A Four Pole, Double Plane, Permanent Magnet Biased Homopolar Magnetic Bearing with Fault-Tolerant Capability

A Four Pole, Double Plane, Permanent Magnet Biased Homopolar Magnetic Bearing with Fault-Tolerant Capability

This paper develops the theory for a novel fault-tolerant, permanent magnet biased, 4-active-pole, double plane, homopolar magnetic bearing. The Lagrange Multiplier optimization with equality constraints is utilized to calculate the optimal distribution matrices for the failed bearing. If any of the 4 coils fail, the remaining three coil currents change via a novel distribution matrix such that the same opposing pole, C-core type, control fluxes as those of the un-failed bearing are produced. Magnetic flux coupling in the magnetic bearing core and the optimal current distribution helps to produce the same c-core fluxes as those of unfailed bearing even if one coil suddenly fails. Thus the magnetic forces and the load capacity of the bearing remain invariant throughout the failure event. It is shown that the control fluxes to each active pole planes are successfully isolated. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the new theory.