Permanent magnet configuration in design of an eddy current damper

This paper discusses the design of an eddy current passive damper using different configurations of permanent magnets. Motional eddy current damping effect is used for the development of a passive damper. Eddy currents are generated in a conductor in a time-varying magnetic field. They are induced either by movement of the conductor in a static field or by changing the strength of the magnetic field, initiating motional and transformer electromotive forces, respectively. The conceived eddy current damper consists of a conductor as an outer tube, and an array of axially magnetized, ring-shaped permanent magnets (PMs), separated by iron pole pieces as a mover. The relative movement of the magnets and the conductor causes the conductor to undergo motional eddy currents. Using this concept, damping characteristics of the new damper is obtained through analytical modeling, and verified by experimental analysis. The optimum PMs’ size and configuration are also derived using analytical and finite element analysis, respectively. A damping coefficient as high as 53 kg/s is achievable with the proposed design specifications.