Investigation of Multi-phase Tubular Permanent Magnet Linear Generator for Wave Energy Converters

In this article, an investigation into different magnetization topologies for a long stator tubular permanent magnet linear generator is performed through a comparison based on the cogging force disturbance, the power output, and the cost of the raw materials of the machines. The results obtained from finite element analysis simulation are compared with an existing linear generator described in [1 Prudell, J., Stoddard, M., Amon, E., Brekken, T. K. A. and von Jouanne, A. 2010. A permanent-magnet tubular linear generator for ocean wave energy conversion. IEEE Trans. Industry Appl., 46: 2392–2400. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]]. To ensure accurate results, the generator developed in [1 Prudell, J., Stoddard, M., Amon, E., Brekken, T. K. A. and von Jouanne, A. 2010. A permanent-magnet tubular linear generator for ocean wave energy conversion. IEEE Trans. Industry Appl., 46: 2392–2400. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]] is built with 3D CAD and simulated using the finite-element method, and the obtained results are verified with the source.