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Type of motor that produces Linear Motion as opposed to Rotary
motion
In a Linear motor, the stator (primary) is „unwrapped‟ and laid out flat
into a line
The “rotor” (secondary) is a straight line along the stator
Can be 1 − 𝜙 or 3 − 𝜙
1 They employ advanced materials like superconductors or
superconducting magnets which are cooled to reduce heating losses
They are useful in traction applications e.g. high speed trains and
cranes and rail guns
Are of 2 main types;
Induction Motors
EEE 2415 Synchronous motors
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Based on the arrangement of the primary and secondary, have 3 main arrangements
Induction motor that exerts a Linear Force
Based on Faraday‟s law of Electromagnetic Induction (emf induction on
Iron Core Type : Primary has laminated core with slots where coils are wound. Secondary has
rotor from stator field) only soft iron core base with magnets on top made of rare earth metals
Gives the highest force
Can be Single Sided LIM (SLIM) or Double Sided LIM (DLIM)
Provides for more efficient cooling by having multiple iron plates
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Slot-less Type: Primary coils have a flat back iron attached by epoxy.
Secondary usually placed flat on the ground
Ironless Core type : Primary Coils suspended and held together by epoxy.
Lower costs with a single secondary
Secondary similar to iron core type but double sided
More expensive due to double primary Less efficient due to higher reluctance of magnetic path
Has higher acceleration and deceleration
Poor heat dissipation
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Primary winding is excited by a
3 − 𝜙 power supply resulting in a
travelling flux (synonymous to Normal Force – Force between one stator section and one reaction
rotating flux in rotary motors) plate.
They‟re equal and opposite and cancel out in DLIM
Emf is induced in the fixed
secondary which results in They‟re significant in SLIM due to asymmetry of the Secondary
induced secondary current since Lateral Force – Force perpendicular to rotor position (y-axis).
it‟s a solid
Cause displacement of the primary from preferred path
Induced current interacts with the Can be eliminated by having a guided path/wheels
travelling flux resulting in a linear
force Thrust Force – Provides motion for the system
Since secondary is fixed, the Proportional to the square of the applied voltage
primary is the one that is pushed Can be used both for driving and braking
along linearly
Process repeated across each
section of the secondary
The commutation cycle is
distance between 2 poles
synonymous to 3600
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End Effect – Caused by travelling flux on the primary which doesn‟t Force machines - Short duty machines
fold up on itself and introduces 2 boundaries (ends) Operate usually at low speeds.
Causes non-uniform flux on the length of the motor Efficiency is not a major consideration, because these are most useful in
Reduced by increasing the number of poles small sizes
E.g. shuttle propulsion, stop valves, induction stirrers for molten metals
Edge Effect – Current at the edges of the motor are travelling in the
same direction as the motor Power machines - Continuous-duty machines
This reduces the effective thrust developed and is more pronounced at Operate at medium and high speeds.
lower values of slip Have high operating efficiency.
Gap Effect – The gap in LIM (5mm) is larger than that for rotary motors E.g. travellators, conveyors, electromagnetic pumps, travelling cranes and
(2mm) high-speed rail traction.
This reduces the flux linkage
Energy machines - Short-duty machines.
This increases iron losses of the LIM and overall efficiency Used for applications requiring large bursts of power over a short period
E.g electropults, Electric missile launchers, accelerators
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Overhead Travelling Crane High Speed Train
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