Design Aspects of High-Speed Electrical Machines with Active Magnetic Bearings for Compressor Applications

Two-stage oil-free centrifugal air compressors can bring significant advantages and open new market opportunities for compressor manufacturers. One of the core technologies behind this compressor type is the high-speed electrical machine supported by active magnetic bearings. In this paper, the requirements set by the compressor on the electrical machine design are presented. The design solutions aimed to satisfy these requirements are discussed. Two case studies illustrate possible design approaches for the target application with examples of a 120-kW, 60 000-r/min induction machine with a solid rotor and a 225-kW, 50 000-r/min permanent-magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) with a full cylindrical magnet. The system design and simulation results are confirmed by measurements of a PMSM prototype.