Optimization of radial-type superconducting magnetic bearing using the Taguchi method

• Published in: Physica. C, Superconductivity Vol. 550; pp. 57 - 64
• Main Authors: Ai, Liwang, Zhang, Guomin, Li, Wanjie, Liu, Guole, Liu, Qi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.07.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Air gaps; Constitutive relationships; Critical current density; FEM; Ferromagnetic materials; Finite element analysis; Finite element method; Flux density; Levitation; Levitation force; Magnetic bearings; Mathematical models; Optimization; Optimization design; Parameters; Stators; Superconducting magnetic bearing (SMB); Superconductivity; Taguchi method; Taguchi methods; Two dimensional models; Superconducting magnetic bearing (SMB); Levitation force; Optimization design; Taguchi method; FEM
• ISSN: 0921-4534; 1873-2143
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physc.2018.03.013

•The levitation force of radial-type SMB is calculated using H-formulation FEM taking into account the influence of ferromagnetic materials on the excitation field.•The boundary condition of SC stator is imposed by harmonic series expressions to describe the traveling magnetic field generated by the moving PM rotor.•The Taguchi method is adopted to analyze the average effects and relative importance of six variables and optimize the load capacity for SMB. It is important and complicated to model and optimize the levitation behavior of superconducting magnetic bearing (SMB). That is due to the nonlinear constitutive relationships of superconductor and ferromagnetic materials, the relative movement between the superconducting stator and PM rotor, and the multi-parameter (e.g., air-gap, critical current density, and remanent flux density, etc.) affecting the levitation behavior. In this paper, we present a theoretical calculation and optimization method of the levitation behavior for radial-type SMB. A simplified model of levitation force calculation is established using 2D finite element method with H-formulation. In the model, the boundary condition of superconducting stator is imposed by harmonic series expressions to describe the traveling magnetic field generated by the moving PM rotor. Also, experimental measurements of the levitation force are performed and validate the model method. A statistical method called Taguchi method is adopted to carry out an optimization of load capacity for SMB. Then the factor effects of six optimization parameters on the target characteristics are discussed and the optimum parameters combination is determined finally. The results show that the levitation behavior of SMB is greatly improved and the Taguchi method is suitable for optimizing the SMB.