Rotor & Stator

The rotor is a moving component of an electromagnetic system in the electric motor, electric generator, or alternator. Its rotation is due to the interaction between the windings and magnetic fields which produces a torque around the rotor’s axis.

The stator is the stationary part of a rotary system, found in electric generators, electric motors, sirens, mud motors, or biological rotors. Energy flows through a stator to or from the rotating component of the system. In an electric motor, the stator provides a rotating magnetic field that drives the rotating armature; in a generator, the stator converts the rotating magnetic field to electric current. In fluid powered devices, the stator guides the flow of fluid to or from the rotating part of the system.

Rotor and stator products
Close up of stator being produced

Difference Between Stator and Rotor

In the motors or generators, both parts like rotor and stator play a key role. The main disparity between them is that the stator is an inactive part of the motor whereas the rotor is the rotator part.

What Is A Stator?

The stator is the stationary component of electromagnetic circuits. In different configurations, the stator may act as field magnets that interact with the rotor to create motion or as armatures that work with moving field coils on the rotor.  They are generally permanent magnets or electromagnets that maintain field alignment with the latter being a field coil or winding.

The stator in AC motors consists of the core’s thin, steel laminations and the coils of insulated wire inserted into it, which are called windings and connected directly to the power source. When current is applied, the two together become an electromagnet. In DC motors, the stator carries both the field windings and the poles, which constitute the magnetic circuit with the rotor.  Field windings, in that case, maybe either windings or permanent magnets on the stator; the poles house the field winding, with the number determined by voltage and current.

The stator is a stationary part of a rotary system that can be found in electrical generators, electric motors, sirens, mud motors, or biological rotors. Energy flows through a stator to or from the rotating component of the system. In an electric motor, the stator provides a rotating magnetic field that drives the rotating armature; in a generator, the stator converts the rotating magnetic field to electric current. In fluid power devices, the stator guides the flow of fluid to or from the rotating part of the system.

What You Need to Know About Stator

  1. The stator is the stationary part of the machine.
  2. The three main parts of stator include stator core, stator winding and the outer frame.
  3. Friction loss of the stator is high.
  4. The cooling system of the stator is simple.
  5. Stator winding is highly insulated because high voltage induces in it.
  6. The size of the stator winding is large for carrying heavy current.
  7. The winding arrangement of the stator is more complex.
  8. The three-phase supply is given to the winding of the stator.

What Is A Rotor?

The rotor is a general term for the main spinning part of an electrical machine and derived from the word “rotating”. Therefore a rotor can be described as a moving component of an electromagnetic system i.e alternator, an electric generator or electric motor. Its rotation is due to the interaction between the windings and magnetic fields which produces a torque around the rotor’s axis.

There are different types of rotors (rotating parts). They include Squirrel cage, Slip ring, air type, wound type and salient pole type.

What You Need To Know About Rotor

  1. The rotor is the rotating part of the machine.
  2. The two main parts of the rotor include rotor core and field winding.
  3. The friction loss of the rotor is low.
  4. The cooling system of the rotor is complex.
  5. The rotor winding has low insulation.
  6. The size of the rotor winding is small.
  7. The rotor winding arrangement is simple.
  8. The rotor is connected to the DC supply.