Design and simulation of an electromagnetic aircraft launch system

This paper describes the basic design, refinement and verification using finite element analysis (FEA), and operational simulation using the virtual test bed (VTB), of a range of candidate linear machines for an electromagnetic aircraft launching system (EMALS) for the aircraft carrier of the future. Choices of basic machine format, and procedures for determining basic dimensions are presented. A detailed design is presented for a permanent magnet version, and wound field coil and induction machine versions are introduced. The long armature - short field geometry is discussed, and in particular the impact of this geometry on the scale of the power electronic drive system is presented.