Design and Modeling of an Axisymmetric Eddy Current Sensor for Speed Measurement of Nonmagnetic Rods

This paper presents the design and modeling of an eddy current speed sensor for nonmagnetic moving rods with an axisymmetric configuration. The sensor consists of two antiserially connected excitation coils and one pick up coil located between two excitation coils. A novel computational approach using the combined finite difference method and Fourier series is proposed for the modeling and simulations of the eddy current speed sensor. The effects of the outer diameters of moving nonmagnetic rods and their electrical conductivities on the performance of speed sensor are originally evaluated. The results of the modeling for the eddy current speed sensor are compared with the measurements at time varying speeds and various frequencies. The comparison between modeling and experimental results shows the appropriateness of the eddy current speed sensor for the speed measurement of nonmagnetic rods.