Analysis of factors influencing the performance of radial electrodynamic bearing with radial air gap between permanent magnets using response surface methodology

Abstract

To evaluate the important characteristics of electrodynamic bearings (EDB) finalizing electric pole frequency ([Formula: see text]) is essential. This research article explores the evaluation of [Formula: see text] and factors influencing the performance of radial EDB. Initially, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed, using central composite designs (CCD) for designing finite element (FE) simulations. Subsequently, FE analysis was used to ascertain [Formula: see text] for numerous simulations. Then, key bearing characteristics, such as stiffness (k) and damping (c) of EDB were calculated with curve-fitting MATLAB codes along with FE results. Furthermore, the impact of conductor thickness, width of a magnet, thickness of magnet and eccentricity on k, c and [Formula: see text] are determined using response surface analysis. On top of that, the interaction effects were also studied. The result obtained from the analysis showed that magnet thickness and conductor thickness played a significant role in k, c and [Formula: see text] Next, based on the agreement of predicted and simulated values of k, c and [Formula: see text] optimal dimensions of conductor thickness, the width of the magnet, thickness of the magnet and eccentricity were calculated within a specific range of design variables. Finally, optimized results from RSM were compared with analytical with curve-fitting and the deviation of 3.1% for [Formula: see text] 5.03% for [Formula: see text] 0.4% for [Formula: see text] and 5.9% for [Formula: see text] was observed.

Keywords

• Electrodynamic bearing
• electric pole frequency
• damping coefficient
• response surface methodology
• stiffness
• Mechanical Engineering Design