2020 IEEE International Conference on Power Electronics, Drives and Energy Systems (PEDES)
Development of Optimum Double Sided Linear
Induction Motor for Military Application
Arbind Kumar
Electromechanical Systems Group
Research & Dev. Estt (Engrs)
Defence Research and Dev. Orgn.
Ministry of Defence, GOI
Pune, India
karbind@rde.drdo.in
2020 IEEE International Conference on Power Electronics, Drives and Energy Systems (PEDES) | 978-1-7281-5672-9/20/$31.00 ©2020 IEEE | DOI: 10.1109/PEDES49360.2020.9379392
Himanshu Gupta
Electromechanical Systems Group
Research & Dev. Estt (Engrs)
Defence Research and Dev. Orgn.
Ministry of Defence, GOI
Pune, India
himanshugupta@ rde.drdo.in
Abstract—Rotary Induction Motors are the preferred
choice for the Military application due to their advantages such
as maintenance free, ruggedness & reliability which are
equally applicable to Linear Induction Motors also. Among
various configurations of Linear Induction Motors, Double
Sided Linear Motor with primary moving and secondary static
is best suitable for launching of few kg. Payloads such as
Unmanned Aviation Vehicles to make it more effective in terms
of input power requirements, volume, weight and cost. In this
paper Design, Simulation and Development of 95 kW Double
Sided Linear Induction Motor is presented for launching of
100 kg. payload. Simulation studies have been carried out for
the designed motor in MAXWELL software.
Keywords—Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch system
(EMALS), Linear Electric Machine (LEM), Linear Induction
Motor (LIM), Double Sided LIM (DSLIM), Modular
construction, Continuous construction.
I INTRODUCTION
From the invention of Induction Motor by Nicola Tesla,
it has reached to a highest peak of efficiency and also
achieving high dynamic performance due to advancement in
the field of Power Electronics, Digital Signal Processing and
Electrical Materials. Due to this, it is replacing other Motors
in the industry. At the same time, it is found in many
industrial and defence applications where rotary induction
motor (RIM) is not suitable. In such scenario, linear
induction motors (LIM) are suitable which avoid gears and
rotary to linear motion conversion mechanisms. Thus, it
improves the overall performance of the system. The first
LIM was undoubtedly was the Westinghouse air craft
launcher 'Electropult' built in 1945. In this LIM, primary
winding was carried by the mover and ac supply was given
through brushes and continuous conductors for the whole
length of the track. In this paper, 95 kW double sided linear
induction motor has been designed, simulated and
developed for launching a payload of hundred kilogram at a
velocity of twelve metre per second. Payload can be
unmanned aviation vehicle (UAV).
II TOPOLOGY OF LINEAR INDUCTION MOTOR
Selection of configuration of linear induction motor
among its various topologies depends on the advantages and
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Kamal Gupta
Electromechanical Systems Group
Research & Dev. Estt (Engrs)
Defence Research and Dev. Orgn.
Ministry of Defence, GOI
Pune, India
kamalgupta@rde.drdo.in
Madhav Kuber
Electromechanical Systems Group
Research & Dev. Estt (Engrs)
Defence Research and Dev. Orgn.
Ministry of Defence, GOI
Pune, India
mmkuber@rde.drdo.in
disadvantages. In general, Military application equipment is
developed on mobile platform for quick transportation and
deployment to front and boarder areas. Thus any system for
such application shall be light in weight and occupy less
volume. At the same time it shall work in all-weather
conditions. Further system shall have minimum harness and
connectivity to other system shall be avoided so that ease
maintenance at field conditions can be achieved and weight
can be reduced. However, this system is proof of concept
and hence development has been done in static and inclined
condition. Dummy payload of similar shape and size has
been used for verification and validation in place of UAV
during testing and trials. However maximum constant value
of drag force has been estimated and considered while
estimating total thrust requirement of DSLIM.
Among the various types of Linear Electric Motors,
LIM and LSM are the two most suitable choices due to their
advantages. LSM has advantage due to its performance
whereas LIM has advantage due to ease of manufacture,
cost, ruggedness, maintenance and less effected by the
environmental conditions. LIM has also many
configurations. Selection of the configuration mainly
depends on application. For this application, Double sided
Linear Induction Motor (DSLIM) with primary moving and
secondary static has selected. It reduces the input power
requirements, volume, weight and cost of the entire system.
Hence DSLIM is the most optimum and suitable
configuration for military application.
Schematic of DSLIM is shown in Fig.1. Module 1 and
module 2 are the two primaries (mover) connected back to
back. Secondary (Rotor) is stationary and independent for
each module as shown in Fig.1. These are copper plates
running though out the length on both sides of DSLIM.
Copper plates are having back iron behind the Copper
plates. This provides suitable path to magnetic flux in the
static secondary. Power supply to the primary modules is
given using flexible cables. Flexible cable is housed in drag
and chain arrangement for safety purpose which has the
maximum limit of fifteen metre per second. Variable
voltage variable frequency supply to these modules is given
using off-the-shelf 200 kW variable frequency drive. In
 2020 IEEE International Conference on Power Electronics, Drives and Energy Systems (PEDES)

order to stop the primaries in a given distance, counter TABLE II

current braking has been applied, once the payload is
Design parameter of DSLIM
launched. In order to calculate the speed of the mover,
proximity sensors have been used at predefined positions Design Parameters
It ensures stopping of the primaries in the given distance.
This configuration also cancels the forces vertical to the Rated Power (kW) 95
direction of movement. Power factor 0.5

III DESIGN AND SIMULATION Pole Pitch (mm) 125

Input parameters of the DSLIM are given in TABLE 1. Number of Poles 8

For a payload of 100 kg payload. DSLIM is designed for 95 Number of turns per phase 112
kW and some of the derived parameters are given in
Number of slots 24
TABLE 1. Motion profile of DSLIM is shown in Fig.2. It is
required to generate constant acceleration so that linearly Slot Pitch (mm) 42
rising speed can be achieved and once payload is launched, Slot Dimension (w x d) (mm) 15 x 34
primaries can be stopped in the given distance. Simulation
Teeth Dimension (w x h) (mm) 27 x 34
studies of the same have been carried out using MAXWELL
3 D software. Model of DSLIM is shown in Fig.3. In the Air gap (mm) 3
simulation, only starting of the DSLIM has been done Primary Dimension (L x W x H) (mm) 1100 x 164 x 99
whereas in actual system counter current braking is applied
Primary Resistance per Phase (Ohm) 0.242
after covering seven metre of distance. Also in simulation
50 Hz supply has been applied whereas in system, v/f Primary Inductance per Phase (mh) 1.42
method has been used. Still these simulation results give Secondary Dimension (L x W x H) (mm) 13000 x 3 x150
results very close to the actual results. Fig. 4 shows three
Delta Connected,
phase stator currents. Maximum values of starting currents
Primary winding type Double layer,
vary between 1 to 1.5 kA and it settles to 300 A after 1.1 distributed
sec. Thrust developed by DSLIM is shown in Fig. 5 and it
Secondary type Copper sheet
also settles down after 1.1 sec. once speed of 12 m/s is
achieved and distance covered is less than 7.5 metre as Secondary Core
30 mm thick
shown in Fig. 6 and 7 respectively. Fig.8 shows the flux Iron core
density distribution in the machine. Realized system is Primary Conductor size 6.25 mm2
shown in Fig. 9. Experiments have been conducted to verify 0.35 mm thick
the maximum velocity achieved confirms the same. Primary lamination
CRGO
TABLE I
Input and Derived parameter of DSLIM IV CONCLUSION
Input Parameter In this paper DSLIM configuration has been
Payload (kg) 90 ± 10
selected for launch of payload of 100 kg at a velocity
of 12 meter per second. DSLIM is designed, modeled
Mover Mass (kg) 200 ±10
and simulated in Maxwell 3 D software and simulated
Max Acceleration Length (m) 7 results have been presented. However power supply is
Max Braking Length (m) 4 given through flexible cable and supported by drag
Speed to achieve (m/s) 12
chain arrangement which limits the speed of the
system but makes the system cost effective.
Gradient of Launch (Deg) 7
Experimental results of developed DSLIM verify the
Rated Voltage (V) 415 design.
Rated Frequency (Hz) 60
Synchronous Speed (m/s) 15
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Derived Parameters
Authors wish to thank Shri V.V. Parlikar, Distinguist
Rated Power (kW) 95 Scientist and Director, Research and Development
Thrust (kN) 5.53 Estt. (Engineers), Defence Research and Development
2
Acceleration (m/s ) 16
Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence,
Government of India, Alandi road, Dighi PO, Pune-
Acceleration time (Sec.) 0.94
411015 for permitting to present and publish this
paper in IEEE-PEDES 2020 at MNIT, Jaipur, India.

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2020 IEEE International Conference on Power Electronics, Drives and Energy Systems (PEDES)

Fig.1: Power scheme of the system

Fig.2: Motion Profile of DSLIM

Fig.3: Modeling of DSLIM in Maxwell 3D

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2020 IEEE International Conference on Power Electronics, Drives and Energy Systems (PEDES)

Fig.4: Stator Current of DSLIM (X Axis: Time in Sec, Y Axis: Stator current in kA)

Fig.5: Thrust developed (X Axis: Time in Sec, Y Axis: Thrust developed in kilo-Newton)

Fig.6: Mover Speed (X Axis: Time in Sec, Y Axis: Mover speed in metre per second)

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2020 IEEE International Conference on Power Electronics, Drives and Energy Systems (PEDES)

Fig.7: Mover position (X Axis: Time in Sec, Y Axis: Mover Position in metre)

Fig.8: Flux density distribution

Fig.9: Realized System of DSLIM

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 2020 IEEE International Conference on Power Electronics, Drives and Energy Systems (PEDES)
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