Design and simulation of a permanent-magnet electromagnetic aircraft launcher

• Published in: IEEE transactions on industry applications Vol. 41; no. 2; pp. 566 - 575
• Main Authors: Patterson, D., Monti, A., Brice, C.W., Dougal, R.A., Pettus, R.O., Dhulipala, S., Kovuri, D.C., Bertoncelli, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.03.2005; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Aircraft; Aircraft carriers; Aircraft industry; Aircraft launcher; Analytical models; Coils; Design engineering; Electromagnetic analysis; Electromagnetic induction; Electromagnetic launching; Finite element methods; Geometry; Induction machines; Launchers; linear machine; linear permanent-magnet (PM) synchronous machine; Mathematical analysis; PM machine; power electronic drive; Power electronics; Simulation; system simulation; Testing; track sectioning
• ISSN: 0093-9994; 1939-9367
• DOI: 10.1109/TIA.2005.844404

This paper describes the basic design, refinement, and verification using finite-element analysis, and operational simulation using the Virtual Test Bed, of a linear machine for an electromagnetic aircraft launcher, for the aircraft carrier of the future. Choices of basic machine format and procedures for determining basic dimensions are presented. A detailed design for a permanent-magnet version is presented, and wound-field coil and induction machine versions are briefly discussed. The long armature-short field geometry is justified, and in particular the impact of this geometry on the scale of the power electronic drive system is examined.