A low-cost approach to determine the optimum conductor plate thickness of linear permanent magnet eddy current brakes

Abstract

This paper proposes a low-cost approach to determine the optimum Conductor Plate (CP) thickness without needs for mathematical models and large data volumes, which means that 0.6 times of the Standard Depth of Penetration (SDoP) can be directly selected as the optimum CP thickness without calculation. Firstly, the SDoP is introduced. Then, the influences of speed and conductivity on the optimum CP thickness are investigated. Finally, the relationship between the SDoP and the optimum CP thickness is found. The optimum CP thickness can be selected directly according to the relationship without mathematical models and large data volumes. It not only guarantees high braking force, but also reduces the weight of the LPMECBs as much as possible.