Comparative study of alternative permanent magnet linear oscillating actuators

Single-phase permanent magnet (PM) linear oscillating actuators having alternative topologies are designed and analyzed by finite element analysis, with particular reference to a novel tubular E-core interior permanent magnet (IPM) oscillating actuator. Their electromagnetic performance is compared and relative merits are evaluated. It shows that the E-core actuators exhibit much less end flux leakage than the C-core actuators, and that the E-core IPM actuator is capable of producing equivalent peak force as the E-core Halbach surface PM actuator with nearly half the PM material used, while the mover structure is much simpler and easier to make. Finally, the design parameters of the IPM actuator, viz. the magnet pole ratio and the split ratio, are optimized.