Optimised design of linear-induction-motor accelerators

Linear-induction-motor accelerators may be designed to have continually changing field speeds so as to escape the penalties of a limiting efficiency of 50% to which fixed-field-speed accelerators are subject. The paper outlines a method of design for an accelerated-field system in which it is desired to reduce the overall length to a minimum, assuming a limit on the amount of heat which can be generated in the secondary member. The paper then shows that a primary unit designed to give several discrete field speeds only, as opposed to one with continuous speed variation, is not significantly inferior in performance to the latter but is much easier to manufacture.