Design and performance analysis of pads for dynamic wireless charging of EVs using the finite element method

Increasing problems of air pollution caused by petrol-fueled vehicles had a positive impact on the expanded use and acceptance of the electric vehicles (EVs). Currently, both academic and institutional researchers are conducting studies to explore alternative methods of charging vehicles in a fast, reliable, and safe way that would compensate for the drawbacks of the otherwise beneficial and sustainable EVs. The wireless power transfer (WPT) systems are now offered as a possible option. Another option is the dynamic wireless charging (DWC) system, which is considered the best application of a WPT system by many practitioners and researchers because it enables vehicles to increase their driving ranges and decrease their battery sizes, which are the main problems of the EVs. A DWC system is composed of many sub-systems that require different approaches for their design and optimization. The aim of this work is to find the most functional and optimal configuration of magnetic couplers for a DWC system. This was done by performing an investigation of the main magnetic couplers adopted by the system using Ansys®Maxwell as a finite element method software. The results were analyzed in detail to identify the best option. The values of the coupling coefficients have been obtained for every configuration examined. The results disclosed that the best trade-off between performance and economic feasibility is the DD-DDQ pad, which is characterized by the best values of coupling coefficient and misalignment tolerance, without the need for two power converters for each side, as in the DDQ-DDQ configuration.