A measurement of rotation loss characteristics of high-T-c superconductingmagnetic bearings and active magnetic bearings

As the demand for electric power has been increasing steadily, the introduc tion of a flywheel energy storage system (FESS) using a superconducting mag netic bearing (SMB) is needed to level daily load as much as possible (dail y load-leveling). We have studied rotation loss characteristics of SMBs wit h high Tc superconductors (YBCO) & permanent magnets (PM) for supporting a flywheel in FESS. We have designed and manufactured a testing machine for m easuring rotation loss characteristics of SMBs. The rotor is suspended by t wo sets of radial active magnetic bearings (RaAMBs), a set of axial active magnetic bearings (AxAMB) and a set of SMB. Then, we obtained rotation loss characteristics of the rotor levitate by RaAMBs, AxAMB and SMB on this tes ting machine.