Achieving Greater Efficiency in Long-Distance Applications: The Novel Implementation and Validation of a Linear Flux-Switching Permanent Magnet Motor

Linear efficient high-speed transportation is increasingly introduced for continental travel, e.g. maglev trains and hyperloop applications. The urge for such novel modes of transportation is a result of the trend current society has developed: travelling longer distances in a shorter amount of time. A key part of an efficient mode of transport is an efficient motor. This paper describes the implementation of a 2.5 kW Linear Flux Switching Permanent Magnet (LFSPM) machine for linear high-speed transportation. Special attention is given to the optimization and performance analysis of energy efficiency, with a key consideration being its operational air-gap of 15 mm. Prototype validation shows an average motor efficiency of 82.4 % and a regenerative braking efficiency of 96.8 %.