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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1996

Dynamics of Permanent-Magnet Biased Active Magnetic Bearings

Active magnetic radial bearings are constructed with a combination of permanent magnets to provide bias forces and electromagnets to generate control forces for the reduction of cost and the operating energy consumption. Ring-shaped permanent magnets with axial magnetization are attached to a shaft and share their magnet stators with the electromagnets. The magnet cores are made of solid iron for simplicity. A simplified magnetic circuit of the combined magnet system is analyzed with linear circuit theory by approximating the characteristics of permanent magnets with a linear relation. A linearized dynamical model of the control force is presented with the first-order approximation of the effects of eddy currents. Frequency responses of the rotor motion to disturbance inputs and the motion for impulsive forces are tested in the non-rotating state. The frequency responses are compared with numerical results. The decay of rotor speed due to magnetic braking is examined. The experimental results and the presented linearized model are similar to those of the all-electromagnetic design.

Fukata, Satoru↗
NASA NTRS1993

A conventional point of view on active magnetic bearings

Active magnetic bearings used in rotating machinery should be designed as locally controlled, independent devices similar to other types of bearings. The functions of control electronics and power amplifiers can be simply and explicitly related to general bearing properties such as load capacity, stiffness, and damping. The dynamics of a rotor and its supporting active magnetic bearings are analyzed in a modified conventional method with an extended state vector containing the bearing state variables.

Chen, H. Ming↗
NASA NTRS1992

Control concepts for active magnetic bearings

Active Magnetic Bearings (AMB) are becoming increasingly significant for various industrial applications. Examples are turbo-compressors, centrifuges, high speed milling and grinding spindles, vibration isolation, linear guides, magnetically levitated trains, vacuum and space applications. Thanks to the rapid progress and drastic cost reduction in power- and micro-electronics, the number of AMB applications is growing very rapidly. Industrial uses of AMBs leads to new requirements for AMB-actuators, sensor systems, and rotor dynamics. Especially desirable are new and better control concepts to meet demand such as low cost AMB, high stiffness, high performance, high robustness, high damping up to several kHz, vibration isolation, force-free rotation, and unbalance cancellation. This paper surveys various control concepts for AMBs and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. Theoretical and experimental results are presented.

Siegwart, Roland↗
DOE OSTI2026

Degradation of Magnetic Materials for High-Temperature Active Magnetic Bearing Applications in CO₂-Based Environments

High-temperature Active Magnetic Bearings (AMBs) are a promising alternative to conventional bearings in hermetically sealed turbomachinery for supercritical CO₂ (sCO₂) systems. They offer reduced CO₂ leakage, lower windage losses, enhanced misalignment tolerance, reduced wear, and built-in diagnostic capabilities. A critical challenge, however, is ensuring long-term material stability in harsh CO₂-rich environments. This study investigated the degradation behavior of permanent and soft magnetic materials (Alnico 9C, Alnico 5-7C, SmCo 18-T550, Hiperco-50, and coated variants) after up to 6,000 hours of exposure in gaseous CO₂, sCO₂, or air at 450 °C and 550 °C. The evaluation included post-exposure mass change measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, and magnetic property assessments. The results demonstrate oxidation rates, microstructural evolution, and retention of magnetic performance across conditions. The findings offer essential insights into the thermal corrosion behavior of magnetic materials under CO₂ rich environments and serve as a reference for material selection in AMB system designs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1994

High performance data acquisition, identification, and monitoring for active magnetic bearings

Future active magnetic bearing systems (AMB) must feature easier on-site tuning, higher stiffness and damping, better robustness with respect to undesirable vibrations in housing and foundation, and enhanced monitoring and identification abilities. To get closer to these goals we developed a fast parallel link from the digitally controlled AMB to Matlab, which is used on a host computer for data processing, identification, and controller layout. This enables the magnetic bearing to take its frequency responses without using any additional measurement equipment. These measurements can be used for AMB identification.

Herzog, Raoul↗
NASA NTRS2008

Advanced Active-Magnetic-Bearing Thrust-Measurement System

An advanced thrust-measurement system utilizes active magnetic bearings to both (1) levitate a floating frame in all six degrees of freedom and (2) measure the levitation forces between the floating frame and a grounded frame. This system was developed for original use in measuring the thrust exerted by a rocket engine mounted on the floating frame, but can just as well be used in other force-measurement applications. This system offers several advantages over prior thrust-measurement systems based on mechanical support by flexures and/or load cells: The system includes multiple active magnetic bearings for each degree of freedom, so that by selective use of one, some, or all of these bearings, it is possible to test a given article over a wide force range in the same fixture, eliminating the need to transfer the article to different test fixtures to obtain the benefit of full-scale accuracy of different force-measurement devices for different force ranges. Like other active magnetic bearings, the active magnetic bearings of this system include closed-loop control subsystems, through which the stiffness and damping characteristics of the magnetic bearings can be modified electronically. The design of the system minimizes or eliminates cross-axis force-measurement errors. The active magnetic bearings are configured to provide support against movement along all three orthogonal Cartesian axes, and such that the support along a given axis does not produce force along any other axis. Moreover, by eliminating the need for such mechanical connections as flexures used in prior thrust-measurement systems, magnetic levitation of the floating frame eliminates what would otherwise be major sources of cross-axis forces and the associated measurement errors. Overall, relative to prior mechanical-support thrust-measurement systems, this system offers greater versatility for adaptation to a variety of test conditions and requirements. The basic idea of most prior active-magnetic-bearing force-measurement systems is to calculate levitation forces on the basis of simple proportionalities between changes in those forces and changes in feedback-controlled currents applied to levitating electromagnetic coils. In the prior systems, the effects of gap lengths on fringing magnetic fields and the concomitant effects on magnetic forces were neglected. In the present system, the control subsystems of the active magnetic bearings are coupled with a computer-based automatic calibration system running special-purpose software wherein gap-length-dependent fringing factors are applied to current and magnetic-flux-based force equations and combined with a multipoint calibration method to obtain greater accuracy.

Imlach, Joseph↗
NASA NTRS1974

Fibrinolysis and fibrinogenolysis on magnetically-active days

On magnetically-active days, activation of fibrinolysis and fibrinogenolysis is observed. The increase in fibrinolysis and fibrinogenolysis begins on the day of the onset of a magnetic storm, reaching a maximum in 24 hours. Activation is higher on days with magnetic storms with a sudden onset and a C index of 1.5-2.0.

Marchenko, V. I.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Micromachined Active Magnetic Regenerator for Low-Temperature Magnetic Coolers

A design of an Active Magnetic Regenerative Refrigeration (AMRR) system has been developed for space applications. It uses an innovative 3He cryogenic circulator to provide continuous remote/distributed cooling at temperatures in the range of 2 K with a heat sink at about 15 K. A critical component technology for this cooling system is a highly efficient active magnetic regenerator, which is a regenerative heat exchanger with its matrix material made of magnetic refrigerant gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG). Creare Inc. is developing a microchannel GGG regenerator with an anisotropic structured bed for high system thermal efficiency. The regenerator core consists of a stack of thin, single-crystal GGG disks alternating with thin polymer insulating layers. The insulating layers help minimize the axial conduction heat leak, since GGG has a very high thermal conductivity in the regenerator s operating temperature range. The GGG disks contain micro channels with width near 100 micrometers, which enhance the heat transfer between the circulating flow and the refrigerant bed. The unique flow configuration of the GGG plates ensures a uniform flow distribution across the plates. The main fabrication challenges for the regenerator are the machining of high-aspect-ratio microchannels in fragile, single-crystal GGG disks and fabrication and assembly of the GGG insulation layers. Feasibility demonstrations to date include use of an ultrashort- pulse laser to machine microchannels without producing unacceptable microcracking or deposition of recast material, as shown in the figure, and attachment of a thin insulation layer to a GGG disk without obstructing the flow paths. At the time of this reporting, efforts were focused on improving the laser machining process to increase machining speed and further reduce microcracking.

Chen, Weibo↗
NASA NTRS1981

ISEE 1 observations of thermal plasma in the vicinity of the plasmasphere during periods of quieting magnetic activity

An investigation of thermal plasma behavior in the vicinity of the plasmasphere during periods of quieting magnetic activity was conducted by combining thermal ion observations made with the plasma composition experiment on ISEE 1 with plasma density profiles obtained from plasma frequency measurements made with the same satellite's plasma wave experiment. During periods in which the magnetic activity quiets, the two regions characterized by H(+):He(+):O(+) (isotropic) and H(+):O(+):He(+) (field-aligned) ion species distributions (in order of dominance) are separated by a new region in which low-energy H(+) and He(+) are found flowing along the magnetic field lines. At other times, following quieting magnetic activity, distributions having peak fluxes at 90 deg pitch angle are observed in this region.

Horwitz, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The theory of an active magnetic regenerative refrigerator

The adiabatic temperature change with field which is limited to about 2 K/Tesla for ferromagnets near their Curie temperatures by the change of magnetization with temperature and the lattice heat capacity is discussed. Practical magnetic refrigerators operate on a regenerative cycle such as the Brayton cycle. This cycle can be executed through the use of an active magnetic regenerator, i.e., a regenerator composed of magnetic material that is cycled in an out of a magnetic field with appropriate fluid flows. The theory of these devices is predicted by solving the partial differential equations that describe fluid and the magnetic solid. The active magnetic regenerator is described along with the method of calculation. Temperature profiles for a normal regenerator and a magnetic regenerative refrigerator are shown.

Barclay, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Critical speeds and forced response solutions for active magnetic bearing turbomachinery, part 2

The need for better performance of turbomachinery with active magnetic bearings has necessitated a study of such systems for accurate prediction of their vibrational characteristics. A modification of existing transfer matrix methods for rotor analysis is presented to predict the response of rotor systems with active magnetic bearings. The position of the magnetic bearing sensors is taken into account and the effect of changing sensor position on the vibrational characteristics of the rotor system is studied. The modified algorithm is validated using a simpler Jeffcott model described previously. The effect of changing from a rotating unbalance excitation to a constant excitation in a single plane is also studied. A typical eight stage centrifugal compressor rotor is analyzed using the modified transfer matrix code. The results for a two mass Jeffcott model were presented previously. The results obtained by running this model with the transfer matrix method were compared with the results of the Jeffcott analysis for the purposes of verification. Also included are plots of amplitude versus frequency for the eight stage centrifugal compressor rotor. These plots demonstrate the significant influence that sensor location has on the amplitude and critical frequencies of the rotor system.

Rawal, D.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Automated Assistance for Designing Active Magnetic Bearings

MagBear12 is a computer code that assists in the design of radial, heteropolar active magnetic bearings (AMBs). MagBear12 was developed to help in designing the system described in "Advanced Active-Magnetic-Bearing Thrust-Measurement System". Beyond this initial application, MagBear12 is expected to be useful for designing AMBs for a variety of rotating machinery. This program incorporates design rules and governing equations that are also implemented in other, proprietary design software used by AMB manufacturers. In addition, this program incorporates an advanced unpublished fringing-magnetic-field model that increases accuracy beyond that offered by the other AMB-design software.

Imlach, Joseph↗
NASA NTRS2020

Evidence for Magnetic Activity at Starbirth: a Powerful X-ray Flare From the Class 0 Protostar HOPS 383

Context. Class 0 protostars represent the earliest evolutionary stage of solar-type stars, during which the majority of the system mass resides in an infalling envelope of gas and dust and not yet in the central, nascent star. Although X-rays are a key signature of magnetic activity in more evolved protostars and young stars, whether such magnetic activity is present at the Class 0 stage is still debated. Aims. We aim to detect a bona fide Class 0 protostar in X-rays. Methods. We observed HOPS 383 in 2017 December in X-rays with the Chandra X-ray Observatory (~84 ks) and in near-infrared imaging with the Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope (SOAR). Results. HOPS 383 was detected in X-rays during a powerful flare. This hard (E > 2 keV) X-ray counterpart was spatially coincident with the northwest 4-cm component of HOPS 383, which would be the base of the radio thermal jet launched by HOPS 383. The flare duration was ~3.3 h; at the peak, the X-ray luminosity reached ~4 x 10(exp 31) erg/s in the 2–8 keV energy band, a level at least an order of magnitude larger than that of the undetected quiescent emission from HOPS 383. The X-ray flare spectrum is highly absorbed (N(H) ~ 7 x 10(exp 23) per sq.cm), and displays a 6.4 keV emission line with an equivalent width of ~1:1 keV, arising from neutral or low-ionization iron. Conclusions. The detection of a powerful X-ray flare from HOPS 383 constitutes direct proof that magnetic activity can be present at the earliest formative stages of solar-type stars.

Nicolas Grosso↗
NASA NTRS1991

Critical speeds and forced response solutions for active magnetic bearing turbomachinery, part 1

The prediction of critical speeds and forced response of active magnetic bearing turbomachinery is of great interest due to the increased use of this new and promising technology. Calculating the system undamped critical speeds and forced response is important to all those who are involved in the design of the active magnetic bearing system. An extended Jeffcott model which was used as an approximate solution to a more accurate transfer matrix procedure is presented. Theory behind a two-degree-of freedom extended Jeffcoat model is presented. Results of the natural frequency calculation are shown followed by the results of the forced response calculation. The system response was predicted for two types of forcing. A constant magnitude excitation with a wide frequency variation was applied at the bearings as one forcing function. The normal unbalance force at the midspan was the second source of excitation. The results of this extended Jeffcott solution gives useful design guidance for the influence of the first and third modes of a symmetric rotor system.

Keesee, J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Computer aided design of digital controller for radial active magnetic bearings

A five degree of freedom Active Magnetic Bearing (AMB) system is developed which is controlled by digital controllers. The model of the radial AMB system is linearized and the state equation is derived. Based on the state variables feedback theory, digital controllers are designed. The performance of the controllers are evaluated according to experimental results. The Computer Aided Design (CAD) method is used to design controllers for magnetic bearings. The controllers are implemented with a digital signal processing (DSP) system. The control algorithms are realized with real-time programs. It is very easy to change the controller by changing or modifying the programs. In order to identify the dynamic parameters of the controlled magnetic system, a special experiment was carried out. Also, the online Recursive Least Squares (RLS) parameter identification method is studied. It can be realized with the digital controllers. Online parameter identification is essential for the realization of an adaptive controller.

Cai, Zhong↗
NASA NTRS1996

A Hybrid Nonlinear Control Scheme for Active Magnetic Bearings

A nonlinear control scheme for active magnetic bearings is presented in this work. Magnet winding currents are chosen as control inputs for the electromechanical dynamics, which are linearized using feedback linearization. Then, the desired magnet currents are enforced by sliding mode control design of the electromagnetic dynamics. The overall control scheme is described by a multiple loop block diagram; the approach also falls in the class of nonlinear controls that are collectively known as the 'integrator backstepping' method. Control system hardware and new switching power electronics for implementing the controller are described. Various experiments and simulation results are presented to demonstrate the concepts' potentials.

Xia, F.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Vibration Control in Turbomachinery Using Active Magnetic Journal Bearings

The effective use of active magnetic bearings for vibration control in turbomachinery depends on an understanding of the forces available from a magnetic bearing actuator. The purpose of this project was to characterize the forces as functions shaft position. Both numerical and experimental studies were done to determine the characteristics of the forces exerted on a stationary shaft by a magnetic bearing actuator. The numerical studies were based on finite element computations and included both linear and nonlinear magnetization functions. Measurements of the force versus position of a nonrotating shaft were made using two separate measurement rigs, one based on strain gage measurement of forces, the other based on deflections of a calibrated beam. The general trends of the measured principal forces agree with the predictions of the theory while the magnitudes of forces are somewhat smaller than those predicted. Other aspects of theory are not confirmed by the measurements. The measured forces in the normal direction are larger than those predicted by theory when the rotor has a normal eccentricity. Over the ranges of position examined, the data indicate an approximately linear relationship between the normal eccentricity of the shaft and the ratio of normal to principal force. The constant of proportionality seems to be larger at lower currents, but for all cases examined its value is between 0.14 and 0.17. The nonlinear theory predicts the existence of normal forces, but has not predicted such a large constant of proportionality for the ratio. The type of coupling illustrated by these measurements would not tend to cause whirl, because the coupling coefficients have the same sign, unlike the case of a fluid film bearing, where the normal stiffness coefficients often have opposite signs. They might, however, tend to cause other self-excited behavior. This possibility must be considered when designing magnetic bearings for flexible rotor applications, such as gas turbines and other turbomachinery.

Knight, Josiah D.↗