Active permanent magnet support for a superconducting magnetic-bearing flywheel rotor

This paper proposes a novel active permanent magnet support approach to imp rove the lateral stiffness of a superconducting magnetic-bearing flywheel r otor system. An actual flywheel rotor system levitated with high-temperatur e superconducting magnetic bearings is modeled and then analyzed with a mov ing permanent magnet support placed at the top of the rotor. The active sup port principle defined in this study is based on moving the permanent magne t support 180 degrees out of the phase with the rotor displacement. A compl ete dynamical equation of the flywheel rotor is derived including gyroscopi c effects. Analysis showed the active support of the flywheel rotor with ad ditional permanent magnet movements decreased the amplitude of flywheel rot or vibration considerably.