This Phase I SBIR Project will develop an Advanced Unbalance Control (AUC) system based on active magnetic bearing (AMB) technology and advanced feedforward control algorithms. The AUC system will offer at least an order of magnitude increase in both response speed and unbalance response reduction as compared to the best available mechanical unbalance cancellation methods. This will be accomplished by developing several key technologies: 1) high specific force AMB actuators; 2) advanced feed-forward controllers; and 3) an optimization procedure to ensure maximum effectiveness of the system in this and other applications. The AUC system will include both the method and hardware for reducing/eliminating unbalance response in many applications. This will be accomplished by using AMB technology in parallel with the current support bearings on the transmission shaft. The AMB will be utilized only as an actuator to apply rotating forces to the shaft for active unbalance force cancellation. The current configuration of support bearings remains the same. A complete test rig design, including design and analysis of the new actuators, and rotordynamics analysis, will be completed in Phase I. The Phase I Option will involve construction and testing of a laboratory scaled version of the F-35 lift fan drive shaft. Benefit This project will result in two commercial technologies. The first is the AUC system itself. The second is the high specific force actuator(s). In addition to the DoD applications of the AUC technology, a wide range of other industries would benefit from the reduced unbalance response including: commercial aviation; machine tooling; turbine and pump users, etc. In addition, magnetic bearing systems are finding increased use in niche markets such as turbomolecular pumps, flywheel energy storage systems, and machine tool spindles. Each of these applications could substantially benefit from both the high force actuators themselves, as well as the AUC system. Keywords active magnetic bearing, Feed-forward control, Magnetic Actuator, Unbalance Force Cancellation
