Finite element analysis, experimental validation and optimization of an electromagnetic linear displacement transducer

This paper deals with the study and optimization of a linear displacement transducer based on finite element models. The transducer consists in a sensor head and two variants of a mobile pattern guide - a solid conductor guide, respectively a magnetic no conducting guide. The dependences linear displacement - output voltage are evaluated, the influence of the supply frequency is studied and the charts of the magnetic field and of the current density are analyzed in order to obtain pertinent information for optimal design of the transducer. The geometric configuration is optimized with respect the criterion of minimum non-uniformity of the transducer sensitivity for whole measurement range.