Optimising coil design based on sensitivity analysis of magnetic force induced between misaligned coil pairs

Abstract The lateral force induced by coil misalignment plays a significant role in determining the overall operational efficiency of electromagnetic systems. Even slight misalignments can introduce unwanted lateral forces that compromise system stability and measurement accuracy. Therefore, gaining a thorough understanding of how vertical and lateral magnetic force responds to coil misalignment in a coil-based electromagnetic system is essential for improving performance and reliability. In this study, analytical models were established to derive and analyse the relationships between magnetic forces, coil misalignment, and coil dimensions. To validate the accuracy of analytical models, comprehensive experiments were conducted. In addition, to generalise the findings, a nondimensionalised misalignment parameter is proposed, which allows a systematic investigation into how magnetic force components in both vertical and lateral directions are affected by changes in misalignment. Furthermore, based on the validated analytical model, a comparative analysis is performed by modelling coils with varying geometric configurations while maintaining a constant power input, which shows how different design parameters influence the sensitivity of magnetic force to misalignment. By using the obtained findings of sensitivity analysis, distinct strategies for coil design and selection different maglev systems are proposed.