Killark Motor Starters
Killark motor starters are made for the hazardous, harsh environments where they control and protect motors with reliable dependability. Safety is first and foremost for motor control in locations like oil and gas, chemical processing, and mining—where a modest mistake can have disastrous consequences. That’s why Killark motor starters are built tough for the rugged conditions they face: corrosive atmospheres, dust, moisture—all the poor conditions that can lead other equipment to fail. Yet even if equipment were to fail, it must do so without endangering personnel or allowing anything to escalate into a situation that threatens the safety of the public.
Integrating these motor starters into hazardous location electrical systems is uncomplicated. The design makes them user-friendly, allowing for easy installation and maintenance. The critical protection they afford motors ensures safe, reliable operation in extreme conditions, allowing them to continue working even in environments that test the limits of equipment. Killark motor starters have the toughness and safety features necessary for use in explosive atmospheres and harsh industrial settings and provide the protection that's essential for any motor working in a hazardous location.
Motor Starters, Soft Starters and VFDs
Motor Starters
Motor starters safely start and stop a motor in industrial applications. They are designed with a contactor, overload and circuit protection. They are used when basic motor control is required, where torque on the motor is not a concern and speed control is not needed. The advantages of motor starters include: lower cost, allows for remote operation, allows for monitoring of motor state (with the use of auxiliary contacts) and they are safe and efficient. The disadvantages include: high inrush current that can cause fuses to blow and breakers to trip if the inrush is too high, and the starter will allow a full torque to start the motor which can cause the motor to ramp up to full speed very quickly potentially causing the motor to wear and degrade prematurely.
Soft Starters
Soft starters protect motors from inrush current by gently ramping up the motor to full speed. They provide all of the same functions as a traditional motor starter. The advantages of soft starters include: they are less expensive than a VFD when only startup control is needed, they are a smaller system than a VFD where space is a concern and they prevent unwanted torque upon startup, prolonging the life of the motor. The disadvantages include: they are more expensive than a traditional motor starter and they do not allow for full speed control.
VFDs
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) allow for the slow ramp up of a motor during startup and the slowing down of the motor during shutdown. They also allow for full speed control during the entire run cycle of the motor. VFDs provide the same functions as both the traditional motor starters and soft starters. The advantages of VFDs include: full speed control (start, stop and in-between), more custom control and monitoring, energy savings due to efficient motor usage and less wear and tear on the motors. The disadvantages include: they are more expensive and larger than other motor control options and they generate heat that may require fans or AC units.