Temperature Variation and Displacement Behavior of Permanent Magnetic Bearings

The demand for energy-efficient and maintenance-free bearings has increased interest in Permanent Magnetic Bearings (PMBs), which use magnetic fields for non-contact operation, eliminating friction and wear. However, no research has explored the long-term impact of heat on PMBs using Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeBr) magnets. This study explores various magnetic configurations of PMBs through simulations and conducts experiment to analyze temperature and shaft displacement of PMBs over 1-hour and 4-hour tests at 160 RPM. Result showed temperature had minimal increment of about 1% during the 1-hour test and by 5% during the 4-hour test. Shaft displacement showed minor oscillations during 1-hour test, while in 4-hour test revealed a more significant shift that eventually stabilized. Ambient temperature fluctuations had minimal impact on PMB temperature. The findings suggest that displacement behavior is not directly affected by small temperature variations, with non-uniform magnetic fields potentially causing shaft vibrations. The study highlights the importance of continuous monitoring to ensure PMBs' reliability and performance in turbomachinery systems.