Design and Prototyping of a Linear Permanent Magnet Flux Switching Machine for Energy Storage Application

This paper presents the prototyping of a linear permanent magnet flux switching machine (LPM-FSM) designed for use as the primary drive unit for a small scale dry gravity energy storage system. Energy storage systems offer potential solutions to mitigate grid uncertainties arising from the increased integration of renewable energy sources (RES). In the linear electric machine dry gravity energy storage system (LEM-GESS), linear electric machines (LEMs) are employed to raise and lower an iron piston mass within a shaft, thereby storing and discharging energy. The designed 4-meter LPM-FSM was prototyped and experimentally tested, with the results compared to those from finite element analysis. The experimental validation of back-EMF, detent force and synchronous inductance is provided.