Evaluation of a Bearingless PM Motor With Wide Magnetic Gaps

Author

Asama, Junichi ; Amada, Miya ; Tanabe, Norimasa ; Miyamoto, Naoya ; Chiba, Akira ; Iwasaki, Satoru ; Takemoto, Masatsugu ; Fukao, Tadashi ; Rahman, M. Azizur

Author_Institution

Dept. of Mech. Eng., Shizuoka Univ., Hamamatsu, Japan

Volume

25

Issue

4

fYear

2010

Firstpage

957

Lastpage

964

Abstract

A new noncontact drive system has been developed employing a consequent-pole-type bearingless permanent magnet (PM) motor and a thrust magnetic bearing. This bearingless motor has a wide magnetic gap. The wide magnetic gap may cause a decrease in radial magnetic suspension force because of an increase in magnetic reluctance. A thrust magnetic bearing is installed at the end of the shaft because strong thrust force exists in centrifugal pump applications. In this paper, the magnetic suspension forces and rotation characteristics of the experimental prototype are evaluated while the rotor is magnetically suspended. Experimental results are also compared to the calculated ones using the finite-element method. It is demonstrated that the developed consequent-pole-type bearingless PM motor possesses sufficient magnetic suspension force for noncontact operation.

Keywords

drives; finite element analysis; machine bearings; permanent magnet motors; consequent-pole-type bearingless permanent magnet motor; finite-element method; magnetic bearing; magnetic gaps; noncontact drive system; radial magnetic suspension force; Finite element methods; Iron; Magnetic levitation; Magnetic materials; Permanent magnet motors; Prototypes; Reluctance motors; Rotors; Shafts; Stators; Bearingless motor; centrifugal pump; consequent pole; magnetic bearing; permanent magnet (PM) motor; wide gap;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Energy Conversion, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-8969

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TEC.2010.2040828

Filename

5422659