Multi-Physics Modeling and Numerical Analysis of Tubular Linear Switched Reluctance Motors

This paper proposes a multi-physics modeling and numerical analysis of magneto-mechanical and thermal phenomena of a tubular linear switched reluctance motor (TLSRM) representing a linear stepping motor. Algorithms are developed to study the dynamic performances of TLSRM and investigate the temperatures in different parts in the motor due to the heat generation which causes an increase in the temperature of the machine concentrated particularly in the copper coils. The magneto-mechanical model is based on the nonlinear electromagnetic equations solved using the finite elements method (FEM) and the Macro-Element technique while incorporating the Newton-Raphson algorithm for the magnetic nonlinearity treatment. The validity of this model is checked through a comparison between the predicted displacement results for the TLRSM and the experimental values given in literature. The developed thermal model is solved by FEM where the source term is the power density generated in the coils.