The stator of an induction motor consists of a number of overlapping windings offset by an electrical angle of 120°. When the primary winding or stator is connected to a three-phase alternating current supply, it establishes a rotating magnetic field which rotates at a synchronous speed.
The waveform of the three fluxes is as given below.
The three phase winding carry the balance current if the applied sinusoidal voltage is balanced and the impedance of each winding is also balanced. The stator winding is physically placed 120 electrical degree apart as shown in below given figure.

If the phase sequence is R,Y,B, the Y phase current lags the R phase current by 120 degree and B phase current lags the Y phase current by 120 degree or leads the R phase current by 120 degree.The phase current Ir,Iy and Ib set up flux in the core. The resultant magnitude of the average flux can be calculated by adding the magnetic flux produced by individual current.
Let us first take the case when the R phase current at zero position of the waveform.The flux produced by the R phase current is Фr.
Фr = Фm sin(o) = 0
Фy = Фm sin(0-120) =Фm sin(-120) = – 0.866 Фm
Фb = Фm sin(0-240) =Фm sin(-240) = 0.866 Фm
If we add the instantaneous value of the fluxes produced by phase voltages, the resultant flux in the motor
Average flux= 1.5 * Maximum Flux
The average flux of constant magnitude rotates in the same way as the input three supply phases rotate.
Read Next:
2 thoughts on “Rotating Magnetic Field in Three Phase Induction Motor”