Design of a Controllable Axial-Flux Halbach Array for Magnetic Suspension Tasks
Magnetic fields enable force application without mechanical connection. By this means, electromagnets apply force across a distance, but require continuous power to maintain constant force. In contrast, switchable permanent magnet mechanisms allow unpowered constant force application, but are typica...
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IEEE
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11037406/ |
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| author | Will Flanagan He Kai Lim Cameron R. Taylor Tyler R. Clites |
| author_facet | Will Flanagan He Kai Lim Cameron R. Taylor Tyler R. Clites |
| author_sort | Will Flanagan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Magnetic fields enable force application without mechanical connection. By this means, electromagnets apply force across a distance, but require continuous power to maintain constant force. In contrast, switchable permanent magnet mechanisms allow unpowered constant force application, but are typically used in close-range (small gap) applications. Hence, a device enabling low-power force application over greater distances (large gap) is needed. To meet this need, we introduce an adjustable magnetic actuator called a controllable, axial-flux Halbach array (CAHA). The novelty of our design lies in the concentric nesting of two axial-flux Halbach rings. By nesting these rings, the magnetic field extends out axially on one side, with a strength dependent on the relative rotation between the rings. To demonstrate how this mechanism performs in magnetic suspension tasks, we simulated a CAHA design model, compared this design model to alternative magnetic actuators, swept geometric parameters of the design, and empirically characterized a CAHA prototype. Our simulations show that our device required much less power than an electromagnet for low-frequency (<16 Hz) tasks, with an up to 93% reduction in average power for a 5 Hz task. The CAHA model also had force densities up to 2.3x higher than a switchable magnet for large-gap (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\geq 10$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mm) applications. In empirical tests of the CAHA, magnetic performance closely matched our simulations. These results represent an introduction to the CAHA design that could improve magnetic suspension systems for low-frequency, large-gap applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a40bf38c188940198076a73dc820e4bc |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2169-3536 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IEEE |
| record_format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-a40bf38c188940198076a73dc820e4bc2025-08-20T02:21:33ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362025-01-011310429110430010.1109/ACCESS.2025.358035211037406Design of a Controllable Axial-Flux Halbach Array for Magnetic Suspension TasksWill Flanagan0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5973-1324He Kai Lim1https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3118-0184Cameron R. Taylor2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7618-0544Tyler R. Clites3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7754-4442Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USADepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USAJoint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, USADepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USAMagnetic fields enable force application without mechanical connection. By this means, electromagnets apply force across a distance, but require continuous power to maintain constant force. In contrast, switchable permanent magnet mechanisms allow unpowered constant force application, but are typically used in close-range (small gap) applications. Hence, a device enabling low-power force application over greater distances (large gap) is needed. To meet this need, we introduce an adjustable magnetic actuator called a controllable, axial-flux Halbach array (CAHA). The novelty of our design lies in the concentric nesting of two axial-flux Halbach rings. By nesting these rings, the magnetic field extends out axially on one side, with a strength dependent on the relative rotation between the rings. To demonstrate how this mechanism performs in magnetic suspension tasks, we simulated a CAHA design model, compared this design model to alternative magnetic actuators, swept geometric parameters of the design, and empirically characterized a CAHA prototype. Our simulations show that our device required much less power than an electromagnet for low-frequency (<16 Hz) tasks, with an up to 93% reduction in average power for a 5 Hz task. The CAHA model also had force densities up to 2.3x higher than a switchable magnet for large-gap (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\geq 10$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mm) applications. In empirical tests of the CAHA, magnetic performance closely matched our simulations. These results represent an introduction to the CAHA design that could improve magnetic suspension systems for low-frequency, large-gap applications.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11037406/Adjustable permanent magnet arrayHalbach arraylarge-gap magnetic suspension |
| spellingShingle | Will Flanagan He Kai Lim Cameron R. Taylor Tyler R. Clites Design of a Controllable Axial-Flux Halbach Array for Magnetic Suspension Tasks IEEE Access Adjustable permanent magnet array Halbach array large-gap magnetic suspension |
| title | Design of a Controllable Axial-Flux Halbach Array for Magnetic Suspension Tasks |
| title_full | Design of a Controllable Axial-Flux Halbach Array for Magnetic Suspension Tasks |
| title_fullStr | Design of a Controllable Axial-Flux Halbach Array for Magnetic Suspension Tasks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design of a Controllable Axial-Flux Halbach Array for Magnetic Suspension Tasks |
| title_short | Design of a Controllable Axial-Flux Halbach Array for Magnetic Suspension Tasks |
| title_sort | design of a controllable axial flux halbach array for magnetic suspension tasks |
| topic | Adjustable permanent magnet array Halbach array large-gap magnetic suspension |
| url | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11037406/ |
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