Magnetic bearings have been utilized by a variety of industries for over a decade with benefits, such as non-contact rotor support, no lubrication, and no friction.

Conventional mechanical bearings, the kind that physically interface with the shaft and require some form of lubrication, can be replaced by a technology that suspends a rotor in a magnetic field, which allows it to rotate at speeds in excess of 100,000rpm.

There are two types of magnetic bearing technologies in use today- active and passive.  Passive bearings are similar to mechanical bearings in that no active control is necessary for operation. In active systems, non-contact position sensors continually monitor shaft position and feed this information to a control system.  This in turn, based on the response commanded by the system, flows to the actuator via current amplifiers.  These currents are converted to magnetic forces by the actuator and act on the rotor to adjust position and provide damping.

The unique nature of magnetic bearings carry with it a number of inherent user benefits:

• No friction
• No lubrication
• No oil contamination
• Low energy consumption
• Capacity to operate within a wide temperature range
• No need for pumps, seals, filters, piping, coolers, or tanks
• Environmentally friendly workplace
• Impressive cost savings