Review of Linear Switched Reluctance Motor Designs for Linear Propulsion Applications

Linear switched reluctance motor (LSRM) and its applications in different industries have been an interesting research topic for the past few years. LSRMs have proved to be a suitable alternative in a variety of applications requiring linear motion. However, its use is not that popular which instigated an active interest in the evolution of newer LSRM configurations. Enhancement in its propulsion force along with the reduction in force ripples, weight, acoustic noise, and vibration have been the main objectives in recently proposed LSRM designs. In this paper, recently proposed LSRM designs are reviewed and analyzed. The paper presents a one-stop introduction and a complete update to the designs, both in terms of qualitative and quantitative parameters. In addition, it takes into account the challenges in the implementation of these designs. Based on a detailed comparison of these designs as presented in this paper, an appropriate design can be chosen for a given application.