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The secret of the magnetic levitation field: Why can magnetic levitation bearings eliminate wear?
In modern industrial technology, the emergence of magnetic bearings can be said to be a revolutionary innovation. The core of this bearing is that it uses magnetic force to levitate the rotating body, thereby achieving frictionless operation and eliminating wear caused by any physical contact surface. For this reason, magnetic bearings are increasingly valued in many high-efficiency and demanding applications, including major industrial sectors such as power generation, petroleum refining, and semiconductor manufacturing.
The operating principle of magnetic bearings
Magnetic bearings use magnetic levitation technology to support the load using the principle of electromagnetic levitation. This means that when a conducting material moves through a magnetic field, it creates an electric current that opposes the changes in the magnetic field. This current level is enough to resist gravity and cause the rotating axis to levitate in the air. Magnetic bearings are mainly divided into two categories: active and passive. Active magnetic bearings use electromagnets and require continuous power input to maintain load stability.
“Active magnetic bearings not only eliminate physical wear, but also allow equipment to operate at extremely high rotational speeds, which is not possible with traditional bearing designs.”
Design and control system
A complete magnetic bearing system usually includes an electromagnet set, power amplifier, controller and special sensors to provide feedback. The cooperative work of these components ensures that when the load shifts from the center, the current can be adjusted in time to maintain system stability. In today's applications, many magnetic bearing systems rely mainly on solid-state devices and pulse-width modulation technology for control, which greatly improves their response speed and efficiency.
History and development
The history of magnetic bearing technology can be traced back to World War II, when Jesse Beams of the University of Virginia in the United States proposed a number of related patents for laser separation and super-telecentric technology. However, with the advancement of solid-state electronics and modern control technology, magnetic bearings have gradually matured and begun to appear in commercial applications. In 1987, Estelle Croot greatly improved the design of magnetic bearings, but due to high production costs, these designs were not popular in the market.
“With the advancement of science and technology, today’s magnetic bearing technology is not only superior to traditional bearings in performance, but has also achieved breakthroughs in some specific applications.”
Wide range of applications
The advantages of magnetic bearings in many industrial applications, such as low friction and no need for lubrication, make them an ideal choice. In the fields of chemical industry, energy storage, transportation and other fields, magnetic bearings have shown excellent performance, especially in vacuum environments. They are a key technology that cannot be replaced by traditional bearings. Magnetic bearings are also used in many aspects such as power metering, diesel generator sets, and maglev trains, which demonstrates the versatility of its technology.
Potential for future development
With the further advancement of technology, future improvements in magnetic bearings will likely reduce their costs and increase their application to a wider range of applications. For example, using Indonesia's induction technology and Halbach array can simplify the control system and reduce electric shock loss, which has become a new trend. In addition, the development of ultra-light hybrid magnetic bearings using new materials and design methods is also ongoing.
"In the transformation of my country's manufacturing industry, magnetic bearings are undoubtedly one of the indispensable technologies. The low wear it brings can not only save costs, but also improve overall operating efficiency."
With the development of maglev technology, whether it can be promoted and applied on a wider scale to significantly improve the performance and service life of the equipment will become an important issue in future technological development. How will this affect our lives and industries? What about the future?
