Preliminary Evaluation of Impact Forces in Rotor Drop of the AMB-rotor System in Space Reactor

The active magnetic bearing (AMB) is an ideal solution of the rotor support in the space reactor. The AMB are complete exemption of lubrication and well-adapted to the high temperature and intense radiation of the space reactor. Auxiliary bearings are utilized for temporary support and displacement limitation. When power outage happens, the rotor loses its support and drops down to the auxiliary bearing. The collision state at each moment is random and the interaction between the rotor and the auxiliary bearings is difficult to evaluate. Constrained by the structure, it’s hard to install force sensors. A preliminary method is proposed to evaluate the interaction between the rotor and the auxiliary bearings by analyzing the displacement signals of each DOF of the rotor based on specific contact conditions. The method can make up for the shortage that force sensors of the auxiliary bearing cannot be installed in the test rig and evaluate indirectly the force state of the rotor and the auxiliary bearings. It is beneficial to verify the reliability of the auxiliary bearings and can provide a certain theoretical basis for the application of the AMB-rotor system in the space reactor.