Reduction of Thrust Force Ripple of High Temperature Superconducting Linear Flux-Switching Motors Using Asymmetry Mover Structure

Abstract

Compared with traditional linear motors, such as Linear Permanent Magnet Motors (LPMs) and Linear Induction Motors (LIMs), Linear Flux-Switching Permanent Magnet (LFSPM) motors have the merits of high efficiency, power density, with simple and robotic secondary structure. Despite these advantages, the flux-weakening ability of LFSPM motor is limited and thus the speed range of it is not ideal. As a promising choice, it is feasible to replace the PMs of LFSPM motors with coils made with High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) tapes. By using HTS material, High Temperature Superconducting Linear Flux-Switching Motors (HTS-LFSMs) have good flux-weakening ability while inheriting the edges of LFSM motors. Since the existence of HTS coils, the cooling system has a minimum size and has to take up certain room of the motor. When it comes to applications where the volume of motor is strictly restrained, there may not be enough room for a basic pattern of typical pole pitch combinations for HTS-LFSM, such as 12-7 or 12-9, leading to large thrust ripple. To solve this problem, a method of reducing thrust force using asymmetry mover structure is proposed based on a 9-5 pole pitch ratio. The mechanism and working principle are analyzed and the validation is verified with the help of Finite Element Method (FEM).