DEVELOPMENT OF A HYBRID-TYPE SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNETIC BEARING SYSTEM

To further the practical use of superconducting magnetic bearings (SMB s), a hybrid-type SMB system consisting of SMBs, active magnetic beari ngs (AMBs) has been developed. The hybrid-type SMB system does not nee d bias currents applied to the electromagnets for supporting the rotor because the rotor mass is supported by the SMBs. The displacements of the rotor position are suppressed by both the SMBs and the AMBs. The superconductors of the SMBs were field-cooled. Impulse responses of th e rotor in the hybrid-type SMB system, the system with only SMBs worki ng, and the system with only AMBs working are investigated. The result s show that the hybrid-type SMB system has a good performance in impul se responses. Dynamic modeling of the bearing system is also discussed . (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.