The use of magnetic bearing in industrial applications has
increased due to their unique properties. Nowadays efficiency and
predictability in handling rotors on magnetic bearings is asked with
the same standard as conventional rotors on oil or roller bearings.
First of all one must be aware of the special technical
properties of magnetic bearing designs. The dynamic behaviour of
the rotor combined with requirements of the application define the
desired bearing characteristic. With modern tools /1/, covering the
mechanical aspects as well as the electronic controllers and their
digital implementation on a DSP, these properties can be designed.
However, despite the use of such efficient tools engineering
practice is needed. Therefore this paper summarises the major steps
in the control design process of industrial applications. Three rotors
supported on magnetic bearing with their specific dynamic
behaviour are presented:
?A very small high speed spindle (120000 rpm),
?a small, industrial turbo molecular pump rotor (36000 rpm) and
?a large multi-stage centrifugal compressor (600 to 6300 rpm).
The results of the analyses and their experimental verification are
given.