A star delta starter brings the motor up to operating speed in two steps.

A soft start brings the motor up

Start-Delta and Softstarter are both the starting method of induction motors for reducing the
motor starting current. However, they are quite different in their functionalities and
constructions.

Start-Delta starter: It is a starting method that reduces the starting current and starting torque.
The device normally consists of three contactors, an overload relay and a timer for setting the
time in the star-position (starting position). For the starting period (time set by the timer), the
motors windings are connected in start (Y) and then the connection is changed to delta during
normal run. Because of the start connection, the starting current is 1/3rd of the DOL (Direct-On-
Line) starting; however the starting torque is also 1/3rd of the DOL starting torque. For this type
of starting, the motor windings must have both ends (2 terminals for each phase, total 6 ends)
terminated in the terminal.

Softstarter: A softstarter is an electronic device which controls the voltage during the starting
period with having thyristors in the main circuit. As the motor voltage is low during start with
soft starter starting, the starting current and starting torque is also low. It contains the motor
protection capability and hence separate motor protection relay is not required. It is also used to
control the motor start/stop. Soft starters can be used for both LV and MV voltage motors.

Using scalar control, also called "volts per hertz" control or v/f control, a drive essentially acts as
a power supply of a selected frequency and proportional voltage. At a given speed, the motor
performs much as it would when supplied by utility power. For each frequency setting, motor
operation is governed by a torque vs speed curve that is similar to the torque vs speed curve that
governs utility power operation.

With scalar control, V/Hz tuning adjustments are used to provide a family of torque vs speed
curves that are equivalent to the utility power torque vs speed curve over as wide a speed range
as possible. The drive's operating point is at the intersection of the selected drive torque vs speed
curve and the characteristic torque vs speed curve of the driven equipment.

Acceleration and deceleration ramp time adjustments are used to prevent acceleration and
deceleration currents from exceeding safe limits. Current limit adjustments are used to reduce the
speed of the motor rather than shut down in the event that the load torque exceeds the safe limit
of the drive.
Current measurement can also be used to automatically trim various tuning adjustments to
provide enhanced performance.

Properly tuned scalar drives with the best control enhancements can provide 150% of rated
torque to overcome static friction at zero speed and to accelerate the load. They can also provide
relatively smooth full torque operation at any set speed down to about 10% of base speed.

Vector control drives seek to dynamically regulate motor torque as directly and accurately as
possible. Speed is regulated indirectly by providing exactly the torque required to operate the
driven equipment at the desired speed. Vector control drives use a mathematical model of the
motor to dynamically determine the values of the essential operating and control parameters.
They are called "vector control" drives because this analysis is based on a vector representation
of current, voltage and magnetic flux.

One of the key elements of vector control is the analysis of the motor current. The current in an
induction motor is the combination of a magnetizing current vector and a torque-producing
current vector. Vector drives continuously monitor and analyze the motor current to determine
what voltage to apply at any given frequency to produce the optimum magnetizing current.

Various drive designs implement vector control in different ways. Some manufacturers consider
their designs to be sufficiently unique to be more appropriately identified by terms other than
"vector control." The best performance is generally achieved by providing a shaft speed and/or
position feedback signal, but "sensorless" vector drives provide performance that is sufficient for
many applications without using external feedback devices.

Vector drives, including sensorless models, can often provide significantly more than 150% of
rated torque to overcome static friction at zero speed and to accelerate the load. They can also
provide smooth full torque operation at any set speed down to zero speed or very close to zero
speed. To reliably hold an overhauling load in position at zero speed, speed/position feedback is
generally required. Vector drives provide excellent performance in terms of accurate static and
dynamic speed regulation and rapid response to sudden changes in load torque. Vector drives can
also provide torque regulation as an alternative to speed regulation.

They both serve the same function, which is to isolate a circuit either because you want the
power off or to isolate because there is a fault. They both use trip units which monitor the current
flowing through the brk and trip when it gets too high.

Difference is a ACB typically has what is called an iron frame, meaning it is pretty much all
metal. It comes in both low (600V and down US) and medium voltage (2400V-27KV) and
various amperage's. ACB's are designed to be completely tore down to the bare bones and
rebuilt.

A MCCB has a housing that is made from non conductive material. Available for low voltage
applications and comes in amperages from the single poles in the panel in your house to 3 phase
and about 4000A. MCCB's are not meant to come apart. You can get'em apart, but they really are
not meant for rebuilding.
Another term you may hear is ICB which is insulated case breakers. These are fairly new, last 8-
10 yrs in the US. They provide the best of both worlds, complete maintainability and a non
conductive housing. These are available for low voltage applications and amperage wise just
over 6000A

You can open and close both electrically and mechanically. Although with the MCCB adding
this option typically cannot be done in the field.

A MCCB is basically an "air" breaker, it just has everything crammed in a smaller footprint.

What is the difference between the switching capacities Icu (rated ultimate short-circuit breaking capacity)
and Ics (rated service short-circuit breaking capacity)?
To which value has the circuit-breaker to be chosen?
 
 

The difference between switching capacity Icu (rated ultimate short-circuit breaking capacity) and Ics
(rated service short-circuit breaking capacity) is in the IEC 60947-2, part 8.3.4 and 8.3.5.

The test sequence for  rated ultimate short-circuit breaking capacity Icu is I-O-t-CO, i.e. the switch has to
switch off a short-circuit, stays off for 3 minutes and then it is switched again on this short-circuit in order
to switch it off. In this case the overload characteristic curve can change for a longer period of time and
the switch does not have to have the full current-carrying capacity any longer.

The rated service short-circuit breaking capacity Ics has the following test sequence: O-t-CO-t-CO i.e.
switch off the short-circuit, 3 minutes break, switch on the existing short-circuit and switch it off again,
again 3 minutes break, switch again on the existing short-circuit and switch it off again. After that, the
circuit-breaker must be able to carry the full current and the overload characteristic curve must not
change permanently. 

It's up to the planner to decide which value (Icu or Ics) of the circuit-breaker to choose.