Optimal design of non-contact thrust bearing using permanent magnet rings

Seong Yeol Yoo, Woo Yeon Kim, Seung Jong Kim, Wook Ryun Lee, Yong Chae Bae, Myounggyu Noh

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    26 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    This paper describes an optimal design process of a permanent-magnet thrust bearing. The bearing consists of two sets of permanent magnet rings. One set is located inside the other. An axial displacement between the two sets creates an axial force, thereby achieving a thrust bearing function. In order to obtain an optimal design of the bearing where the required load capacity of bearing is achieved with the least magnet volume, we derived analytical design equations based on the equivalent current sheet (ECS) method. We considered two types of magnet arrays: axial arrays and Halbach arrays. Optimization is carried out for these two types. The results show that the Halbach array can achieve the load capacity requirement with smaller magnet volume than the axial array. We also found that there exists an optimal axial separation of rings for the axial array. The efficacy of the ECS method is verified against the results from three-dimensional finite element analyses and experiments. It is found that the Halbach array is more sensitive to the underlying assumptions of ECS method than the axial array.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1009-1014
    Number of pages6
    JournalInternational Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
    Volume12
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2011 Dec

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    This work was supported by the Power Generation & Electricity Delivery of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) grant funded by the Korea government Ministry of Knowledge Economy (No.2010101030005C).

    Keywords

    • Magnetic levitation
    • Passive bearing
    • Permanent magnet
    • Thrust bearing

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Mechanical Engineering
    • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
    • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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