Simulation and verification of the axial force of a linear permanent magnet synchronous actuator

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Al-Sharif, Lutfi^{a; *} | Taifour, Sinan^a | Kilani, Mohammad^{a; b}

Affiliations: [a] Mechatronics Engineering Department, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan | [b] Mechanical Engineering Department, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982 Saudi Arabia

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Tel.: +962 6 5355000, ext 23025; +962 796 000 967; Fax: +44 207117 1526; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: A methodology has been developed for the simulation and experimental verification of the axial force exerted by an electromagnet on a concentric permanent magnet. This comprises four stages. The first involves the modeling of the permanent magnet as a current sheet based on the permanent magnet material and its dimensions. This current sheet model is then discretised into a number of coils. The second stage involves the prediction of the radial magnetic flux density from the electromagnet at any point off its axis. The third stage involves the calculation of the axial force exerted by the electromagnet onto a concentric current carrying ring along its axis. The fourth stage involves the calculation of the axial force exerted by the electromagnet onto a number of contiguous rings that represent the model of the permanent magnet developed in the first stage. Experimental verification has been carried out for the fourth stage by the measurement of the resultant force by the use of weights. The method was implemented in matlab for all the four stages. In addition to the experimental verification, PC based verification was also carried out against a FEM software for the results from all the four stages.

Keywords: Linear actuator, permanent magnet, solenoid, finite element method

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-2010-1082

Journal: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 249-265, 2010