Dynamic Load Capabilities of Active Electromagnetic Bearings

Abstract

Magnetic bearings are finding increasing use in a wide range of applications. It is well known that the static capacity of a bearing can be determined by its saturation point. The static capacity has often been the prime criterion for the selection of magnetic bearing size. The dynamic capacity of a bearing is a much more complicated function. This paper will develop equations to express the dynamic load capacity of a magnetic bearing in terms of its amplifier size, the frequency of excitation, the magnetic airgap, the method of force actuation, and certain nondimensional terms.