepreneurial action, have announced the winners of the 2025 Energy Transition Battery Innovation Challenge, funded by the Schneider Electric Foundation. It empowers young innovators to design battery solutions addressing the region’s most pressing energy challenges.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved