Design Analysis, Optimization and Identification of
Optimum Single-Phase Linear PM Generator Using
Different Magnet Shape for Wave Energy
Conversion
Aamir Hussain Memon, Taib bin Ibrahim, Perumal Nallagowden
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610 Bandar Seri Iskandar,
Malaysia
aamir_nhm@yahoo.com, taibib@petronas.com.my, perumal@petronas.com.my
Abstract—This paper presents the analysis, design
optimization and identification of optimum linear permanent
magnet (PM) generator for marine wave energy conversion using
finite element analysis (FEA). The proposed linear generator is
analyzed using different shape of magnet such as; trapezoid,
triangular, and parallelogram and compared to the conventional
linear PM generator. Eventually, it is identified by FEA that
magnet shape augments the characteristics and overall
performance of linear PM generator. Time-stepping finite element
method (FEM) is employed in order to determine the
electromagnetic characteristic of proposed design with all magnet
shapes. The optimization has been carried out based on leading or
principal dimensional ratios and parameters such as; angle of
magnets , , and β, ratio of Tmr/Tp, Tp/Tmz and ratio of Rm/Re,
which have significant effect on the performance of linear PM
generator. The induced-EMF, flux-linkage and magnetic flux
density produced in winding and in air-gap, respectively are given
and linear PM generator identified by FEA with high performance
and superior characteristics is presented with its optimal values
for aforementioned principal dimensional ratios and parameters.
Keywords—linear generator, wave energy, permanent magnet,
shape, finite elemt analysis, optimization
I. INTRODUCTION
Wave energy has a high seasonal availability and is fuel
free, predictable and environment friendly. Wave energy is also
called “blue energy” and has several potential benefits as
compared to “brown energy”, which is the form of energy
achieved from fossil fuels and “green energy” which includes
renewable energy sources such as; solar and wind energy [1]. It
is estimated that the worldwidepotential of wave power
resource is 2 TW [2]. Since past decades, various efforts have
been accomplished in the field of wind and solar energy
generation. Alternatively, wave energy is still under
development stage but offers high potential energy. Marine
wave energy is abundant and much consistent than solar and
wind energy. According to resources wave energy has 2-3
kW/m2 power density as compared to wind and solar that has
0.4-0.6 kW/m2 and 0.1-0.2 kW/m2, respectively, while, in terms
of power generation, wave energy converters generate
maximum 90% of power as compared to wind and solar that
generate maximum 20-30 % [3]. Conventional electrical
machines are based on rotating generators [4] that include
mechanical section i.e. turbine technology, gearbox and
hydraulic pump. Alternatively, direct-drive linear generator
technology is proved efficient in wave energy conversion due
to eliminated mechanical interface [5]. In direct-drive system
the moving part i.e. translator relative to stationary part (stator)
is directly driven by the wave energy converter (WEC), thus
simplifies the overall system [6]. The conventional
synchronous generators use electromagnets to have a magnetic
field in the winding that further requires direct current and slip-
ring assembly in order to have excitation [7]. On the other hand,
permanent magnet generators do not need a DC supply as an
excitation circuit, slip rings and brush assembly [8]. Permanent
magnets are solid hard magnetic materials with an extremely
large (wide) hysteresis cycle and a recoil permeability of 1.05-
1.3 [9].
In literature, Variable Reluctance PM (VRPM) machines
are recognized as high force density machines [10]. The kinds
of these machines are Transverse Flux PM (TFPM) machine
and Vernier Hybrid PM (VHPM) machine but unfortunately,
difficult construction and low power factor are considerable
disadvantages of these machines [6]. The developments based
on the longitudinal flux PM (LFPM) linear generators [11] are
very attractive owing to efficient electromagnetic performance
but suffers from unwanted issues such as; high magnetic
attraction forces and cogging force. The cogging force arises as
a consequence of the joint attraction between magnets and
ferromagnetic core of translator; it establishes itself by the
tendency of the translator to line up in a number of preferred
positions irrespective of excitation states [12]. Numbers of
techniques have been used to reduce it but almost all the
techniques used against to cogging force also reduce the actual
electromagnetic performance [13]. Moreover, pertaining to
magnetic attraction force the analytical methods have been
developed, that reveal that 60 % [14] structural mass is required
to overcome these forces [15]. Alternatively, air-cored linear
PM generators are very attractive in terms of simplicity,
lightweight [16] and unavailability of unwanted magnetic
attraction forces and cogging force but have limitations in
electromagnetic performance.
This work presents the electromagnetic analysis,
optimization and identification of simple and lightweight linear
PM generator using magnet with different shapes by using finite
element analysis software ANSOFT Maxwell 14.0.
II. PROPOSED DESIGN
The finite element 2D model of proposed linear PM
generator with conventional or rectangular [17] Figure 2. Magnetic flux desnity in the air-gap regionof translator and stator
(MAGNETRECTANGULAR), trapezoid (MAGNETTRAPEZOID),
triangular (MAGNETTRIANGULAR), and Parallelogram The transient or time-variant mode is analyzed with the
(MAGNETPARALLELOGRAM) shape of magnet is shown in Fig. speed of 1 m/s. The RMS Induced-EMF generated in stator
1. winding [6] can be written as;

= (1)
√

where is the induced-EMF, is frequency, is the no. of

(a) (b) turns in winding and flux linkage.
The induced-EMF and flux linkage produced in the winding
of stator is shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, respectively and their
RMS values are presented in Table I.It will be seen that
MAGNETTRIANGULAR has achieved higher characteristics as
compared to MAGNETPARALLELOGRAM, MAGNETTRAPEZOID,
and MAGNETRECTANGULAR. It can also be noticed that the
(c) (d)
resultant waveform is sinusoidal [5] which in turn reduces the
requirement of signal conditioning.

Figure 1. Finite element 2D model of proposed linear PM generator (a)

conventional (MAGNETRECTANGULAR) (b) trapezoid (MAGNETTRAPEZOID) (c)
triangular (MAGNETTRIANGULAR) (d) Parallelogram (MAGNETPARALLELOGRAM)

The translator consists series of quasi-halbach magnetized

magnets [18]; the neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent
magnet is used [10]. Quasi-halbach magnetization is employed
on account of sinusoidal air-gap distribution [20]. The FEA is
carried out for the linear PM generator with all the shapes; axi-
symmetrical coordinate system with vector orientation for PM Figure 3. Induced_EMF produced in stator winding
is adopted [19]. Firstly, stationary or time-invariant mode has
been analyzed in which time is fixed. The air-gap region lying
amid stator and translator with magnetic flux density on zero
displacement is shown in Fig. 2. It will be seen that, the first,
second, third and fourth maximum performance is achieved
by MAGNETTRIANGULAR, MAGNETPARALLELOGRAM,
MAGNETTRAPEZOID, and MAGNETRECTANGULAR with value
0.52, 0.51, 0.50 and 0.49 Tesla, respectively.

Figure 4. Flux-linkage produced in the coil

 TABLE I
INDUCED-EMF & FLUX-LINKAGE PRODUCED IN WINDING

Electromagnetic quantity Induced-EMF (V) Flux-linkage (Wb)

MAGNETTRIANGULAR 200.1606 1.9953
MAGNETPARALLELOGRAM 192.2493 1.8984
MAGNETTRAPEZOID 154.5299 1.5384
MAGNETRECTANGULAR 134.5914 1.3405

III. EFFICIECNY ANALYSIS (a)

The efficiency of the electrical machine is the essential part
that is to be taken into account under the design consideration
[22]. The efficiency of linear permanent magnet generator [23]
can be given as;

= (2)

where , , and are output power, iron loss and copper

loss, respectively.
Copper can be determined as follows [24];
(b)
= (3)

Where and are RMS value of current and resistance of coil,

respectively.
The core loss or iron loss of the linear permanent magnet
generator is composed of three different components; hysteresis
loss, classical eddy current loss, and excessive loss.
Collectively, the total core loss [25] can be expressed as;

= Σ( + + ) (4)
(c)
where , , and are classical eddy current loss, excessive
and hysteresis loss, respectively.

IV. OPTIMIZATION OF THE DESIGN

The objective function of optimization is to maximize
efficiency and minimize the total losses [20]. In order to achieve
maximum value of efficiency, the leading design parameters are
optimized [21]. These dimensional ratios are the leading design
parameters, which have significant influence on the
performance of linear permanent magnet generator [22]. These
principal design parameters are; angle of magnet , , and β, (d)
ratio of Tmr/Tp and Tp/Tmz and ratio of Rm/Re [23]. During the Figure 5. Schematic diagram of proposed linear PM generator (a)
optimization output power is set to constant magnitude when conventional (MAGNETRECTANGULAR) (b) trapezoid (MAGNETTRAPEZOID) (c)
triangular (MAGNETTRIANGULAR) (d) Parallelogram (MAGNETPARALLELOGRAM)
varying PM angles, Tmr/Tp, Tp/Tmz and Rm/Re. This is due to give
equal or fair process of optimization [23]. The schematic TABLE II
diagram of linear PM generator for all shapes with their DESIGN SPECIFICATION AND MAIN DIMENSIONS OF
LINEAR PM GENERATOR
geometric parameters is presented in Fig. 5. and the design Parameter Value Unit
specifications along with main dimensions are listed in Table Rated Power, Pout 100 Watts
II; Magnet thickness,hm 5.00 mm
Reciprocating velocity, v 1.00 m/s
Width of air-gap, G 0.80 mm
Magnetic Remanence, B 1.14 Tesla
A. Influence of angle
The translator of linear generator is equipped with
permanent magnet; however, MAGNETTRIANGULAR,
MAGNETPARALLELOGRAM, and MAGNETTRAPEZOID have
angles , , and β, respectively, as shown in Fig. 5. The
variation of these angles yields a considerable impact on the
characteristics and performance of linear generator and is of
prime importance to analyze [18]. The output power is set
constant when varying the angles , , and β for their respective
magnet’s shape as shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 7 shows the induced-
EMF with respect to the variation in angles andit will be seen
that, MAGNETTRIANGULAR attains higher magnitude with the
optimal value of angle 45 degrees as compared to
MAGNETPARALLELOGRAM, and MAGNETTRAPEZOID.
Figure 8. Influence of angles , , and β on efficiency

The same trend is analyzed for copper loss, which has

minimum value on45o for MAGNETTRIANGULAR, as compared
to MAGNETPARALLELOGRAM, and MAGNETTRAPEZOID as
shown in Fig. 9.

Figure 6. The output power versus variation of various values of angles

(degrees) , , and β

Figure 9. Influence of angles , , and β on copper loss

B. Influence of Tmr/Tpand Tp/Tmz

Figure 7. Effect of angles , , and β on induced-EMF
Similarly, the efficiency of linear generator is analyzed on
various values of angles , , and β of permanent magnet for
their respective shapes, which exhibits higher value on 45o for
MAGNETTRIANGULAR as shown in Fig. 8.
Tmr/Tp and Tp/Tmz are called “pole width ratio”, and define
the relationship between Magnet Magnetization and Magnet
Pole-pitch (MM&MP) variation [24]. This ratio also determines
the maximum linkage of flux between stator winding and PM
of translator. For MM&MP variation also optimization is
carried out by keeping output power to a constant value by
adjusting the magnitude of current [25] as shown in Fig. 10.

Figure 10. The output power versus variation of Tmr/Tp and Tp/Tmz
 Fig. 11 depicts the variation of the efficiency with Tmr/Tp and
Tp/Tmz. It will be seen that, the optimal ratio occurs at
Tp/Tmz = 5 for MAGNETTRIANGULAR.
Figure 11. Influence of Tmr/Tp and Tp/Tmz over the efficiency of linear generator
The same trend is analyzed for copper loss which has
minimum value on Tp/Tmz= 5 for MAGNETTRIANGULAR as
shown in Fig. 12.
Figure 12. Influence of Tmr/Tpand Tp/Tmzover the efficiency of linear
generator
C. Influence of Rm/Re
The Rm/Re ratio is called “split ratio”, it is an optimal balance
between magnetic and electrical loading [26]. Likewise, the
output electric power is retained to its fixed value by
performing adjustment in the magnitude of rated current [27] as
shown in Fig. 13.
Figure 13. The output power versus variation of Rm/Re
Fig. 14 depicts the variation of the efficiency with respect
to Rm/Re. It can be observed that, the optimal ratio is Rm/Re
= 0.69 for MAGNETTRIANGULAR.
Figure 14. Effect of Rm/Re over the efficiency of linear generator
Fig. 15 represents the effect of the variation in Rm/Re over
copper loss of the linear generator. It will be seen that, the value
on which copper loss is minimum occurs at 0.69.
Figure 15. Influence of Rm/Re ratio on copper loss
V. CONCLUSION
The proposed design with conventional
MAGNETRECTANGULAR and other shapes of magnet;
MAGNETTRAPEZOID, MAGNETTRIANGULAR, and
MAGNETPARALLELOGRAMare analyzed using FEA.
Electromagnetic characteristics with static and time-varying
quantities; induced-EMF, flux-linkage, and magnetic flux
density are presented. The optimization is carried out for linear
PM generator with all shapes of magnet along with main
dimensional ratios such as “magnet angles , , and β”, ratio of
Tmr/Tp and Tp/Tmz and ratio of Rm/Re which have significant
influence on the efficiency. The electromagnetic characteristics
using FEA and optimization method identifies that
MAGNETTRIANGULAR produces higher characteristics and has
leading performance as compared to MAGNETRECTANGULAR,
MAGNETTRAPEZOID, and MAGNETPARALLELOGRAM. The
optimal values for angle, ratio of Tp/Tmz and ratio of Rm/Re are
45 degrees, 5 and 0.69, respectively. The optimum design will
be fabricated and tested for the validation.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This research is supported by UniversitiTeknologi
PETRONAS, 32610 Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak Darul
Ridzuan, Malaysia and funded by Exploratory Research Grant
Scheme (ERGS), Ministry of Education, Malaysia.
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