Design Optimization of Double-Sided Permanent-Magnet Axial Eddy-Current Couplers for Use in Dynamic Applications

This paper deals with analytical model extraction and also optimization of the double-sided PM axial eddy-current couplers, which are one of the best-known couplers used in dynamic applications. To this end, a rather accurate steady-state model was extracted using a magnetic equivalent circuit method, which is capable of taking into account geometrical parameters and material properties exclusive of iron saturation, the PM characteristics, and the conductive-sheet heating constraint. Electrical time constant of the coupler (due to the inductance property of the conductive sheet), which is an important quantity in the dynamic behavior, is also calculated analytically. Furthermore, by introducing a specific dynamic application, the best set of components for the coupler is obtained through genetic algorithm with respect to some significant dynamic criteria such as system bandwidth. Finally, the results are validated using FEM and experimental tests.