Loss reduction strategies in design of magnetic bearing actuators for vehicle applications

Advanced energy storage systems for future military vehicles may include the use of high speed rotating machines in which magnetic bearing systems are used for rotor support. High speed machines commonly require rotors to operate in evacuated enclosures, complicating efforts to cool rotor components, since convective heat transfer is not possible in vacuum environments. As a result, it is important to minimize magnetic bearing losses to avoid excessive temperatures in high strength rotor components. This paper discusses two design strategies intended to minimize losses in active magnetic bearing actuators.