A low speed reciprocating permanent magnet generator for direct drive wave energy converters

The design of a prototype linear variable reluctance permanent magnet machine is outlined in this paper. It has been built to investigate operation at speeds of 0.5 m/s, which is typical of a wave energy converter. Results are presented to verify the design, and to investigate the performance of the machine. In order to optimise power conversion, methods of compensating for the effects of the high inductance of these machines are discussed.