Optimized Design of the Secondary Reaction and Back-Iron Plate in Linear Induction Motor

Introduced in the 1840s, the linear induction motor (LIM) has become a cornerstone of modern transportation and industrial systems in the 21st century. It offers direct linear motion without the need for mechanical conversion. Typical LIM applications include high-speed maglev trains, industrial conveyor systems, and Hyperloop transportation. This paper investigates the impact of incorporating a secondary reaction plate (SRP) over a back iron plate on the thrust and speed performance of a single-sided linear induction motor (SLIM) to find a design and material that can optimize the LIM's performance.

This study will utilize 2D Finite Element Methods (FEM) alongside experimental testing to compare and validate the simulation results. This paper will rely heavily on the equations from additional research papers and manipulate these equations wherever necessary to obtain the required results. Furthermore, this report will include the analytical solutions, 2D simulations, and experimental results. This report shows that copper alloys for the secondary reaction plate may pose improved results than aluminum alloys.