Analysis and Solution of Residual Force in Electromagnetic Actuators

Electromagnetic actuators are widely used due to their ability to provide fast and reliable motion control. However, magnetic remanence (Br) in ferromagnetic materials can generate undesirable residual forces, compromising the device's performance. This work investigates the impact of remanent magnetic fields in an electromagnetic actuator using the finite element method (FEM) in Ansys Maxwell software. Initially, a model was developed considering SAE 1006 steel, whose residual magnetization resulted in a residual force preventing the upper core from returning to its initial position. To mitigate this effect, two approaches were explored: replacing the ferromagnetic material with M600-65A silicon steel, reducing the residual force and allowing the upper core to return to its initial position, and geometric optimization by adjusting the air gap spacing. The results show that material selection and geometric refinement are effective strategies to minimize the effects of magnetic remanence, ensuring proper actuator operation.