Design of a linear bulk superconductor magnet synchronous motor for electromagnetic aircraft launch systems

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) material in bulk form is used to design a linear synchronous motor for an electromagnetic aircraft launch system. The motor is designed without an iron core. Stator coils are placed in the air while the permanent magnets used in conventional design of linear permanent magnet synchronous motors are replaced by the HTS bulk magnets. The physical, operational, and equivalent circuit parameters of the linear motor with HTS bulk magnets are compared with those of a linear permanent magnet synchronous motor and linear induction motor designed for the same application. Results show that utilizing superconducting magnets is only superior at temperatures below 40 K.