Linear generators are a quickly growing segment of renewable ocean wave energy converters. This paper presents the modeling, simulation and optimal design of two types of permanent magnet linear generators for generating 3-phase voltages based on finite element analysis and intelligent design optimization techniques. Each generator stator and rotor configurations are modeled by using Computer Aided Three Dimensional Interactive Application software and the magnetic field simulation studies are carried out by using finite element method software ANSYS. Two intelligent evolutionary methods, Scatter Search optimization and Particle Swarm Optimization techniques are employed on design analysis programs which are developed by using Visual C++ software to derive optimal design parameters of the linear generator models. Simulation results show the effective exploration of the design and analysis objectives. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.