PROGRESS TOWARDS FAULT TOLERANT ACTIVE CONTROL OF ROTOR-MAGNETIC BEARING SYSTEMS

Abstract: This paper considers methods for improving fault tolerance of rotor-magnetic bearing systems. Possible system failure modes are surveyed and classified according to whether they are internal or external to the magnetic bearing control system. Improved tolerance to specific external faults is achieved through multivariable controller design with H ∞ disturbance rejection criteria. Tolerance to internal faults generally requires more than robust controller design and a re-configurable control strategy is introduced as a suitable method of achieving it, particularly for control input-output channel malfunctions. Methods for introducing fault tolerance and detection in a rotor vibration cancellation strategy are also discussed