SELF SENSING INTEGRATED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF A SHAFT IN A MAGNETIC BEARING

摘要

A magnetic bearing system and related method that utilizes self-sensing in order to determine and adjust the position of a shaft within the bearing. Magnetic bearings levitate a rotating object with a magnetic field and are unstable in open-loop operation. Position feedback control is required to maintain a rotor in a centered position. The system and related method uses a unique design to sense the position of the rotating object with greater accuracy. It comprises coils which are used both to detect and adjust the position of the rotating object and a control system which supplies signals in a time-multiplexed manner in order to determine the position with accuracy while still allowing the same coils that are used to detect position to also supply a field to control the position of the rotor.