Design, Build, and Evaluation of an AC Loss Measurement Rig for High-Speed Superconducting Bearings

Mohammad Siamaki, James G. Storey, Lars Wiesehoefer and Rodney A. Badcock
Additional contact information
Mohammad Siamaki: Robinson Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, Lower Hutt 5012, New Zealand
James G. Storey: Robinson Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, Lower Hutt 5012, New Zealand
Lars Wiesehoefer: Fachhochschule Südwestfalen, Lindenstraße 53, 59872 Meschede, Germany
Rodney A. Badcock: Robinson Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, Lower Hutt 5012, New Zealand

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-8

Abstract: Friction and heat generated in conventional bearings impose a limit on maximum design speed in electrical machines. Superconducting bearings offer the potential for low loss, simplified, and passively stable bearings that can overcome the speed limit and operate at high loads. Although such bearings are contactless and seem to be loss free, AC loss mainly caused by magnetic field inhomogeneity gradually slows down the rotating body. This loss, whose mechanism has not been fully explored, is measured through spin-down tests where the rotational speed of the spinning rotor is measured as a function of time. However, there are some challenges in performing a reliable spin-down test. In this paper, we discuss these challenges as well as the engineering of an experimental test rig that enables us to spin-up, release, and recapture the levitated permanent magnet. We also discuss the specifications of the driving mechanism including the self-aligning coupling, which accommodates permanent magnets of different sizes. Initial test results at 6600 rpm are discussed and further technical improvements to the test rig suggested. This rig will be used as a key tool to explore the AC loss mechanism and inform the design of bearings for high-speed superconducting machines.

Keywords: AC loss; high speed superconducting motor; superconducting magnetic bearings; spin-down test (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/4/1427/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/4/1427/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:4:p:1427-:d:750307

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().