A hybrid lamination strategy for enhanced performance in linear oscillation actuators

Tubular permanent magnet linear oscillation actuators (TPMLOAs) are widely used in refrigeration, yet traditional radial lamination of silicon steel faces challenges with low stacking coefficients and assembly difficulties. This study proposes a hybrid lamination strategy that embeds silicon steels into fan-shaped soft magnetic composite (SMC) slots to optimize the stator core, aiming to combine the high permeability of silicon steel with the structural flexibility of SMC for a stacking coefficient near unity. A geo-metric model was established to derive material proportions, and 3-D finite element analysis was employed to investigate the effects of silicon steel quantity on electro-magnetic thrust, iron losses, and efficiency. The results indicate that the hybrid lamination method effectively suppresses magnetic saturation during load operation. Compared to traditional radial lamination, the proposed design increases electromagnetic thrust by 26% at the maximum mover displacement (where magnetic saturation is most severe), while thrust performance is comparable at the negative mover position. This thrust enhancement is particularly valuable for compressor applications, where high thrust at maximum displacement is critical. Although the inclusion of SMC increases eddy current losses at high frequencies, the method significantly simplifies manufacturing and reduces assembly errors. It is concluded that the hybrid lamination strategy provides a feasible and high-performance solution for the development of advanced linear oscillation actuators in compressor applications.