Development of Control Units of Magnetorheological Drives

Abstract

The main control elements of magnetorheological drives are electromagnetic control units. Flow rate characteristics and pressure drops in magnetorheological systems are managed by the change of working environment viscosity in external electromagnetic fields. In magnetorheological systems, the performance is regulated by setting the required parameters of electromagnetic fields, which are induced by control units; therefore, the improvement of their designs is essential. In common magnetorheological devices, stationary control electromagnetic fields are used. The stationary electromagnetic fields are capable of changing only the viscosity characteristics of the magnetorheological fluids. This limits the range of operating temperatures and pressures in magnetorheological systems. The presented constructive solution boosts the dynamic characteristics of magnetorheological devices. The proposed design of electromagnetic control units was used in the original patented magnetorheological devices. The application of the proposed design of electromagnetic control units is able to implement combined control of flow rates of the magnetorheological fluid and to generate the hydrodynamic and rheological effects in the fluid volume. The article describes the developed ways and the algorithm of control for combined magnetorheological devices. The design of control units allows the induction of rotating and running electromagnetic fields, which generate vortex and piston hydrodynamic effects. Calculation methods for controlling rotating and running electromagnetic fields, as well as generated vortex and piston hydrodynamic effects in magnetorheological fluids are developed. The numerical simulation results confirm high efficiency of a multi-phase algorithm of generation of rotating and running electromagnetic fields.