Optimal Design and Experimental Research on a New Hybrid Electromagnetic Actuator for Vehicles

Xiangpeng Meng,Renkai Ding,Ruochen Wang,Long Chen

doi:10.1109/access.2019.2962529

Xiangpeng Meng, Renkai Ding + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2019.2962529

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Abstract

In this study, a new hybrid electromagnetic actuator (HEMA) that integrates a cylindrical permanent magnet linear synchronous motor and a hydraulic damper is proposed and designed to solve the problem of poor reliability of a linear electromagnetic actuator. A modified skyhook control that matches the structure of the HEMA is adopted, and the performance parameters are optimized. Then, the relationships among structural parameters of the HEMA are analyzed using equivalent magnetic circuit method. On the basis of these relationships, multiple alternative groups of structural parameters are obtained. Moreover, finite element models are established in Ansoft Maxwell software. The structural parameters of the HEMA are optimized and determined to produce the peak electromagnetic thrust force that the linear motor requires. Finally, a prototype is developed on the basis of the optimized results for the bench test. Test results show that the linear motor tracks the desired force effectively. In contrast to the passive damper, the body acceleration and suspension working space of HEMA are decreased by 20.6% and 13.3%, respectively. The dynamic tire load is increased by 16%, which is in a reasonable range. And compared with LEMA, the body acceleration is increased by 2.73%, but the suspension working space and dynamic tire load are reduced by 1.1% and 38.1%. All the results above mentioned demonstrate that the HEMA can considerably improve the vehicle dynamic performance.

Highlights

Traditional vehicle passive suspension systems cannot meet the increasing requirements for riding comfort and driving safety of vehicles
When the three-phase alternating current is inputted into the winding coils and a relative movement occurs between the vehicle body and the axle, which makes the relative motion between the permanent magnet (PM) of the primary part and the winding coils of the secondary part occur, the linear motor is equivalent to a motor and provides electromagnetic thrust force on the basis of Ampere’s rule
When compared with linear electromagnetic actuators (LEMAs), it can be seen that, the body acceleration is increased by 2.73%, the suspension working space and dynamic tire load are reduced by 1.1% and 38.1%

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Traditional vehicle passive suspension systems cannot meet the increasing requirements for riding comfort and driving safety of vehicles. The damping force resulting from the eddy current effect is ‘‘soft damping’’, which is considerably less than that of the hydraulic damper, thereby affecting the performance of suspension; when the linear motor functions as an electromagnetic damper, it cannot attenuate the vibration rapidly. Passive damping can reduce the performance demand of suspension systems for linear motors, such as, peak electromagnetic thrust force, thereby reducing the output power of linear motors and achieving energy reduction. On the basis of the current research results and related problems, the present study proposes a new HEMA that integrates a linear motor and a hydraulic damper. To verify the effectiveness of this new HEMA, a prototype is developed on the basis of the optimization of performance and structural parameters, and a bench test is conducted on it.

STRUCTURE OF HEMA

STRUCTURAL PARAMETER OPTIMIZATION OF HEMA

Findings

CONCLUSION