Comparison between Radial and Halbach Array PMLSM by Employing 2-D Electromagnetic Finite Element Analysis

The replacement of steam catapults with electromagnetic ones is becoming an overwhelming trend in aircraft launch systems. The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) offers significant benefits to the aircraft, ship, personnel, and operational capabilities. EMALS has such advantages as high thrust, good controllability, reusable, etc., as a launching motor, a double-side plate Permanent Magnet Linear Synchronous Motor (PMLSM) can provide high instantaneous thrust. This paper compared two PM mover with quasi-Halbach array topology and radial topology for PMLSM application. A detailed analytical modeling based on Maxwell equations is presented for analysis and design of PMLSM with Halbach array. Finally, employing 2-D nonlinear time-stepping transient finite element method to demonstrate validity of the analytical analysis and parametric search. Using FEA, the effects of the parameters on the thrust amplitude are analyzed. Finally, A design optimization method applied to PMLSM with Halbach array, that the obtained result form 2-D FEM shown the increase of thrust force and flux density distribution in the air gap.