The development of detent force minimizing permanent magnet linear generator for direct-drive wave energy converter

This paper proposes a linear generator for a wave energy converter. By considering low speed of the power take-off system of the wave energy converter, it is designed to generate electricity even its translator moves very slowly. The lumped parameter magnetic circuit method is applied to deduce electrical parameters, such as no-load voltage. From the magnetic circuit analysis and finite element analysis, generator design parameters are decided and applied to prototype generator. The magnetic circuit model including flux leakage is presented and the validity of the model is verified by finite element analysis. The measured power output is presented and shows great agreement with the predicted values.