Patent ID: 11682944

Abstract:
This disclosure relates to an axial magnetic bearing for a centrifugal refrigerant compressor, and a corresponding system and method. A centrifugal refrigerant compressor system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an impeller connected to a shaft, and a magnetic bearing system supporting the shaft. The magnetic bearing system includes an axial magnetic bearing, which itself includes a first permanent magnet configured to generate a first bias flux, a second permanent magnet axially spaced-apart from the first permanent magnet and configured to generate a second bias flux, and an electromagnet. The electromagnet includes a coil arranged radially outward of the first and second permanent magnets, and the electromagnet is configured to selectively generate either a first control flux or a second control flux to apply a force to the shaft in a first axial direction or second axial direction opposite the first axial direction, respectively.