Experimental analysis on force and correction factor of an active magnetic thrust bearing

Active magnetic thrust bearing (AMTB) is a device which is used to support an object by controlling the magnetic field. In practice, there is lot of difference between theoretical force and actual force developed between the stator and rotor of an AMTB. This difference is mainly due to fringing, leakage, variation in material properties, misalignments, vibrations, and temperature effects, etc. The difference is also varying with the air gap between stator and rotor and the current supplied. In this work, an experimental approach has been proposed to study the loss factor and efficiency of an Active Magnetic Thrust Bearing. A prototype of AMTB has been made and experimented at different air gaps. Based on the study of single acting actuator, the control performance of a double actuator has been studied. From the study of single acting actuator efficiency and double acting actuator control performance, an optimum air gap has been suggested.