The direction of rotation of an induction motor is determined by the interaction between the magnetic field generated by the stator and the rotor's magnetic field. In a three-phase induction motor, the stator windings are arranged in a specific sequence to create a rotating magnetic field. This rotating magnetic field induces currents in the rotor, which in turn generates a magnetic field. The interaction between these two magnetic fields results in the motor's rotation.
When you reverse the phases of a three-phase induction motor, you effectively change the sequence in which the stator windings are energized. This alteration in the phase sequence causes the direction of the rotating magnetic field to change. Consequently, the direction of rotation of the motor will also change.
To summarize:
Normal Phase Sequence: The stator windings are energized in a specific sequence to create a rotating magnetic field, leading to a specific direction of rotation.
Reversed Phase Sequence: If you reverse the phases, the sequence of stator winding energization changes, resulting in a reversed rotating magnetic field and a change in the direction of rotation.
It's important to note that reversing the phases is not a common way to control the direction of rotation in industrial applications. Typically, a motor's direction is controlled by swapping the connections of any two of the three stator leads while maintaining the correct phase sequence. This method ensures that the rotating magnetic field's direction changes without altering the phase sequence, which could potentially cause issues in the motor's operation.