Elsevier

Automatica

Volume 30, Issue 5, May 1994, Pages 871-876
Automatica

Brief paper
New concepts for cost-effective magnetic bearing control

https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-1098(94)90175-9Get rights and content

Abstract

Contact-free active magnetic bearings usually rely on position sensors for stabilization of the highly unstable open-loop plant. New types of active (i.e. controlled) electromagnetic bearings are presented. The sensing is based on current measurement and flux measurement. Two types have been successfully realized: the first type uses current measurement only, the second type uses small Hall probes for flux sensing in the actuator air-gap. No gap sensors are used. Compared to the present active magnetic bearings with gap sensors, savings of space and costs can result. A further advantage is the inherent collocation of sensing and actuator. Practical examples are given and experiments prove the feasibility and robustness of such systems. The net result can be summarized as substitution of hardware through software, creating a potential for increased cost efficiency for some magnetic levitation applications.

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    The original version of this paper was presented at the IFAC Symposium on Low Cost Automation LCA'89 which was held in Milan, Italy, during November, 1989. The Published Proceedings of this IFAC Meeting may be ordered from Elsevier Science, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 K.B. U.K. This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor G. Verghese under the direction of Editor H. Austin Spang, III.

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