Testbed for a Wind Turbine with Magnetic Bearing

Abstract

World-wide demands for sustainable energy have brought increased attention to the improvement of wind turbine technology. Magnetic bearings promise to improve wind turbine performance by reducing frictional losses and mitigating vibration due to rotor imbalance and wind disturbances. However, testing must be performed to validate and quantify these advantages if magnetic bearings are to be used efficiently. Therefore, a practical testbed for a wind turbine with a magnetic bearing system has been developed, including the design of a passive rare earth magnetic bearing and fixture. This testbed will provide experimental vibration and efficiency data needed to extend past research in wind turbine modeling and design to include recent advances in magnetic bearing technology.