Development of the noncontact rotating system using combined ring-shaped HTS bulks and permanent magnets

In this study, the noncontact magnetic levitation system using combined high temperature superconducting (HTS) bulk annuli and ring-shaped permanent magnet (PM) was proposed. In the suggested levitation system, the HTS bulk annuli were magnetized by ring-shaped PMs fixed between the HTS bulk annuli, so there was no more need to apply source for magnetization. In this paper, the levitation forces on the radial and axial directions weremeasured using 1 PM+2 bulks (1 unit) and 2 PM+ 3 bulks systems to study the optimization of levitation system. To improve the levitation property of proposed levitation system, the shape of PM and materials of the rotor shaft were studied experimentally.