Magnetic bearings are widely used as active suspension devices in rotating machinery, mainly for active vibration control purposes. The concept of active tip-clearance control suggests a new application of magnetic bearings as servo-actuators to stabilize rotating stall in axial compressors. This paper presents a first-of-a-kind feasibility study of an active stall control experiment with a magnetic bearing servo-actuator in the NASA Glenn high-speed single-stage compressor test facility. Together with CFD and experimental data a two-dimensional, incompressible compressor stability model was used in a stochastic estimation and control analysis to determine the required magnetic bearing performance for compressor stall control. The resulting requirements introduced new challenges to the magnetic bearing actuator design. A magnetic bearing servo-actuator was designed that fulfilled the performance specifications. Control laws were then developed to stabilize the compressor shaft. In a second control loop, a constant gain controller was implemented to stabilize rotating stall. A detailed closed loop simulation at 100 percent corrected design speed resulted in a 2.3 percent reduction of stalling mass flow, which is comparable to results obtained in the same compressor by Weigl et al. (1998. ASME J. Turbomach. 120, 625–636) using unsteady air injection. The design and simulation results presented here establish the viability of magnetic bearings for stall control in aero-engine high-speed compressors. Furthermore, the paper outlines a general design procedure to develop magnetic bearing servo-actuators for high-speed turbomachinery.
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July 2001
Technical Papers
Tip Clearance Actuation With Magnetic Bearings for High-Speed Compressor Stall Control
Z. S. Spakovszky,
Z. S. Spakovszky
Gas Turbine Laboratory, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
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J. D. Paduano,
J. D. Paduano
Gas Turbine Laboratory, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
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R. Larsonneur,
R. Larsonneur
MECOS Traxler AG, Winterthur, CH 8404, Switzerland
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A. Traxler,
A. Traxler
MECOS Traxler AG, Winterthur, CH 8404, Switzerland
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M. M. Bright
M. M. Bright
NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH 44135
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Z. S. Spakovszky
Gas Turbine Laboratory, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
J. D. Paduano
Gas Turbine Laboratory, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
R. Larsonneur
MECOS Traxler AG, Winterthur, CH 8404, Switzerland
A. Traxler
MECOS Traxler AG, Winterthur, CH 8404, Switzerland
M. M. Bright
NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH 44135
Contributed by the International Gas Turbine Institute and presented at the 45th Internataional Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exhibition, Munich, Germany, May 8–11, 2000. Manuscript received by the International Gas Turbine Institute February 2000. Paper No. 2000-GT-528. Review Chair: D. Ballal.
J. Turbomach. Jul 2001, 123(3): 464-472 (9 pages)
Published Online: February 1, 2000
Article history
Received:
February 1, 2000
Citation
Spakovszky , Z. S., Paduano, J. D., Larsonneur , R., Traxler, A., and Bright, M. M. (February 1, 2000). "Tip Clearance Actuation With Magnetic Bearings for High-Speed Compressor Stall Control ." ASME. J. Turbomach. July 2001; 123(3): 464–472. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1370163
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