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Rotating Magnetic Fields

1 Physical Structure of Rotating Magnetic Field Machines


All rotating field machines have a stationary member, called the stator, which is a hollow circular
cylinder of laminated magnetic material, typically silicon steel. Usually, but not always, the inner
surface of the stator has slots into which the conductors forming the stator windings are placed. A round
rotor machine has a cylindrical rotor as in Fig.1-1(in most practical cases the rotor is also slotted).
Typically the effect of the slots on the shape of the main magnetic field is negligible and the machine of
Fig 1-1 is considered to be a uniform air gap machine. The length of the effective air gap is usually
increased from the physical air gap to compensate for the average effect of the slots. There are also
rotating field machines that have a salient pole rotor and a non-uniform air gap as in Fig 1.2 but the
following material will be confined to uniform air gap machines.
Yoke
Slots
S

Rotor
Yoke

Teeth

Shaft
Winding

Physical
Air Gap

Fig. 1-1 Idealized Round-Rotor Rotating Magnetic Field Machine

2 Air Gap Magnetic Field Spatial Distribution


A major function of the stator winding is to create a rotating magnetic field in the air gap which
moves around the air gap at a uniform speed called synchronous speed. As a first step in understanding
how this is accomplished, consider the determination of the magnetic field created by a single N turn
winding where all N-turns are concentrated in two slots as shown in Fig. 2.1. The fundamental laws
governing the field are Ampere's Law and Gauss' Law. An appropriate integration path for Ampere's
Law is illustrated in Fig.2.1. The path crosses the air gap at two points 180 apart where Gauss' Law and
symmetry dictate that the magnetic field has the same amplitude but opposite sign (directed from rotor
to stator at one crossing and from stator to rotor at the other). In most practical cases the permeability

Rotating Magnetic Fields

ofthe iron is so much greater than air that the contribution of the portions of the integration path in the
iron are very small compared to the two air gaps. In addition the high permeability of the iron causes the
Yoke
Slots

+
Rotor
Yoke
Teeth

Shaft

Winding

Physical
Air Gap

Fig. 1-2 Idealized Salient Pole Rotating Magnetic Field Machine

N-Conductors
+
+

Amperes Law
Integration Path

Stator
Yoke

Air Gap Length = g


Rotor
Yoke

.
.
N-Conductors

Fig. 2-1 Idealized Salient Pole Rotating Magnetic Field Machine


field intensity H and flux density B to be perpendicular to the iron surfaces and hence parallel to the
integration path. Under these conditions Ampere's Law results in
Ni = 2H()g = 2mmfg()

2-1

where
i = winding current (may be time varying) (amp)
H() = H-field in the air gap at the angle (amp-turns/meter)
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Rotating Magnetic Fields

mmfg () = air gap mmf at the angle

(amp-turns)

The mmf is widely used in machines work since it is so directly related to the winding turns and current.
It is a spatially varying quantity and if the current is time varying it also varies with time. For the
concentrated coil winding in Fig 2-1 the spatial variation is readily determined by allowing the
integration path to move to different values of without changing shape. In this simple winding it is
clear that different values of all yield the same result and that the resulting spatial variation is the
rectangular wave shown in fig 2-2.

mmf

+
N-Conductors +

Ni/2

N-Conductors

..

Fig. 2-2 Spatial Distribution of MMF for Two Pole Concentrated Coil Winding
+

N/2-Conductors
mmf

N/2-Conductors +

Ni/2

. .
N/3-Conductors N/3-Conductors
+ + + N/3-Conductors
mmf

Ni/6
Ni/2

. . .
Fig. 2-3 Spatial Distribution of MMF for Two Pole Distributed Windings

Rotating Magnetic Fields

While concentrated coil windings are used in some machines, most rotating field machines use
distributed windings to reduce the spatial harmonic content of the resulting mmf wave. Two examples
are shown in Fig 2-3.
3 Multipole Windings
All of the windings in section 2 have only two changes in the direction of the mmf over the full 2
radians of rotor circumference. Each of the two regions where the mmf has one polarity are called
magnetic poles, one a north pole and the other a south pole, and the windings are referred to as two pole
windings. It is possible to create windings that have larger numbers of poles with pole numbers as large
as 40 or more being useful in some types of machine. With respect to rotating fields, the pole number
(number of poles) is a primary quantity controlling the speed of rotation of the rotating magnetic field
with higher pole numbers creating slower rotation. Figure 3-1 illustrates two simple examples of 4-pole
windings. Several properties of the spatial mmf distribution of symmetric windings in uniform air gap
machines are illustrated by the examples in Figs 2-2, 2-3 and 3-1 and summarized below:
1) Windings with any even number of poles are possible by simply repeating the two pole winding
pattern as many time as needed.
2) To repeat the winding pattern requires shortening the pitch (the distance between the two sides of
a winding coil) of the winding. The angular span of one pole, called the pole pitch, is
2
pole pitch = P
where P is the pole number.

(radians)

mmf

N-Conductors +

Ni/4

N-Conductors +

N/3-Conductors N/3-Conductors
+ + + N/3-Conductors

.
.
.
+

Ni/12

mmf

.
.
.

Ni/4

Rotating Magnetic Fields

Fig. 3-1 Spatial Distribution of MMF for Four Pole Windings


3) The spatial peak of the mmf wave is equal to Ni/P, the total number of turns times the current/
total number of poles.
4 Winding Representation using Fourier Series
All of the mmf distributions in rotating machines are periodic functions, at the very least repeating
themselves over 2 radians at where one has returned to the starting point. In higher pole number
machines the mmf wave repeats each two poles and thus has a period given by
4
2
period = P/2 = P = two pole pitches

4-1

Most often when dealing with periodic functions it is useful to utilize the concept of the Fourier Series,
which, simply stated, says that any periodic function can be expressed as an infinite sum of sinusoids.
The period of the first term, called the fundamental component, is equal to the period of the wave being
represented. The remaining terms, called the harmonics have shorter periods, falling off inversely as the
order of the harmonic (i.e. the second term, called the second harmonic, has a period one half that of the
fundamental). Figure 4-1 illustrates the waveforms resulting from adding in the first five terms of the
Fourier series of a rectangular wave of period 2.

Fundamental + 3rd + 5th


+ 7th + 9th
Fundamental + 3rd + 5th
+ 7th
Fundamental + 3rd + 5th

Fundamental + 3rd

Fundamental

Rotating Magnetic Fields

Fig. 4-1 Truncated Fourier series for Rectangular Wave


The equation for the five term series in the figure is

1
1
1
1
mmf() = sin + 3 sin 3 + sin 5 + sin 7 + sin 9
5
7
9

4-2

and the amplitude of the rectangular wave being approximated is /4 = 0.785. Note how the addition of
each harmonic carries the sum more and more toward a rectangular shape and how for some purposes
one might be able terminate the series with little loss of information.
The calculation of the amplitude and phase of the fundamental and harmonics of a specific wave is a
process outlined in most basic EE textbooks and will not be explained here. In fact, this calculation
process is not of direct concern for our goal of understanding rotating fields. For our immediate
purposes it is sufficient to simply recognize that the winding mmf of any winding can be expressed in
terms of the fundamental and harmonics of a Fourier series.
5 Sinusoidal Excitation of a Single Phase Winding
To initiate the concept of a rotating mmf wave, consider a single winding excited by a sinusoidally
time varying current. To allow generally applicable results, the winding will be characterized by the
fundamental Fourier series component allowing one to write the expression
P
mmf(,t) = Nf Im cos cos et
2

5-1

where
Nf Im = peak value of fundamental component of winding mmf
Im = maximum value of winding current
P = pole number
e = 2f = electrical radian frequency of source
In this form the mmf is a stationary, spatially sinusoidally distributed wave with an amplitude varying
sinusoidally in time. Or in short, a stationary, pulsating wave.
This stationary wave can be reinterpreted as two oppositely traveling waves by using the following
identity for the product of two cosine waves
1
1
cos A cos B = 2 cos (A B) + cos (A +B)
2
In engineering terms this expression states that a sine wave of frequency A, sinusoidally

5-2

Rotating Magnetic Fields

amplitude modulated at a frequency B gives rise to two sine waves of frequencies A + B and A
B, often called the upper and lower sideband frequencies. Applying 5-2 using the symbols of 5-1
yields
N I
N I
P
P
mmf(,t) = f2 m cos( 2 + et) + f2 m cos( 2 et)

5-3

Viewed as spatial waves (i.e., as functions of ) the two components of 5-3 are sinusoidal waves
N I
with fixed amplitudes ( f2 m ) and which have steadily increasing phase angles (et). A sine wave
with a fixed amplitude and an increasing phase angle is a traveling wave or, in our case a rotating
magnetic field. Clearly the two components move in opposite directions since the sign of the terms is
opposite for the two components. The speed of rotation can be determined from the observation that at
the peak of the sinusoid the argument of the is zero. Thus, at the peak of the second term
P
( 2 et) = 0

5-4

Differentiating, to find the speed d/dt


P d
( 2 dt e) = 0

5-5

and solving for the speed


d
2
= P e
5-6
dt
implying that the wave described by the second term rotates forward. The first term yields the same
result except for a minus sign and represents a backward rotating wave.

Total Wave = 2.0 cos cos et

Forward Wave = 1.0 cos( et)

Backward Wave = 1.0 cos( + et)

Fig. 5-1 Forward and Backward Waves at et 45


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Rotating Magnetic Fields

Figure 5-1 gives a snapshot of the stationary pulsating wave and the forward and backward waves
at et equal to approximately 45. It is difficult to visualize how the two moving waves can sum up to
the stationary wave.

Start Movie

To assist in understanding this relationship a short movie entitled " Fwd-Bkwd Waves Movie"
has been prepared. Open the movie from the course website and use the cursor to change the value of
et) and observe the following points:
1) When the two traveling waves are aligned the pulsation is at its peak and equal to twice the traveling
wave peak..
2) When the two traveling waves have each moved 90 the pulsation is zero.
3) When the two traveling waves have each moved 180 the pulsation is at its negative peak and equal to
twice the traveling wave peak.
4) Run the movie in the automatic mode and observe how the two traveling waves model the pulsating
wave.
END

6 Influence of Pole Number on Rotation Speed


The speed of rotation of the forward wave is given in 5-6 and repeated here
d
2
= P e (radians/sec)
dt

6-1

Expressed in rpm the speed equation becomes (with e = 2fe)


d
60 120fe
2
=
2f
(rpm)
e
2 = P
dt
P

6-2

This are extremely important results illustrating that the speed of rotation of the magnetic field can be
controlled by varying the frequency of the excitation (fe) or by designing for different pole numbers.
Since the pole number must be an even integer only certain discrete speeds are attainable at any constant
frequency. For example, at 60 hz the attainable rotating field speeds are equal to 7200/P or 3600 rpm,
1800 rpm, 1200rpm, 900 rpm, 720 rpm, and so on.

Rotating Magnetic Fields

Start Movie

The mechanism by which the pole number influences the rotation speed is illustrated in a movie
called "Wave Speed Movie". The two waves depicted in the movie are
mmf2pole = cos ( et) (blue)

mmf4pole = cos (2 et) (red)

6-3

Open the movie from the course website and use the cursor to change the value of et to observe and
study the following points:
1) Moving the two pole field marker (blue) from zero to 6.28 (2), only moves the four pole field
marker (red) half as much to 3.14.
2) Note that moving the two pole field two pole pitches, also moves the four pole field two pole pitches.
Since the four pole, pole pitch is smaller (half as much), the four pole field moves a smaller distance.
3) Run the movie in the automatic mode and observe how the two pole field "outruns" the four pole
field.
END

7 Two Phase Rotating Field


Although single phase excitation producing both forward and backward rotating waves does have
application in single phase induction motors, eliminating the backward rotating field to create a pure
forward rotating wave is far more effective. This is accomplished by adding one or more windings
having their magnetic axes shifted in space and excited with currents shifted in time. The simplest (and
oldest) arrangement is the two phase winding consisting of two windings one half pole pitch apart in
space excited by two currents 90 apart in time.
P
mmfa(,t) = Nf Im cos cos et
2

7-1

P
mmfb(,t) = Nf Im sin sin et
2

7-2

Expanding each of these into forward and backward waves will show that the forward waves add and the
backward cancel to yield the rotating magnetic field
P
mmfa(,t) + mmfb(,t) = Nf Im cos ( et)
2

7-3

Rotating Magnetic Fields

Note that each winding has P-poles and that the sum of the two also has P-poles and that the two
windings carry currents which are 90 out of phase. Note that reversing either of the two currents will
cause the resultant wave to rotate in the opposite direction.

Start Movie

The mechanism by which the individual winding fields combine to produce the rotating field is
illustrated in a movie called "2 Ph Rot Fld Movie". The waves depicted in the movie are
mmfa = 1.5 cos cos et (blue)

mmfb = 1.5 sin sins et (red)

mmfa + mmfb= 1.5 cos cos et + 1.5 sin sins et (black)

7-4
7-5

Open the movie from the course website and use the cursor to change the value of et to observe and
study the following points:
1) When the axis of the total mmf (black vertical line) lies on the axis of one of the windings, all of the
rotating field mmf comes entirely from that winding. The amplitude of the rotating wave is therefore
equal to the peak value of either one of the windings.
2) When the axis of the total mmf is in between the winding axes both windings contribute to the total
mmf.
3) Run the movie in the automatic mode and observe how the two pulsating fields combine to produce
the rotating wave.
END

8 Three Phase Rotating Field


The two phase winding is quite adequate for production of a rotating field and was widely used in
the distant past. However, because of its superiority for power transmission, the three phase system is
nearly universally used. Using the same concept of arranging windings to cancel the backward fields, a
three phase winding employs three windings spaced two thirds pole pitch apart in space and three
currents 120 apart in time as follows
P
mmfa(,t) = Nf Im cos cos et
2

8-1

P
mmfb(,t) = Nf Im cos ( 120 ) cos (et 120 )
2

8-2

P
mmfc(,t) = Nf Im cos ( + 120 ) cos (et + 120 )
2

8-3

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Rotating Magnetic Fields

The trigonometry is more complicated but the result is similar to the two phase case
3
P
mmfa(,t) + mmfb(,t) + mmfc(,t) = Nf Im cos ( et)
2
2

8-4

the only difference being the 3/2 multiplier in the amplitude. Again reversing one current will reverse
the direction of the resultant rotating field.

Start Movie

The mechanism by which the individual winding fields combine to produce the rotating field is
illustrated in a movie called "3 Ph Rot Fld Movie". The waves depicted in the movie are
mmfa = cos cos et (blue)

8-5

mmfb = cos ( 120 ) cos (et 120 ) (red)

8.6

mmfc = cos ( 120 ) cos (et 120 ) (green)

8.7

mmfa + mmfb + mmfc = sum

8-8

(black)

Open the movie from the course website and use the cursor to change the value of et to observe and
study the following points:
1) When the axis of the total mmf (black vertical line) lies on the axis of one of the windings, there are
still contributions from all three phases. Verify that the amplitude of the rotating wave is equal to 3/2
times the peak value of either one of the windings.
2) Find a condition where only two phases contribute to the total.
3) Run the movie in the automatic mode and observe how the three pulsating fields combine to produce
the rotating wave.
END

9 Influence of Harmonics on the Rotating Field


The constant amplitude rotating fields of the preceding sections result from sinusoidally distributed
magnetic fields and are generally thought of as representing the fundamental component of the magnetic
field of real windings. To obtain the total magnetic field of a two phase or three phase the harmonics
must be added in. Because the harmonics are also sinusoids (of higher pole number) they also create
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Rotating Magnetic Fields

rotating fields or, in the case of the third and other triples in three phase windings, add to zero. The
rotation direction can be the same or opposite to the fundamental component.

Start Movie

An example of a three phase rotating field with fundamental, fifth and seventh harmonics is shown in
the movie called "ND +5th + 7th Movie". The amplitudes are 1.0, 0.1, and 0.075 for the fundamental,
5th and 7th harmonics.
Open the movie from the course website and use the cursor to change the value of et to observe and
study the influence of harmonics on the rotating field. Run the movie in the automatic mode and
observe the motion of the distorted wave .
END

In the design of rotating field machines the harmonic content of the individual phase windings is
controlled to produce an acceptable rotating field. In general the space harmonics have undesirable
effects on machine performance. However, the winding changes required to reduce the space harmonic
content also produce undesirable effects. This forces a compromise in the design process, a situation
that occurs in almost all types of engineering design.

10 Summary
1) The mmf spatial distribution of a symmetric winding on a uniform air gap machine:
a) can be found using Ampere's Law and symmetry,
b) has a waveform that depends on the conductor distribution,
c) has a peak value equal to the turns/pole times the winding current,
2
(radians)
d) has a pole pitch = P
e) is usually represented by its Fourier Series components - fundamental plus harmonics.
2) A single sinusoidal winding excited with sinusoidal current can be viewed as
a) as a stationary, pulsating mmf
P
mmf(,t) = Nf Im cos cos et
2
b) or as two counter rotating mmf's of half amplitude
N I
N I
P
P
mmf(,t) = f2 m cos( 2 + et) + f2 m cos( 2 et)

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5-1

5-3

Rotating Magnetic Fields

3) The speed of a rotating mmf wave is


120f
d
2
= P e (radians/sec) = P e (rpm)
6-1,2
dt
and depends
a) directly on the excitation frequency
b) inversely on the pole number
c) at 60 hz the attainable rotating field speeds are equal to 7200/P or 3600 rpm, 1800 rpm,
1200rpm, 900 rpm, 720 rpm, and so on.
4) A pure forward rotating field can be attained using
a) a two phase winding consisting of two windings with their axes one half pole pitch apart
and excited with two currents 90 apart,
b) a two phase winding consisting of three windings with their axes two thirds pole pitch
apart and excited with three currents 120 apart,
c) in either case the rotation direction can be reversed by reversing one current.
5) The winding mmf harmonics also create rotating fields which distort the fundamental
component rotating field. The extent to which the harmonics must controlled is a basic design
issue.

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