2023 IEEE IAS Global Conference on Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Technologies (GlobConHT)
The Maldives National University, Male City (Maldives). Mar 11-12, 2023
Alternator based Energy Storage System Design &
Simulation for EMLS
Kamal Gupta
Research & Development Establishment (E)
DRDO, MOD, GOI,
2023 IEEE IAS Global Conference on Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Technologies (GlobConHT) | 979-8-3503-3211-7/23/$31.00 ©2023 IEEE | DOI: 10.1109/GLOBCONHT56829.2023.10087851
Dighi Pune, Maharashtra, India
kamalgupta020@gmail.com
Abstract— Electro-Magnetic Launch System (EMLS) needs
high energy for few seconds during the launch. This
requirement cannot be fulfilled by conventional electrical
sources due to its sluggish response and bulky in size.
Therefore, a special type of energy storage & generation
system is required. This energy storage & generation system
charges from conventional power source between launches and
releases the required energy at desired voltage and current
quickly for each launch. These types of energy storage &
generation system are not off the shelf available. Therefore,
design and simulation of the same is needed for its safe and
reliable operation. A special type of alternator having dual
three phase stator windings with permanent magnet rotor has
been proposed in this Energy Storage System (ESS). In this
paper, Design of Alternator suitable for EMLS application is
presented. Design verification performed in MAXWELL s/w is
also presented in this paper.
Keywords— Electro-Magnetic Launch System (EMLS),
Energy Storage System (ESS), Alternator based Energy Storage
System (AESS), Pulse Power Source (PPS), Electro-Magnetic
Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS), Software (s/w),
I. INTRODUCTION
Fast innovations and new technological developments in
the field of electrical engineering such as power electronics,
sensors, control, conductors, high speed switching
technologies, insulators & materials etc., there is a mounting
tendency towards development of Electro-Magnetic Launch
Systems (EMLS). Using EMLS technology, many developed
countries have already initiated development programs for
Electro-Magnetic Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS) for
ship based launching of fighter aircrafts of various classes.
This EMLS technology is also useful for high speed trains,
Hyperloop and space capsule launches. EMLS needs high
energy for few seconds during the launches. This
requirement cannot be fulfilled by conventional electrical
sources due to its sluggish response and bulky in size.
Therefore, a special type of energy storage & generation
system is required. This energy storage & generation system
charges from conventional power source between launches
and releases the required energy at desired voltage and
current quickly for each launch. This types of energy storage
& generation system are not off the shelf available. therefore,
design and simulation of the same is needed for its safe and
reliable operation. Typically, the current requirement of
EMLS is in the range of thousands of amps. Such a huge
current for few seconds can be obtained by employing any
one of the following.
1. Ultra-Capacitor based ESS
2. Flywheel based ESS
979-8-3503-3211-7/23/$31.00 ©2023 IEEE
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Arbind Kumar
Research & Development Establishment (E)
DRDO, MOD, GOI,
Dighi Pune, Maharashtra, India
arbindmani@gmail.com
3. Alternator based ESS (AESS)
Among the above three options, AESS does not require
separate flywheel and at the same time lesser weight &
volume required compare to Ultra-Capacitor based ESS. A
special type of alternator having dual three phase stator
windings with permanent magnet rotor for delivering 10000
Amps for 0.6 second has been proposed in this paper. While
delivering energy to EMLS, alternator speed falls from 3000
rpm to 2430 rpm. In this paper, Design of Alternator suitable
for EMLS application is presented. Design verification
performed in MAXWELL s/w is also presented in this paper.
II. LITERATURE SURVEY
Potters are using a wheel for making and shaping the
earthenware, including terracotta of Indian art since ancient
time [1]. This wheel is nothing but storing human muscle
power in the form of kinetic energy. Due to advancement in
technology, human muscle power has been replaced by the
small electric motor and potter’s wheel remains the same. A
step further, potter’s wheel is modified as flywheel and is
used in many industrial applications such as diesel engines
for smoothening the torque etc. further, if alternator is
coupled to it, electricity can be generated as and when
demands. Flywheel can be rotated in vacuum at high speed
to minimize the windage losses. Many other applications of
ancient time are given in [2]. It can be used as uninterrupted
supply (UPS) for railways and space by providing flywheel
of composite material [3]. Flywheel based energy storage
system can be used even for launch of aircraft by utilizing
the ship power to store energy in flywheels and release it
during launch of an aircraft in Electromagnetic Aircraft
Launch System (EMALS) [4]. Even BEACON POWER is
using flywheel based energy storage system for grid
stabilization for quick release of huge power to the grid for
short duration [5]. Flywheel Motor-Alternator can also be
used to store energy and improve overall efficiency [6]. A
dual stator permanent magnet synchronous generator design
and its characteristics for wind power application has been
done in [7]. Brushless DC Generator is used along with
Flywheel for extracting optimal energy from it in paper [8].
Flywheel based energy storage system can also be used for
mobile application in hybrid form [9]. Six-Phase Electric
Machine has been discussed from its design to the
performance analysis and comparison with conventional
machines [10]. Solid rotor based 22 kW machine has been
designed and developed for energy storage system [11].
5MW power generating high speed IPMSM is designed [12].
A high – efficiency High Power Generation System for
Automobiles with split phase winding has been discussed in
[13]. This paper presents a unique Pulse energy generation
1
system that does not have separate flywheel. Rotor has the stator inductance to its minimum value, No. of turns are
permanent magnets [14]-[15]. Stator has dual three phase kept only two. This provides fast rise of current in the stator.
windings. Simulation of the alternator has been performed in
MAXWELL 2-D s/w. Simulation scheme of alternator is
III. AESS CONFIGURATION shown in Fig.3. Simulation study of alternator with load has
been carry out in SIMPLORER Software. Since this
AESS contains two electrical machines. Out of which alternator is designed for pulse power application, self and
one machine acts as an alternator and another acts as a motor leakage inductance are minimized by suitable design effort.
/ prime mover. A three phase motor drive rotates 10 MVA Therefore, load current can buildup in milliseconds to meet
alternator machine from standstill to rated speed i.e 3000 the EMLS requirement. Numbers of stator poles are
rpm. Rotor of alternator stocks the electrical energy in the optimized considering the mechanical constraints and output
form of mechanical energy. When energy output is required frequency. The proposed alternator is having dual three
for EMLS operation, stored kinetic energy is converted to phase winding. Each set of three phase winding delivers
electrical energy by alternator machine. In-fact alternator electrical power to each side of double sided liner motor
rotor acts as a mechanical energy storage device due to its based EMLS.
inertia, which emulates the storage of electrical energy in the
form of mechanical energy i.e kinetic energy. The input
power to the driving motor is drawn from a conventional
electrical source like commercial mains supply or DG or any
other electrical source. Further alternator is also connected to
the same shaft to deliver the required power to the EMLS.
The alternator speed goes up as it stores energy and go down
when it discharges, to deliver the stored energy.
Configuration of proposed AESS is shown in Fig.1. System
is also having mechanical brake for emergency stop.
Proposed AESS system is designed based on dual three
phase output permanent magnet based synchronous
alternator & three phase driving motor. Whole alternator
rotor assembly is kept in a vacuum chamber to reduce the
windage losses and noise. In the proposed configuration,
alternator rotor’s rotation axis is vertical in place of Fig.2: Alternator Configuration
horizontal as in conventional alternator for better mechanical
stability.

Fig.3: Simulation scheme of Alternator in Maxwell 3D

TABLE I. INPUT AND DESIGN PARAMETER

Input parameter
Fig.1: AESS Configuration
Number Phases Dual Three Phase
Power Rating (MVA) 2*5 (for 0.60 Sec)
IV. DESIGN, & SIMULATION OF ALTERNATOR
Rated Current (Amp) 2 x 5,000 (for 0.60 second)
A 10 MVA, 720 V, 3000 rpm, 800 Hz dual three phase
Operation RPM Range 3000 - 2400
Permanent Magnet Alternator has been designed [14]- [15].
Design requirement of the alternator are given in TABLE 1. Operation Voltage range L-L (Volts) 720 -600
Alternator is designed and some of the derived parameters Design output parameters of alternator
are also given in TABLE 1. Designed alternator Number of Poles 32
configuration is shown in Fig.2. Fig.2 shows the alternator
Rated Frequency (Hz) 800
components i.e. stator, rotor, permanent magnets and shafts.
NdFeB based permanent magnet has been selected because Number of Primary slots 36
of its better flux density. In order to keep the high inertia, Type of winding Fractional
diameter of the alternator is kept more in comparison to the Stator OD (mm) 1180
stack length as shown in TABLE 1. Also, in order to keep

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 Stator ID (mm) 1054
Rotor OD (mm) 1050
Stack Length (mm) 450
Magnet thickness (mm) 35
Pole Embrace 0.75
Primary Slot Dimension (mm) 28 (D) x 49-45 (W)
Conductor per slot 2
Conductor Size (mm^2) 425
Yoke Thickness (mm) 35

Simulation results are shown from Fig.4 to Fig.17 with

initial speed 3000 rpm of the alternator. Fig.4, Fig.5, Fig.6, Fig.7: Group-2 Voltage (X Axis: Time in Second, Y Axis: Voltage in
Fig.7, Fig.8, Fig.9, Fig.10 & Fig.11 shows the generated line kilo Volt)
voltage and load current respectively. It shows that during
the delivery of power, speed of alternator falls from 3000
rpm to 2430 rpm and accordingly voltage falls from 710
volts to 635 volts. Fig.12, Fig.13 & Fig.14 shows the power
delivered to the load whereas Fig.15 & Fig.16 shows the flux
lines and flux density in whole alternator machine. Fig.17
shows the speed variation of the alternator.

Fig.8: Group-2 Voltage (Zoom View at starting) (X Axis: Time in

Second, Y Axis: Voltage in kilo Volt)

Fig.4: Group-1 Voltage (X Axis: Time in Second, Y Axis: Voltage in

kilo Volts)

Fig.5: Group-1 Voltage (Zoom View at starting) (X Axis: Time in Fig.9: Group-1 load current (X Axis: Time in Second, Y Axis: Current
Second, Y Axis: Voltage in kilo Volt) in kilo Amps)

Fig.6: Group-1 Voltage (Zoom View at end) (X Axis: Time in Second,

Y Axis: Voltage in kilo Volt) Fig.10: Group-1 load current (Zoom View at starting) (X Axis: Time in
Secon, Y Axis: Current in kilo Amps)

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 Fig.11: Group-1 load current (Zoom View at end) (X Axis: Time in
Secon, Y Axis: Current in kilo Amps)
Fig.12: Group-1 Power (X Axis: Time in Second, Y Axis: Power in
MW)
Fig.13: Group-1 Power (Zoom View at starting) (X Axis: Time in
Second, Y Axis: Power in MW)
Fig.14: Group-1 Power (Zoom View at end) (X Axis: Time in Second, Y
Axis: Power in MW)
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Fig.15: Magnetic Flux Lines Curve of Alternator
Fig.16: Magnetic Flux Density of Alternator
Fig.17: Droop Curve of Alternator (X Axis: Time in Second, Y Axis:
Rotor speed in rpm)
V. CONCLUSION
Alternator having dual three phase winding is designed to
deliver electrical power 10 MVA, 10000 Amps for 0.6
second operation. Alternator based ESS Design, &
Simulation for EMLS application has been presented. From
the simulation study, it is verified that designed alternator
can deliver 10 MVA power for 0.6 second. Speed of
alternator falls from 3000 rpm to 2430 rpm and voltage falls
710 Volts to 636 Volts while delivering the power. However,
speed and voltage falls within the design objective. Further
design verification will be carried out with actual EMLS
system parameters through simulation.
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Authors wish to thank Shri P M Kurulkar, Outstanding
Scientist & Director, Shri M M Kuber Sc ‘G’ & Group
Director EMSG and Dr. M D Limaye Sc ‘F’ & Group Head
EMSG, Research and Development Estt. (Engineers),
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO),
Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Alandi road,
Dighi PO, Pune-411015 for permitting to present and
publish this paper in IEEE IAS GlobConHT 2023 at
Maldives National University, Male City (Maldives).
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