Coil Design Optimization of Power Pad in IPT System for Electric Vehicle Applications

The proper magnetic design is one of the most difficult and critical phases in developing an inductive power transfer system, especially for electric vehicle charging. In this communication, a fast and an efficient improved Tabu search algorithm coupled with 2-D finite-element analysis (FEA) was used to determine the optimum design parameters of power pads. A two-objective optimization problem was investigated considering the magnetic coupling, misalignment (horizontal, vertical, and rotational), as well as the cost. The double-D power pad structure was considered as a case of study, and the most effective design parameters were obtained. The 2-D FEA was utilized to calculate the coupling factor at different misalignment conditions. For verification purposes, the system coupling performance and cost are analyzed using the optimum design parameters and compared with three other designs presented in the literature. The proposed optimized design shows the best coupling performance with moderate cost. The results proved the validity and advantages of the proposed design methodology.