What are the advantages of a solenoid motor over an electric motor?

AI Thread Summary
Solenoid motors can convert electrical energy into mechanical force, but they are generally less efficient than electric motors for continuous motion applications. Solenoids excel in tasks requiring linear movement, such as locking mechanisms or sliding levers, while electric motors are preferred for generating rotational motion for various tools and vehicles. The combination of solenoids and motors is evident in car starting systems, where solenoids engage starter motors. However, using solenoids for rotational tasks can lead to erratic motion and a shorter lifespan due to the nature of their operation. Overall, while solenoids have specific advantages, electric motors remain the more efficient choice for most applications.
Nocturnal Bug
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Can force produced by solenoid be converted to mechanical force and be more efficient than electric motor's force?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Solenoids and motors are used for different things. Solenoids are good for sliding levers, locking or unlocking doors, advancing a switch one position at a time mechanically.

Motors are good for generating spinning axles for powering wheels, drills, electric screwdrivers or oscillating fans... and myriad other inventions.

Curiously solenoids and motors are combined for your car starting system. The solenoid engages the starter motor gears when the key is turned to start and then disengages the starter motor once the car is started.

If solenoids were as efficient as motors then they would have been used to start your car directly.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solenoid
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_motor
Of course, there are other engineering considerations. Using a solenoid to turn a shaft may result in clunky or erratic movement, or the solenoid may have a short life span because of the choppy motion of its action ie converting linear movement to rotational movement.
 
  • Like
Likes davenn and Nocturnal Bug
Rotary solenoid can be used for giving rotating motion? Or linear solenoid with slider crank mechanism which reduces friction during conversion of linear movement to rotational movement? Life span of solenoid may depend upon temperature generated of continuous current supplied. So any alternative to boost efficiency? If friction is reduced to minimum,still won't change efficiency? And what is the amount of current required considering suitable number of turns and thickness of winded material, either more than electric motors?
 
Just saw this video on youtube where four solenoids are ganged together to create a motor.

 
  • Love
Likes davenn
Listen to it run, and you can hear the rumbling sound of the piston movement vs a straight electric motor where the sound will be much smooth.

Usually less sound and smoother humming sound means smoother operation and less wear and tear.
 

Thread 'Maxwell stress tensor'

This is from Griffiths' Electrodynamics, 3rd edition, page 352. I am trying to calculate the divergence of the Maxwell stress tensor. The tensor is given as ##T_{ij} =\epsilon_0 (E_iE_j-\frac 1 2 \delta_{ij} E^2)+\frac 1 {\mu_0}(B_iB_j-\frac 1 2 \delta_{ij} B^2)##. To make things easier, I just want to focus on the part with the electrical field, i.e. I want to find the divergence of ##E_{ij}=E_iE_j-\frac 1 2 \delta_{ij}E^2##. In matrix form, this tensor should look like this...
View full post »
Thread 'Applying the Gauss (1835) formula for force between 2 parallel DC currents'

Thread 'Applying the Gauss (1835) formula for force between 2 parallel DC currents'

Please can anyone either:- (1) point me to a derivation of the perpendicular force (Fy) between two very long parallel wires carrying steady currents utilising the formula of Gauss for the force F along the line r between 2 charges? Or alternatively (2) point out where I have gone wrong in my method? I am having problems with calculating the direction and magnitude of the force as expected from modern (Biot-Savart-Maxwell-Lorentz) formula. Here is my method and results so far:- This...
View full post »

Similar threads

I Why do brushed DC motors only use commutators, and not slip rings?
Replies
5
Views
3K
Why don't electric motors use exciter coils like generators do?
Replies
8
Views
17K
Electromagnet Polarity Switching for Reversed Motion
Replies
7
Views
2K
I Electrical characteristics of a solenoid coil
Replies
10
Views
1K
I Visualizing fields around coils (statics and magnetostatics)
Replies
5
Views
947
B To confirm if I am correct about the role of voltage in a circuit
Replies
13
Views
1K
Electricity and the operation of induction motors
Replies
4
Views
1K
Why do more magnets affect how long a homopolar motor spins?
Replies
6
Views
4K
Can a DC motor be made with one magnet?
Replies
2
Views
3K
Electrical VTOL engineering, motor RPM vs weight loads,
Replies
1
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top