1

ROTATING MAGNETIC FIELD

AHMAD ZAWAWI BIN JAMALUDDIN

ATZROULNIZAM BIN ABU
MARINE ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY
UniKL-MIMET
 2

Preliminary notes
AC machines are AC motors and AC generators.
There are two types of AC machines:
Synchronous machines – the magnetic field current is supplied by a
separate DC power source;
Induction machines – the magnetic field current is supplied by magnetic
induction (transformer action) into their field windings.
The field circuits of most AC machines are located on their rotors.
Every AC (or DC) motor or generator has two parts: rotating part (rotor)
and a stationary part (stator).
 3

The rotating magnetic field

The basic idea of an electric motor is to generate two magnetic fields:
rotor magnetic field and stator magnetic field and make the stator field
rotating. In this situation, the rotor will constantly turning to align its
magnetic field with the stator field.
The fundamental principle of AC machine operation is to make a 3-
phase set of currents, each of equal magnitude and with a phase
difference of 120o, to flow in a 3-phase winding. In this situation, a
constant magnitude rotating field will be generated.
The 3-phase winding consists of 3 separate windings spaced 120o
apart around the surface of the machine.
 4

The rotating magnetic field

Three-phase stator winding to which three-phase ac is applied

 5

The rotating magnetic field

Waveform of the three-phase ac current applied to the stator windings

 
These waveforms are 120o out of phase with each other. Actually the waveform
can represent either the three alternating magnetic fields generated by the three
phases, or the currents in the phases.
 6

The rotating magnetic field

At point 1:
Waveform C is positive and waveform B is negative. The current flow
flows in opposite direction through phases B and C. The polarity is
shown that B1 is a north pole and B is a south pole, and C is a north
pole and C1 is a south pole. No current flowing through phase A, its
magnetic field is zero. The magnetic fields leaving poles B1 and C will
move toward the nearest south poles C1 and B as shown. The
magnetic fields of B and C are equal in amplitude; the resultant
magnetic field will lie between two fields and will have the direction
shown.

At point 2:
 
60o later, the input current waveforms to phases A and B are equal and
opposite, and waveform C is zero. This change in current value per
phase causes the flux to shift 60o in a clockwise direction. The resultant
magnetic field has rotate through 60o as well.
 7

The rotating magnetic field

At point 3:
 
Waveform B is zero, and the resultant magnetic field has rotated through
another 60o.
 
Following this procedure for one complete cycle (corresponding from
point 1 to 7) will show that the magnetic field rotates 360o, or one
complete revolution, in a clockwise direction.
 
The conclusion is that the application of three-phase ac to three winding
symmetrically spaced around a stator causes a rotating magnetic field to
be generated.
 
Two-phase system will also generate a rotating magnetic field. In fact,
any number of phases will generate a rotating field. However, single
phase system will not start, therefore, special arrangements are
necessary in single-phase ac motors to make them operate properly.
 8

The rotating magnetic field

Consider a simple 3-phase stator containing .
three coils, each 1200 apart. Such a winding will
produce only one north and one south magnetic x x
pole; therefore, this motor would be called a two-
pole motor.
Assume that the currents in three coils are:
i (t )  I sin t . .
 aa ' M

i
 bb ' (t )  I M sin   t  120 0
 (6.4.1)
 x
icc ' (t )  I M sin  t  240 
0

Into the page

The directions of currents are indicated.
Therefore, the current through the coil aa’ produces the magnetic field intensity
H aa ' (t )  H M sin t 0 (6.4.2)
 9

The rotating magnetic field

where the magnitude of the magnetic field intensity is
changing over time, while 00 is the spatial angle of the
magnetic field intensity vector. The direction of the field
can be determined by the right-hand rule.
Note, that while the magnitude of the magnetic field
intensity Haa’ varies sinusoidally over time, its direction
is always constant. Similarly, the magnetic fields
through two other coils are
H bb ' (t )  H M sin  t  120  120
(6.5.1)
H cc ' (t )  H M sin  t  240  240
The magnetic flux densities resulting from these magnetic field intensities can be
found from
B  H (6.5.2)
 10

The rotating magnetic field

Baa ' (t )   H M sin t 0
Bbb ' (t )   H M sin  t  120  120 (6.6.1)

Bcc ' (t )   H M sin  t  240  240

At the time t = 0 (t = 0) :
Baa ' (t )  0 (6.6.2)

Bbb ' (t )   H M sin  120  120 (6.6.3)

Bcc ' (t )   H M sin  240  240 (6.6.4)

The total magnetic field from all three coils added together will be
 3   3 
Bnet  Baa '  Bbb '  Bcc '  0     H M  120    H M  240  1.5 H M   90 (6.6.5)
 2   2 
 11

The rotating magnetic field

At the time when t = 900:
Baa ' (t )   H M 0 (6.7.1)

Bbb ' (t )   H M sin  120  120  0.5 H M 120 (6.7.2)

Bcc ' (t )   H M sin  240  240  0.5 H M 240 (6.7.3)

The total magnetic field from all three coils added together will be
Bnet  Baa '  Bbb '  Bcc '   H M 0   0.5 H M  120   0.5 H M  240
 1.5 H M 0 (6.7.4)

We note that the magnitude of

the magnetic field is constant
but its direction changes.
Therefore, the constant
magnitude magnetic field is
rotating in a counterclockwise
direction.
 The rotating magnetic field: 12

proof
The magnetic flux density in the stator at any .
arbitrary moment is given by
x x
Bnet (t )  Baa ' (t )  Bbb ' (t )  Bcc ' (t )
  H M sin t 0   H M sin  t  120  120
  H M sin  t  240  240 (6.8.1)

Each vector can be represented as a sum of x

. .
and y components:
x
Bnet (t )   H M sin txˆ
3
0.5 H M sin  t  120   xˆ   H M sin  t  120   yˆ
2 (6.8.2)
3
0.5 H M sin  t  240  xˆ   H M sin  t  240   yˆ
2
 The rotating magnetic field: 13

proof
Which can be rewritten in form
Bnet (t )    H M sin t  0.5 H M sin  t  120   0.5 H M sin  t  240  xˆ
 3 3 
  H M sin  t  120    H M sin  t  240   yˆ
 2 2 
 1 3 1 3 
   H M sin t   H M sin t   H M cos t   H M sin t   H M cos t  xˆ
 4 4 4 4 
 3 3 3 3 
   H M sin t   H M cos t   H M sin t   H M cos t  yˆ (6.9.1)
 4 4 4 4 
Finally: Bnet (t )   1.5 BM sin t  xˆ   1.5 BM cos t  yˆ (6.9.2)

The net magnetic field has a constant magnitude and rotates counterclockwise at
the angular velocity .
frequency and speed of field 14

rotation
The stator rotating magnetic field can be
represented as a north pole and a south pole.
These magnetic poles complete one mechanical
rotation around the stator surface for each
electrical cycle of current. Therefore, the
mechanical speed of rotation of the magnetic field
equals to the electrical frequency.
f e [ Hz ] f m [rps] 
two poles (6.10.1)
e [rad / s ]m [ rad / s]

The magnetic field passes the windings of a two-pole stator in the following
counterclockwise sequence: a-c’-b-a’-c-b’. What if 3 additional windings will be
added? The new sequence will be: a-c’-b-a’-c-b’-a-c’-b-a’-c-b’ and, when 3-phase
current is applied to the stator, two north poles and two south poles will be
produced. In this winding, a pole moves only halfway around the stator.
frequency and speed of field 15

rotation
The relationship
between the electrical
angle e (current’s
phase change) and the
mechanical angle m
(at which the magnetic
field rotates) in this
situation is:
 e  2 m (6.11.1)

Therefore, for a four-pole stator:

f e [ Hz ] f m [rps ] 
 four poles (6.11.2)
e [rad / s ]m [rad / s ]
frequency and speed of field 16

rotation
For an AC machine with P poles in its stator:
P
e  m (6.12.1)
2
P
fe  fm (6.12.2)
2
P
e  m (6.12.3)
2
Relating the electrical frequency to the motors speed in rpm:

P
fe  nm (6.12.4)
120
Reversing the direction of field 17

rotation
If the current in any two of the three coils is swapped, the direction of
magnetic field rotation will be reversed. Therefore, to change the direction
of rotation of an AC motor, we need to switch the connections of any two
of the three coils.
In this situation, the net magnetic flux density in the stator is
Bnet (t )  Baa ' (t )  Bbb ' (t )  Bcc ' (t )
 BM sin t 0  BM sin  t  240  120  BM sin  t  120  240 (6.13.1)

 3 
Bnet (t )  BM sin txˆ  0.5BM sin  t  240   xˆ   BM sin  t  240   yˆ
 2 
 3 
  0.5BM sin  t  120   x  
ˆ BM sin  t  120   yˆ (6.13.2)
 2 
Reversing the direction of field 18

rotation
Bnet (t )  BM sin t  0.5BM sin  t  240   0.5BM sin  t  120   xˆ
 3 3 
 BM sin  t  240   BM sin  t  120   yˆ (6.14.1)
 2 2 
Therefore:
 1 3 1 3 
Bnet (t )  BM sin t  BM sin t  BM cos t  BM sin t  BM cos t  xˆ
 4 4 4 4 
 3 3 3 3 
  BM sin t  BM cos t  BM sin t  BM cos t  yˆ (6.14.2)
 4 4 4 4 
Finally:
Bnet (t )   1.5 BM sin t  xˆ   1.5 BM cos t  yˆ (6.14.3)

The net magnetic field has a constant magnitude and rotates clockwise at the
angular velocity . Switching the currents in two stator phases reverses the
direction of rotation in an AC machine.
Magnetomotive force and flux 19

distribution on an AC machine
In the previous discussion, we assumed that the flux produced by a stator inside
an AC machine behaves the same way it does in a vacuum. However, in real
machines, there is a ferromagnetic rotor in the center with a small gap between a
rotor and a stator.

A rotor can be cylindrical

(such machines are said to
have non-salient poles), or it
may have pole faces
projecting out from it (salient
poles). We will restrict our
discussion to non-salient
pole machines only
(cylindrical rotors).
 Magnetomotive force and flux 20

distribution on an AC machine
The reluctance of the air gap is much higher than
the reluctance of either the rotor or the stator;
therefore, the flux density vector B takes the
shortest path across the air gap: it will be
perpendicular to both surfaces of rotor and stator.
To produce a sinusoidal voltage in this machine,
the magnitude of the flux density vector B must
vary sinusoidally along the surface of the air gap.
Therefore, the magnetic field intensity (and the
mmf) will vary sinusoidally along the air gap
surface.
 Magnetomotive force and flux 21

distribution on an AC machine
One obvious way to achieve a sinusoidal variation
of mmf along the air gap surface would be to
distribute the turns of the winding that produces
the mmf in closely spaced slots along the air gap
surface and vary the number of conductors in
each slot sinusoidally, according to:
nc  N c cos  (6.17.1)

where Nc is the number of conductors at the angle

n0
of 00 and  is the angle along the surface.
Ideal mmf
However, in practice, only a finite number of slots
and integer numbers of conductors are possible.
As a result, real mmf will approximate the ideal
mmf if this approach is taken.

mmf resulting
from the winding
 22

Induced voltage in AC machines

Just as a 3-phase set of currents in a stator can produce a

rotating magnetic field, a rotating magnetic field can
produce a 3-phase set of voltages in the coils of a stator.
 The induced voltage in a single 23

coil on a two-pole stator

Assume that a rotor with a sinusoidally distributed
magnetic field rotates in the center of a stationary
coil.
We further assume that the magnitude of the flux density B
in the air gap between the rotor and the stator varies stator
sinusoidally with mechanical angle, while its direction is coil
always radially outward.
Note, that this is an ideal flux
distribution.
The magnitude of the flux
density vector at a point
around the rotor is

B  BM cos  (6.19.1)

Where  is the angle from the

Flux density in a gap
direction of peak flux intensity.
 The induced voltage in a single 24

coil on a two-pole stator

Since the rotor is rotating within the stator at an angular velocity m, the
magnitude of the flux density vector at any angle  around the stator is
B  BM cos  t    (6.20.1)

The voltage induced in a wire is

eind   v  B   l (6.20.2)

Here v is the velocity of the wire relative to the magnetic field

B is the magnetic flux density vector
l is the length of conductor in the magnetic field
However, this equation was derived for a moving wire in a stationary magnetic
field. In our situation, the wire is stationary and the magnetic field rotates.
Therefore, the equation needs to be modified: we need to change reference such
way that the field appears as stationary.
The induced voltage in a single 25

coil on a two-pole stator

The total voltage induced in the coil is a sum of the voltages induced in each of its
four sides. These voltages are:
1. Segment ab:  = 1800; assuming that B is radially outward from the rotor, the
angle between v and B is 900, so
eba   v  B   I  vBM l cos  mt  180  (6.21.1)

2. Segment bc: the voltage will be zero since the vectors (v x B) and l are
perpendicular.
ecb   v  B   I  0 (6.21.2)

3. Segment cd:  = 00; assuming that B is radially outward from the rotor, the
angle between v and B is 900, so
edc   v  B   I  vBM l cos  mt  (6.21.3)

4. Segment da: the voltage will be zero since the vectors (v x B) and l are
perpendicular.
ead   v  B   I  0 (6.21.4)
The induced voltage in a single 26

coil on a two-pole stator

Therefore, the total voltage on the coil is:

eind  eba  edc  vBM l cos(m t  180)  vBM l cos m t

 cos    cos      2vBM l cos mt (6.22.1)

Since the velocity of the end conductor is v  rm (6.22.2)

Then: eind  2rlBM m cos mt (6.22.3)

The flux passing through a coil is   2rlBM (6.22.4)

Therefore: eind  m cos m t (6.22.5)

Finally, if the stator coil has NC turns of wire, the total induced voltage in the coil:

eind  N Cm cos mt (6.22.6)

The induced voltage in a 3-phase 27

set of coils
In three coils, each of NC turns, placed around the rotor magnetic field, the
induced in each coil will have the same magnitude and phases differing by 1200:

eaa ' (t )  NCm cos mt

ebb ' (t )  N Cm cos  mt  120  (6.23.1)

ecc ' (t )  NCm cos  mt  240 

A 3-phase set of currents can generate

a uniform rotating magnetic field in a
machine stator, and a uniform rotating
magnetic field can generate a 3-phase
set of voltages in such stator.
The rms voltage in a 3-phase 28

stator
The peak voltage in any phase of a 3-phase stator is:

Emax  N Cm (6.24.1)

For a 2-pole stator: m  e    2 f (6.24.2)

Thus: Emax  2 N C f (6.24.3)

The rms voltage in any phase of a 2-pole 3-phase stator is:

2
EA  N C f  2 NC f (6.24.4)
2
The rms voltage at the terminals will depend on the type of stator connection: if
the stator is Y-connected, the terminal voltage will be 3E A . For the delta
connection, it will be just EA.
 29

Induced voltage: Example

Example 6.1: The peak flux density of the rotor magnetic field in a simple 2-pole
3-phase generator is 0.2 T; the mechanical speed of rotation is 3600 rpm; the
stator diameter is 0.5 m; the length of its coil is 0.3 m and each coil consists of 15
turns of wire. The machine is Y-connected.
a)What are the 3-phase voltages of the generator as a function of time?
b)What is the rms phase voltage of the generator?
c)What is the rms terminal voltage of the generator?

The flux in this machine is given by

  2rlB  dlB  0.5  0.3  0.2  0.03Wb
The rotor speed is
3600  2 rad
  377
60 s
 30

Induced voltage: Example

a) The magnitude of the peak phase voltage is
Emax  NC  15  0.03  377  169.7V
and the three phase voltages are:
eaa ' (t )  169.7 sin  377t 
ebb ' (t )  169.7 sin  377t  120 
ecc ' (t )  169.7 sin  377t  240 
b) The rms voltage of the generator is
Emax 169.7
EA    120V
2 2
c) For a Y-connected generator, its terminal voltage is

VT  3 120  208V
 31

Induced torque in an AC machine

In an AC machine under normal operating conditions two magnetic fields are
present: a field from the rotor and a field from the stator circuits. The interaction of
these magnetic fields produces the torque in the machine.
Assuming a sinusoidal stator flux distribution
peaking in the upward direction
BS ( )  BS sin  (6.27.1)

(where BS is the magnitude of the peak flux

density) and a single coil of wire mounted on
the rotor, the induced force on the first
conductor (on the right) is
F  i  l × B   ilBS sin  (6.27.2)

The torque on this conductor is (counter-

clockwise)
 ind ,1  r × F  rilBS sin  (6.27.3)
 32

Induced torque in an AC machine

The induced force on the second conductor (on the left) is

F  i  l × B   ilBS sin  (6.28.1)

The torque on this conductor is (counter-clockwise)

 ind ,2  r × F  rilBS sin  (6.28.2)

Therefore, the torque on the rotor loop is

 ind  2rilBS sin  (6.28.3)

We may notice the following:

1. The current i flowing in the rotor coil produces its own magnetic field HR, whose
magnitude is proportional to the current and direction can be found via the RHR.
2. The angle between the peak of the stator flux density BS and the peak of the
magnetic field intensity HR is .
 33

Induced torque in an AC machine

Furthermore,
  180   (6.29.1)

sin   sin  180     sin  (6.29.2)

Therefore, the torque on the loop is

 ind  KH R BS sin  (6.29.3)

Here K is a constant dependent on the

machine design. Therefore:

 ind  KH R  BS (6.29.4)

Since BR   H R (6.29.5)

 ind  kBR  BS (6.29.6)

 34

Induced torque in an AC machine

As before, in (6.29.5) k = K/ is a constant dependent on the machine design.
The equation (6.29.5) can be applied to any AC machine, not just to simple one-
loop rotors. Since this equation is used for qualitative studies of torque, the
constant k is not important.
Assuming no saturation, the net magnetic field is a vector sum of rotor and stator
fields:
Bnet  BR  BS (6.30.1)

Combining the last equation with (6.29.5), we arrive at

 ind  kBR   Bnet  BR   k  BR  Bnet   k  BR  BR  (6.30.2)

Since the cross-product of any vector with itself is zero:

 ind  kBR  Bnet (6.30.3)

 35

Induced torque in an AC machine

Assuming that the angle between the rotor BR and stator BS magnetic fields is :

 ind  kBR Bnet sin  (6.31.1)

Assume that the rotor of the AC machine is

rotating counter-clockwise and the
configuration of magnetic fields is shown. The
combination of (6.30.3) and the RHR shows
that the torque will be clockwise, i.e. opposite
to the direction of rotation of the rotor.
Therefore, this machine must be acting as a
generator.
 36

Winding insulation in AC machines

Winding insulation is of critical importance. If insulation of a
motor or generator breaks down, the machine shorts out and
the repair is expensive and sometimes even impossible.
Most insulation failures are due to overheating.
To limit windings temperature, the maximum power that can
be supplied by the machine must be limited in addition to the
proper ventilation.
ROT: the life expectancy of a motor with a given type of
insulation is halved for each 100C rise above the rated
winding temperature.
AC machine power flows and 37

losses
The efficiency of an AC machine is defined as
Pout
 100% (6.33.1)
Pin

Since the difference between the input and output powers of a machine is due to
the losses occurring inside it, the efficiency is

Pin  Ploss
 100% (6.33.2)

Pin
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AC machine power losses

Losses occurring in an AC machine can be divided into four categories:

1. Electrical or Copper losses

These losses are resistive heating losses that occur in the stator (armature)
winding and in the rotor (field) winding of the machine. For a 3-phase machine, the
stator copper losses and synchronous rotor copper losses are:

PSCL  3I A2 RA (6.34.1)

PRCL  3I F2 RF (6.34.2)

Where IA and IF are currents flowing in each armature phase and in the field
winding respectively. RA and RF are resistances of each armature phase and of the
field winding respectively. These resistances are usually measured at normal
operating temperature.
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AC machine power losses

2. Core losses
These losses are the hysteresis losses and eddy current losses. They vary as B2
(flux density) and as n1.5 (speed of rotation of the magnetic field).

3. Mechanical losses
There are two types of mechanical losses: friction (friction of the bearings) and
windage (friction between the moving parts of the machine and the air inside the
casing). These losses are often lumped together and called the no-load rotational
loss of the machine. They vary as the cube of rotation speed n3.

4. Stray (miscellaneous) losses

These are the losses that cannot be classified in any of the previous categories.
They are usually due to inaccuracies in modeling. For many machines, stray
losses are assumed as 1% of full load.
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The power-flow diagram

On of the most convenient technique to account for power
losses in a machine is the power-flow diagram.
AC generator:

The mechanical power is input,

and then all losses but cupper
are subtracted. The remaining
power Pconv is ideally converted
to electricity:
Pconv   ind m (6.36.1)

AC motor:
Power-flow diagram is simply
reversed.
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Voltage regulation
Voltage regulation (VR) is a commonly used figure of merit for generators:

Vnl  V fl
VR  100% (6.37.1)
V fl

Here Vnl and Vfl are the no-load full-load terminal voltages of the
generator. VR is a rough measure of the generator’s voltage-current
characteristic. A small VR (desirable) implies that the generator’s output
voltage is more constant for various loads.
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Speed regulation
Speed regulation (SR) is a commonly used figure of merit for motors:

nnl  n fl
SR  100% (6.38.1)
n fl
nl   fl
SR  100% (6.38.2)
 fl

Here nnl and nfl are the no-load full-load speeds of the motor. SR is a
rough measure of the motor’s torque-speed characteristic. A positive SR
implies that a motor’s speed drops with increasing load. The magnitude of
SR reflects a steepness of the motor’s speed-torque curve.