Transient Thermal Model for Radial Active Magnetic Bearing

A lumped-parameter thermal model capable of both static and transient analysis for a radial active magnetic bearing is presented. The determination of the electromag-netic state of the bearing using reluctance network method is proposed and the analytical calculation of four different power loss sources is discussed in details. The thermal model is tested by determing the power losses, steady state temperature distribution and transient temperature response of a prototype 8-pole magnetic bearing.