Superconducting bearing systems using high Tc superconductors

To realize the practical use of superconducting bearings, three types of superconducting bearing systems using high Tc superconductors are constructed. This paper describes static characteristics such as load capacities of the bearings and dynamic characteristics of the rotors. Spin-down tests of the rotors are performed to evaluate dynamics of the systems. One of three rotors of the bearing systems is very well self-centered in the speed range not exceeding 63000 RPM. The displacements of the rotor are smaller than 30 /spl mu/mp-p (peak to peak) except near the critical speeds