Flywheel energy storage systems are being considered as efficient energy storage devices for use on unmanned, low earth orbit satellites. These systems are expected to provide five to ten times improvement in specific energy storage capacity with longer life than current battery systems.

Low-loss magnetic bearings will be needed to support the flywheel rotor. For smaller satellites, we are investigating a simple system that uses only passive magnets for radial bearing support and jewel bearings for axial support.

This presentation describes a study on a 100 percent passive magnetic bearing flywheel rig with no active control components. The objective was to determine whether the bearing system has sufficient stiffness and damping built in to allow performance over the required speed range.

You can download a recent report on this project from this link.

The rotor is suspended radially by two pairs of axially magnetized permanent magnets and axially by disk-shaped magnets in a ferrofluid-filled cavity.

The rotor is suspended radially by two pairs of axially magnetized permanent magnets and axially by jewel bearings on both ends of the rotor.

This rig is the result of improvements in the two designs shown above.

The magnets are stacked with like poles adjacent to each other.

The ball of the jewel bearing is a 3.175 mm (0.125 inch) silicon nitride ball. The disk of the jewel bearing is 440C stainless steel.

Schematic of finite elements model used to analytically predict stiffness of magnetic bearing.

Experimental measurement of magnetic bearing radial stiffness.

Experimental measurement of magnetic bearing axial stiffness.

Return to Workshop page | Mechanical Components Branch Page | Space Mechanisms Page

Curator & responsible official: Fred.B.Oswald_AT_nasa.gov.
NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
Last modified 31 Oct 2006