Repulsive magnetic bearing using a piezoelectric actuator for stabilization

A repulsive magnetic bearing system equipped with a piezoelectric actuator for the motion control of permanent magnets is studied experimentally. In this system, the radial motions of the rotor are passively supported by repulsive forces between permanent magnets. The motion in the axial direction is stabilized by moving the permanent magnets for radial suspension with a piezoelectric actuator. In the experiments, a piezoelectric actuator with a stroke of 200 mum was installed first. PD and I-PD controllers were applied to achieve levitation without any mechanical contact. It was experimentally shown that the dynamic characteristics of the levitation system could be adjusted by pole assignment. Next the actuator was replaced by an actuator with a stoke of 90 mum. Experimental results demonstrated that the rotor can follow stepwise command signal whose magnitude was within 20 mum.