Abstract
The linear electric generator is intended to be coupled to a thermal (thermoacoustic) machine for the design of a generator set with external heat source (heat recovery of a thermal machine). This thesis deals with the adaptation to generator operation, more precisely to steady-state operation with a unit power factor. Special attention is paid to tribological aspects related to guiding the fixed and moving parts of the electromagnetic structure.A literature review is presented before moving on to a theoretical discussion on the fundamental concepts relating to electromagnetic computation. Equivalent steady-state circuit parameters and generator efficiency are calculated from the dimensional and structural characteristics of the generator. The design and steady-state performance of the generator are validated by the finite element method. The numerical computation is integrated into a multi-object optimization process by a set of the best compromises facilitating the choice of generator sizing and a high efficiency solution is retained as the final concept. Validation by the finite element method employed in ANSYS is done. Validity is verified by a good match between the experimental and numerical results.The main problem encountered in the design of linear electric generators multi air-gap structure guided or sliding plates is in the control of the mechanical clearance necessary to allow the permanent displacement of moving parts. This problem is very difficult to control because the magnetic air-gap must be as small as possible to avoid penalising the tangential magnetic pressure. The moving parts are of low thickness in the multi air-gap structure, therefore less rigid. The moving plates, therefore, tend to rub against the fixed parts. The triboguiding helps solve this problem. The tribology is the study of friction and lubrication applied to wear problems. Its objective is to reduce wear and friction in order to improve the performance of linear electric generator multi air-gap structure guided or sliding plates.The device has been designed and implemented to compensate or even cancel the friction forces that appear between the two fixed stators and the moving plate in translation. This device is a system to compensate for reaction force based on pressure screws acting on springs. The principle is to return the exact force of attraction between the mover and the stators thanks to an adjustable spacing force (the action of a set of pressure screws on springs) between the stators.