Motor starter for synchronous machine

A motor starter for a synchronous machine including a rotor and a plurality of stator phase windings comprising:

• a plurality of wye configuration switches each coupled to a common node and structured to be coupled to a stator phase winding of the plurality of stator phase windings;
• a plurality of delta configuration switches each structured to be coupled to two stator phase windings of the plurality of stator phase windings;
• and
• a controller structured to operate the synchronous machine in a startup mode and a steady state mode, wherein the startup mode includes opening each switch of the plurality of wye configuration switches and toggling each switch of the plurality of delta configuration switches effective to provide a modified AC power to the plurality of stator phase windings, wherein the steady state mode includes opening the plurality of delta configuration switches, and wherein the controller transitions from startup mode to steady state mode in response to determining the rotor is rotating at a synchronous speed.

A method for starting a synchronous machine coupled to a high inertia load comprising:

• operating a motor starter including a plurality of wye semiconductor switches each coupled between a common node and one stator phase winding of a plurality of stator phase windings, and a plurality of delta semiconductor switches each coupled between two stator phase windings of the plurality of stator phase windings;
• arranging the plurality of stator phase windings in a delta configuration using the motor starter;
• receiving an unmodified AC power from a power source including a first line-to-line voltage;
• providing a modified AC power to the plurality of stator phase windings using the motor starter, the modified AC power including a winding voltage across each of the plurality of stator phase windings greater than a value equal to the first line-to-line voltage divided by the square root of three;
• determining an angular speed of a rotor of the synchronous machine is equal to a synchronous speed;
• and
• arranging the plurality of stator phase windings in a wye configuration using the motor starter in response to determining the angular speed of the rotor is equal to the synchronous speed.