Abstract

Active Magnetic Bearing technology is becoming attractive for several reasons such as friction-free suspension and high-speed operation, high reliability, and vibration reduction. These desirable features come at the cost of the system's increased complexity, including position sensors, a power electronic converter, and a control system dedicated to the AMBs. This article focuses on the control system design of an AMB featuring a Wheatstone bridge winding configuration and shaft position control. To achieve a high-bandwidth current control able to generate the desired forces, a Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control has been proposed in this article. The AMB is modeled considering finite element simulation results to evaluate the relationship between inductance and rotor position and obtain the mechanical model parameters. A standard PI position control is also included in the system and tested under different scenarios. Finally, the control system is validated through simulation and Hardware-In-the-Loop experimental testing. © IEEE. 1972-2012 IEEE.