System and method for providing inrush current limiting for induction motor starting

A pre-start controller, comprising:

• control circuitry configured to:
• initialize, during a pre-start process, at least one control signal to activate operation of a controller comprising a plurality of switches and configured to control voltage delivered to a motor by a voltage source;
• activate each switch of the plurality of switches of the controller;
• determine whether at least one phase current flowing through the plurality of switches of the controller satisfies a threshold current;
• deactivate, based on the at least one phase current flowing through the at least one switch satisfying the threshold current, the plurality of switches of the controller;
• determine, for a motor flux de-saturation process, an activation order for each phase of the plurality of phases, wherein a first phase of the plurality of phases having a highest phase current and a second phase of the plurality of phases having a second highest phase current have an earlier position in the activation order than a third phase of the plurality of phases having a lowest phase current;
• and
• activate, using the voltage at a first angle and based on the activation order, the first phase and the second phase to activate corresponding first and second switches of the plurality of switches to de-saturate a highest flux generated via the highest phase current, thereby limiting an inrush current provided when starting the motor.

A method, comprising:

• initializing, during a pre-start process and by utilizing a pre-start controller, at least one control signal to activate operation of a controller comprising a plurality of switches and configured to control voltage delivered to a motor by a voltage source;
• activating each switch of the plurality of switches of the controller;
• determining whether at least one phase current flowing through the plurality of switches of the controller satisfies a threshold current;
• deactivating, based on the at least one phase current flowing through the at least one switch satisfying the threshold current, the plurality of switches of the controller;
• determining, for a motor flux de-saturation process, an activation order for each phase of the plurality of phases, wherein a first phase of the plurality of phases having a highest phase current and a second phase of the plurality of phases having a second highest phase current have an earlier position in the activation order than a third phase of the plurality of phases having a lowest phase current;
• and
• activating, using the voltage at a first angle and based on the activation order, the first phase and the second phase to activate corresponding first and second switches of the plurality of switches to de-saturate a highest flux generated via the highest phase current, thereby limiting an inrush current provided when starting the motor.