Linear Synchronous Motors: Transportation and Automation Systems (Electric Power Engineering Series)

Contrary to some opinions, electric motors are decidedly not part of an old-fashioned area of research. They are, in fact, the most popular machines of everyday life, and the number of types increase almost every year. Advances in materials engineering, power electronics, and control strategies along with energy and reliability demands continue to stimulate the development of exciting new technologies and applications. Ranking high among the most exciting of these technologies are linear synchronous motors (LSMs).
Linear Synchronous Motors: Transportation and Automation Systems provides a comprehensive treatment of all types of brushless LSMs-their construction, electromagnetic effects, control, and applications. It explains the physics of hard magnetic materials, discusses permanent magnet and superconducting excitation systems, and addresses applications in factory automation and high-speed transportation systems.
LSMs have better performance and higher power density than their induction counterparts, and they can operate with a larger mechanical clearance between their stationary and moving parts. Paying equal attention to the design and the applications of LSMs, Linear Synchronous Motors offers a unique opportunity to master the inner workings of LSMs, discover new research results, and keep abreast of their emerging applications. Electromechanical designers, electrical and mechanical engineers, as well as linear motor enthusiasts will welcome this broad and authoritative work to their reference collections.

Jacek F. Gieras graduated in 1971 from the Technical University of Lodz, Poland, with distinction. In 1980, he received his Ph.D degree in Electrical Engineering (Electrical Machines) in 1975, and the Dr habil. degree (corresponding to DSc), also in Electrical Engineering, from the University of Technology, Poznan, Poland. His research area is Electrical Machines, Drives, Electromagnetics, Power Systems, and Railway Engineering. In 1987 he was promoted to the rank of full professor. Since 1998 he has been affiliated with United Technologies Corporation, USA. In 2007 he also joined the University of Technology and Life Sciences in Bydgoszcz, Poland, as a full professor. An IEEE fellow, Prof. Gieras has authored and co-authored 11 books of international standing and more than 250 scientific and technical papers. In addition, he holds 30 patents.

Zbigniew (Jerry) Piech graduated in 1975 from the Technical University of Wroclaw, Poland. He received his Ph.D degree in Electrical Engineering in 1981, also from the Technical University of Wroclaw. From 1975 to 1989 he was an academic staff member of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Technology and Life Sciences, Bydgoszcz, Poland. He joined United Technologies Corporation in 1990.

His major contributions in the area of electric machines and power systems include development of a series of modern permanent magnet brushless motors for Otis Elevator Company. During the past 10 years he has had a leading role in establishing permanent magnet motor technology for the company. Dr Piech authored and coauthored 20 publications and holds 14 patents in the area of electric machine design and controls.

Bronislaw Z. Tomczuk graduated in 1977 from the Opole University of Technology, Poland, with honors. He received his PhD and Dr habil. (corresponding to DSc) degrees from the Technical University of Lodz, Poland, in 1985 and 1995, respectively. Since 1978, he has been on the academic staff of the Technical University of Opole, Poland, and he was promoted to full professor in 2007. His area of interest is 3D mathematical modeling of electromagnetic fields using numerical methods and its applications to CAD of transformers, linear motors, actuators, magnetic bearings, and other electromagnetic devices. He has authored or coauthored five books and more than 170 scientific and technical articles, and he holds 10 patents. He is also a recipient of the Gold Cross of Merit from the President of Poland.