A NOVEL DIGITAL CONTROLLER FOR MAGNETIC BEARING SYSTEMS IN NEXT GENERATION TURBINE ENGINES

Protos Technology proposes to develop a novel digital controller for a flight-weight magnetic bearing system for future integration with a man-rated turbojet engine. The digital controller includes an innovative technique for sensing shaft position that permits a reduction in size and complexity, improved performance, and higher reliability. Other advanced features of the controller include redundant and fault-tolerant control trains, advanced control algorithms, and miniaturization of the electronic circuitry. In Phase I, the advanced digital controller will be designed and analyzed. The performance of the sensing system will also be demonstrated experimentally. In Phase II, a prototypical digital controller will be designed, assembled, and tested in a full-scale rotor support system for a man-rated engine. In Phase III, the digital controller will be commercialized for aircraft, shipboard, and industrial engines incorporating magnetic bearings.