Lecture

Linear Induction Machines (LIMs)

Part-4

The calculation of speed and slip in LIM:

In order for a voltage to be induced in the reaction plate (moving part),
there should be a relative motion between the plate and the magnetic lines of flux.
That’s why the induction motor, normally operates at a secondary speed- that is
slightly less than the synchronous speed- (traveling field speed). Slip- is the
ratio of the difference between the primary magnetic flux speed and the secondary
speed as:

It is important to make a note of that the synchronous speed depends on the

pole pitch- and the frequency- as:

(m/sec)

The secondary frequency- of the secondary emfs and their currents may
be calculated as a function of slip- , as for the rotary IMs:

(Hz)

The pole pitch is the distance between two neighboring poles on the stator
circumference of the rotary induction motor. The stator circumference of the
rotary induction motor ( ), is equal to the length of the primary- .

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 25-11-2021

 (m)

(m/sec)

Where -is the number of pair poles, -is the angular frequency in radian/sec.

Example: A 440 V, 110 kW, 50 Hz, 4 poles, Y-connection 3-phase SSLIM,

has the pole pitch 0.24 m; find the synchronous speed and secondary speed at the
slip 16.7%, also find the stator radius of the counterpart rotary induction motor.

24 m/s; 20 m/s, 76.4 mm

Equivalent circuit model of SSLIM:

The motor model for both SSLIM and DSLIM has been assumed to have the
same equivalent circuit. The differences however are accounted for in terms of the
motor parameter. The approximate equivalent circuit of a LIM is presented as
shown in the following figure. This circuit is on a per phase basis. The per-phase
secondary leakage reactance- is neglected because very low value according to
the primary.

 The primary winding resistance per phase- of the LIM, is calculated

from:

( )

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 25-11-2021

Where -is the volume resistivity of the primary copper winding, -is the length
of the primary copper winding per phase, -is the cross sectional area of the
primary copper winding. Can be calculated the length of the primary copper
winding per phase from:

(m)

(m)

(m)

Where -is mean length of one turn of the primary winding per phase, -is
number of turns of primary winding per phase, -is length of end connection,
-is primary slot width, and -is coil span in electrical degrees.

 The flux that is produced in the primary windings is not completely linked
with the secondary plate. There will be some leakage flux in the primary slots and
hence primary leakage reactance per phase- . In a SSLIM primary having open
rectangular slots with a double-layer winding, the primary leakage reactance per
phase can be determined from:

( )

Where -is primary slot leakage factor, -is primary end winding leakage
factor, -is primary differential leakage factor, and -is number of slots per
pole per phase. It has been noticed that the primary winding is either single-layer
windings or double-layer windings. In the first case, one side of the coil is known
as a coil side which occupies the whole one slot, whereas in the second case there
are two/more different coil sides of different phases occupies the whole one slot.
Therefore, the primary differential leakage factor is used in this last case. The
leakage factors are computed as the follows:
Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 25-11-2021
Where -is primary slot depth/height, -is the winding pitch factor, -is
effective air gap length, -is equivalent/magnetic air gap length. The relation
between different air gap lengths and the winding pitch factor can calculate as
following:

(m), (m),

Where -is mechanical/physical air gap length, -is Carter’s/air gap

coefficient, and -is thickness of the conducting sheet of the secondary. If the air
gap length is very small with respect to the slot width, the whole flux
approximately crosses from the teeth (the leakage flux is very low), and then we
can calculate the air gap coefficient as following. Then we can calculate the slot
pitch- is the distance between the centers of two consecutive teeth is given by the
sum of the primary slot width and the tooth width- .

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 25-11-2021

 , (m)

 The per-phase magnetizing reactance- can be determined from:

( )

(m)

Where -is stator width, -is equivalent stator width, -is winding factor,
-is distribution factor, -is slot angle in electrical degrees, and -is number of
electrical phases.

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 25-11-2021

 The per-phase secondary resistance- is a function of slip; it can be
calculated from the goodness factor- and the per-phase magnetizing reactance as
following.

( )

Induction motors draw current from its primary source and then transfer it
to the secondary circuit crossing the air gap by induction. The difference between
the power transferred across the air gap and secondary losses is available as the
mechanical energy to drive the load. The energy conversion efficiency (goodness
factor) can be improved by increasing the magnetizing reactance of the motor or
by decreasing the secondary circuit resistance. The goodness factor can be
calculated as following:

Where -is the volume resistivity of the secondary conductor in ohms meter.

 From the equivalent circuit shown in the above, the magnitude of the
secondary phase current- can be seen to be:
(A)

(A)

Where -is the primary phase current in Amperes.

Performance calculations of SSLIM:

The input active power- is the summation of the output power- and the
copper losses from the primary- and secondary- with neglecting
core losses. Also we can calculate the efficiency- .

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 25-11-2021

 (Watt)

(Watt)

(Watt)

(Watt)

The most general form of electromagnetic thrust- for a SSLIM determined

from the secondary phase current. Also the electromagnetic thrust can be
expressed in terms of primary phase current.

(Newton)

(Watt)

(Newton)

Force-speed characteristics of SSLIM:

 The thrust in Newton’s increases with speed in meters per second for large
value of the slip (with increase in the frequency/synchronous speed but with
constant starting thrust).

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 25-11-2021

 The thrust in Newton’s increases with speed in meters per second for large
value of the aluminum thickness (with constant frequency/synchronous speed but
with little decrease in the starting thrust).

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 25-11-2021

 The thrust in Newton’s increases with speed in meters per second for large
value of the numbers of poles (with constant frequency/synchronous speed but with
little increase in the starting thrust).

Example: A 440 V, 110kW, 50 Hz, 4 poles, Y-connection 3-phase SSLIM,

develops its full load induced thrust 4905 N at 10% slip. The primary current is
512.64 A, the secondary current is 491.46 A, and the efficiency is 89.98%. The
thickness of secondary conducting plate is 0.03 m, the primary slots per pole per
phase are 2, and the primary slot width is 0.02419 m. The speed of secondary is 20
m/sec. Find the per phase parameters of approximate equivalent circuit
( ).

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 25-11-2021

 → , →

→ , →

→ , →

Advantages of LIM:
1-Simple in structure

2-Wide speed range

3-Economical and Cheap Maintenance

4-No gear requirement (no need to mechanical rotator to linear converter)

5-Ease of Control and Installation

6-No Overheating

Disadvantages of LIM:
1-Larger air gap, hence Low Efficiency and Poor Power Factor

2-Poor utilization due to End Effect and Edge Effect

3-High in Capital Cost

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 25-11-2021

References:
[1] M. H. Holakooie, M. B. Banna Sharifian, M. R. Feyzi, Sensorless Indirect Field Oriented
Control of Single-Sided Linear Induction Motor With a Novel Sliding Mode MRAS Speed
Estimator, International Journal of Engineering (IJE), TRANSACTIONS A: Basics Vol. 28, No.
7, (July 2015)

[2] Amir Zare Bazghaleh, Mohammad Reza Naghashan, and Mohammad Reza Meshkatoddini,
"Optimum Design of Single-Sided Linear Induction Motors for Improved Motor Performance",
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MAGNETICS, VOL. 46, NO. 11, NOVEMBER 2010.

[3] J.F. Eastham, “Novel synchronous machines: linear and disc”, IEE Proc. B, 1990, 31,
pp.49‐ 58.

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 25-11-2021