High-Speed Rotor Losses in a Radial Eight-Pole Magnetic Bearing: Part 1—Experimental Measurement

1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. F. Kasarda ◽  
P. E. Allaire ◽  
E. H. Maslen ◽  
G. R. Brown ◽  
G. T. Gillies

The continual increase in the use of magnetic bearings in various capacities, including high-speed aerospace applications such as jet engine prototypes, dictates the need to quantify power losses in this type of bearing. The goal of this study is to present experimentally measured power losses during the high-speed operation of a pair of magnetic bearings. A large-scale test rotor has been designed and built to obtain unambiguous power loss measurements while varying a variety of test parameters. The test apparatus consists of a shaft supported in two radial magnetic bearings and driven by two electric motors also mounted on the shaft. The power losses of the spinning rotor are determined from the time rate of change of the kinetic energy of the rotor as its angular speed decays during free rotation. Measured results for the first set of magnetic bearings, a pair of eight-pole planar radial bearings, are presented here. Data from three different parameter studies including the effect of the bias flux density, the effect of the bearing pole configuration, and the effect of the motor stator on the power loss are presented. Rundown plots of the test with the bearings in the paired pole (NNSS) versus the alternating (NSNS) pole configuration show only small differences, with losses only slightly higher when the poles are in the alternating pole (NSNS) configuration. Loss data were also taken with the motor stators axially removed from the motor rotors for comparison with the case where the motor stators are kept in place. No measurable difference was observed between the two cases, indicating negligible windage and residual magnetic effects. Throughout most of the speed range, the dominant loss mechanism appears to be eddy currents.

Author(s):  
M. E. F. Kasarda ◽  
P. E. Allaire ◽  
E. H. Maslen ◽  
G. R. Brown ◽  
G. T. Gillies

The continual increase in the use of magnetic bearings in various capacities, including high speed aerospace applications such as jet engine prototypes, dictates the need to quantify power losses in this type of bearing. The goal of this study is to present experimentally measured power losses during the high speed nperatinn nf a pair of magnetic bearings. A large scale test rotor has been designed and built to obtain unambiguous power loss measurements while varying a variety of test parameters. The test apparatus consists of a shaft supported in two radial magnetic bearings and driven by two electric motors also mounted nn the shaft. The power losses of the spinning rotor are determined from the time rate of change of the kinetic energy of the rotor as its angular speed decays during free rotatinn. Measured results for the first set of magnetic bearings, a pair of 8-pole planar radial bearings, are presented here. Data from three different parameter studies including the effect of the hias flux density, the effect of the bearing pole configuration, and the effect of the motor stator on the power loss are presented. Rundown pints of the test with the bearings in the paired pole (NNSS) versus the alternating (NSNS) pole configuration shnw only small differences, with losses only slightly higher when the poles are in the alternating pole (NSNS) configuration. Loss data was also taken with the motor statnrs axially removed from the mntnr rotors for comparison with the case where the mntor stators are kept in place. No measurable difference was observed between the two cases, indicating negligible windage and residual magnetic effects. Throughout mnst of the speed range the dominant loss mechanism appears to be eddy currents.


1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. F. Kasarda ◽  
P. E. Allaire ◽  
E. H. Maslen ◽  
G. R. Brown ◽  
G. T. Gillies

The continual increase in the use of magnetic bearings in various capacities, including high-speed aerospace applications such as jet engine prototypes, dictates the need to quantify power losses in this type of bearing. The goal of the present study is to develop and experimentally verify general power loss equations for the high-speed operation of magnetic bearings. Experimental data from a large-scale test rotor have been presented in Part 1 of this study. Analytical/empirical predictions are presented here for the test bearings, a pair of eight-pole planar radial bearings, for comparison to the experimental results from Part 1. Expressions for the four loss components, eddy current, alternating hysteresis, rotating hysteresis, and windage, are also presented. Analytical/empirical predictions for the test bearings at three different bias flux levels demonstrate good correlation with corresponding experimental data. Throughout most of the speed range the dominant loss mechanism appears to be eddy currents.


Author(s):  
M. E. F. Kasarda ◽  
P. E. Allaire ◽  
E. H. Maslen ◽  
G. R. Brown ◽  
G. T. Gillies

The continual increase in the use nf magnetic bearings in varinus capacities, including high speed aerospace applications such as jet engine prototypes, dictates the need to quantify power losses in this type of bearing. The goal of the present study is to develop and experimentally verify general power loss equations for the high speed operation of magnetic bearings. Experimental data from a large scale test rotor has been presented in Part 1 of this study. Analytical/empirical predictions are presented here for the test bearings, a pair of 8-pole planar radial bearings, for comparison to the experimental results from Part 1. Expressions for the four loss components, eddy current, alternating hysteresis, rotating hysteresis, and windage, are also presented. Analytical/empirical predictions for the test bearings at three different bias flux levels demonstrate good correlation with corresponding experimental data. Throughout mnst of the speed range the dominant loss mechanism appears to be eddy currents.


1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. F. Kasarda ◽  
P. E. Allaire ◽  
P. M. Norris ◽  
C. Mastrangelo ◽  
E. H. Maslen

The identification of parameters that dictate the magnitude of rotor power losses in radial magnetic bearings is very important for many applications. Low loss performance of magnetic bearings in aerospace equipment such as jet engines and flywheel energy storage systems is especially critical. Two basic magnetic bearing designs are employed in industrial practice today: the homopolar design, where the flux paths are of a mixed radial/axial orientation, and the heteropolar design, where the flux paths are primarily radial in nature. The stator geometry and flux path of a specific bearing can have a significant effect on the rotor losses. This paper describes the detailed measurement of rotor losses for experimentally comparable homopolar and heteropolar designs. The two test bearing configurations are identical except for geometric features that determine the direction of the flux path. Both test bearing designs have the same air gap length, tip clearance ratio, surface area under the poles, and bias flux levels. An experimental test apparatus was used where run down tests were performed on a test rotor with both bearing designs to measure power losses. Numerous test runs where made for each bearing configuration by running multiple levels of flux density. The components of the overall measured power loss, due to hysteresis, eddy currents, and windage, were determined based on theoretical expressions for power loss. It was found that the homopolar bearing had significantly lower power losses than the heteropolar bearing.


Author(s):  
P. E. Allaire ◽  
M. E. F. Kasarda ◽  
L. K. Fujita

Rotor power losses in magnetic bearings cannot be accurately calculated at this time because of the complexity of the magnetic field distribution and several other effects. The losses are due to eddy currents, hysteresis, and windage. This paper presents measured results in radial magnetic bearing configurations with 8 pole and 16 pole stators and two laminated rotors. Two different air gaps were tested. The rotor power losses were determined by measuring the rundown speed of the rotor after the rotor was spun up to speeds of approximately 30,000 rpm, DN = 2,670,000 mm-rpm, in atmospheric air. The kinetic energy of the rotor is converted to heat by magnetic and air drag power loss mechanisms during the run down. Given past publications and the opinions of researchers in the field, the results were quite unexpected. The measured power losses were found to be nearly independent of the number of poles in the bearing. Also, the overall measured rotor power loss increased significantly as the magnetic flux density increased and also increased significantly as the air gap thickness decreased. A method of separating the hysteresis, eddy current and windage losses is presented. Eddy current effects were found to be the most important loss mechanism in the data analysis, for large clearance bearings. Hysteresis and windage effects did not change much from one configuration to the other.


Author(s):  
M. E. F. Kasarda ◽  
P. E. Allaire ◽  
P. M. Norris ◽  
C. Mastrangelo ◽  
E. H. Maslen

The identification of parameters that dictate the magnitude of rotor power losses in radial magnetic bearings is very important for many applications. Low loss performance of magnetic bearings in aerospace equipment such as jet engines and flywheel energy storage systems is especially critical. Two basic magnetic bearing designs are employed in industrial practice today: the homopolar design, where the flux paths are of a mixed radial/axial orientation, and the heteropolar design, where the flux paths are primarily radial in nature. The stator geometry and flux path of a specific bearing can have a significant effect on the rotor losses. This paper describes the detailed measurement of rotor losses for experimentally comparable homopolar and heteropolar designs. The two test bearing configurations are identical except for geometric features that determine the direction of the flux path. Both test bearing designs have the same air gap length, tip clearance ratio, surface area under the poles, and bias flux levels. An experimental test apparatus was used where run down tests were performed on a test rotor with both bearing designs to measure power losses. Numerous test runs where made for each bearing configuration by running multiple levels of flux density. The components of the overall measured power loss, due to hysteresis, eddy currents, and windage, were determined based on theoretical expressions for power loss. It was found that the homopolar bearing had significantly lower power losses than the heteropolar bearing.


1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (4) ◽  
pp. 691-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. Allaire ◽  
M. E. F. Kasarda ◽  
L. K. Fujita

Rotor Power losses in magnetic bearings cannot be accurately calculated at this time because of the complexity of the magnetic field distribution and several other effects. The losses are due to eddy currents, hysteresis, and windage. This paper presents measured results in radial magnetic bearing configurations with eight pole and 16 pole stators and two laminated rotors. Two different air gaps were tested. The rotor power losses were determined by measuring the rundown speed of the rotor after the rotor was spun up to speeds of approximately 30,000 rpm, DN = 2,670,000 mm-rpm, in atmospheric air. The kinetic energy of the rotor is converted to heat by magnetic and air drag power loss mechanisms during the run down. Given past publications and the opinions of researchers in the field, the results were quite unexpected. The measured power losses were found to be nearly independent of the number of poles in the bearing. Also, the overall measured rotor power loss increased significantly as the magnetic flux density increased and also increased significantly as the air gap thickness decreased. A method of separating the hysteresis, eddy current and windage losses is presented. Eddy current effects were found to be the most important loss mechanism in the data analysis, for large clearance bearings. Hysteresis and windage effects did not change much from one configuration to the other.


2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Saint Raymond ◽  
M. E. F. Kasarda ◽  
P. E. Allaire

Rotors supported by active magnetic bearings (AMBs) can spin at high surface speeds with relatively low power losses. This makes them particularly attractive for use in flywheels for energy storage in applications such as electric vehicles and uninterruptible power supplies. In order to optimize efficiency in these and other applications, the loss mechanisms associated with magnetic bearings and rotating machinery must be well understood. The primary parasitic loss mechanisms in an AMB include complex magnetic losses, due to eddy currents and hysteresis, and windage losses along the entire rotor in nonvacuum environments. In low-loss magnetic bearing designs, the windage loss component along the rotor can become dominant at high speeds, and the need for accurate windage models becomes even more critical. This study extends previous AMB power loss work by evaluating five different windage loss models using the experimental rundown data from the previous work. Each of the five windage models, along with standard models of eddy current and hysteresis losses, are used to reduce the rundown data into the associated power loss components. A comparison is then completed comparing the windage power loss component extracted through the rundown data reduction scheme to the associated analytical windage prediction in order to identify the most accurate model for calculating windage losses along a smooth rotor. Five empirical flat-plate drag coefficient models are implemented, four turbulent and one laminar. An empirical flat-plate turbulent boundary layer formula (referred to here as “Model 2”) developed by Prandtl and Schlichting displayed the best agreement between experimentally extracted and analytically predicted windage loss values. The most accurate model formula (Model 2) dictates that the frequency dependency of windage loss is both logarithmic and power based and represents the minimum error between experimentally extracted and analytically predicted losses of all models in the study of high-speed power losses in a smooth rotor supported in AMBs.


Author(s):  
P. E. Allaire ◽  
M. E. F. Kasarda ◽  
E. H. Maslen ◽  
G. T. Gillies ◽  
L. K. Fujita

The rotor power losses in magnetic bearings are due to eddy currents, hysteresis, and windage. The influence of air gap magnetic flux density and air gap thickness is not well understood at this time. This paper presents measured results in two magnetic bearing radial configurations with a laminated rotor. The rotor power losses were evaluated by measuring the rundown speed of the rotor, in air, after the rotor was spun up to speeds of approximately 30,000 rpm in atmospheric air. The kinetic energy of the rotor is converted to heat by magnetic and air drag power loss mechanisms during the run down. A method of separating the hysteresis, eddy current and windage losses is presented. Eddy current effects were found to be the most important loss mechanism in the data analysis. Hysteresis and windage effects did not change much from one configuration to the other. The measured rotor power loss increased significantly as the magnetic flux density increased and also increased significantly as the air gap thickness decreased.


2000 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 464-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. S. Spakovszky ◽  
J. D. Paduano ◽  
R. Larsonneur ◽  
A. Traxler ◽  
M. M. Bright

Magnetic bearings are widely used as active suspension devices in rotating machinery, mainly for active vibration control purposes. The concept of active tip-clearance control suggests a new application of magnetic bearings as servo-actuators to stabilize rotating stall in axial compressors. This paper presents a first-of-a-kind feasibility study of an active stall control experiment with a magnetic bearing servo-actuator in the NASA Glenn high-speed single-stage compressor test facility. Together with CFD and experimental data a two-dimensional, incompressible compressor stability model was used in a stochastic estimation and control analysis to determine the required magnetic bearing performance for compressor stall control. The resulting requirements introduced new challenges to the magnetic bearing actuator design. A magnetic bearing servo-actuator was designed that fulfilled the performance specifications. Control laws were then developed to stabilize the compressor shaft. In a second control loop, a constant gain controller was implemented to stabilize rotating stall. A detailed closed loop simulation at 100 percent corrected design speed resulted in a 2.3 percent reduction of stalling mass flow, which is comparable to results obtained in the same compressor by Weigl et al. (1998. ASME J. Turbomach. 120, 625–636) using unsteady air injection. The design and simulation results presented here establish the viability of magnetic bearings for stall control in aero-engine high-speed compressors. Furthermore, the paper outlines a general design procedure to develop magnetic bearing servo-actuators for high-speed turbomachinery.


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